The Puffer Forum

I came upstairs from school today and I couldn't find him, so I looked around and found him stuck to the filter. I've heard of them just sticking for a second when they're sleeping, so I moved him and realized he was struggling to swim, but just floating around in the current. so I looked really close, and he's not using his pecs at all, and I think i see part of his gill sticking out. I don't know how this happened! he was fine this morning. I've done a 85% WC (even though my parameters were fine) and I've added Malafix... but I don't think he's going to be ok...

Aww I'm sorry!
I hope he pulls through. PImafix/Melafix is the best thing for him right now. Maybe add an airstone for extra oxygen in teh water?

I hope he does too
I'm running an airstone already (added it about a week ago)...

should I add pimafix also?

I would just to be safe, and to prevent any infections or anything like that from happening.

added it.

things are strange in the tank. P-Diddy is just sitting on the bottom (still ill), Hootey is right next to him (perfectly fine), and A hermit crab that was eating a piece of shrimp dragged it over, dropped it in front of P-Diddy, then just walked away. I know it's kinda dumb, but it seems like the whole tank is pulling for him.

Oh my gosh I'm sorry Jase. Any idea what could be causing problems with P-Diddy?

I have no idea! like i said, everything was fine this morning. they both ate their snail (they get one every morning) then I went to school. when I got back and went to feed them he was like that.

they don't have IPs, water is great (no big changes either) I did my weekly WC on sunday. I have no idea...

this is prolly my fault or something. Maybe if I'd gotten the bigger tank sooner, he'd still be fine.

It might be possible that he got a piece of snail shell lodged in his throat, or that the shell fragment actually cut him internally somehow. I've heard of it, although it is rare...

that is a possibility...

now he's all black just laying on the gravel watching me

It could have been he was really stuck on the filter. It's not your fault Jase, don't worry.

That's not good news. I really hope he pulls through!

I want him to have every chance to recover, but I don't want him have a slow painful death I'm just gonna keep watching and see if he changes better or worse.

... thanks Rocco.

I've had a catfish raising from death (I was absolutely certain it was dead, but felt a very, very, very small movement when I picked him out of the tank - so I put him into a box with some tank water, just in case. Some hours later he was ok!), and I've had a puffer materializing in a new tank 10 meters away, so I wouldn't stop hoping yet. It's amazing what fishes can survive.

ok, here's hoping.

I hope that he pulls through.