The Puffer Forum

Well good greif! Harry started acting a bit itchy yesterday. Tonight while I was working in the dinning room he was rubbing on the coral and a sea shell a good bit. He would rub and flash his belly towards me. I don't see any signs of ick. I'm figuring parasites. I did the gel-tek for IP's when he first came even though he never looked like he had them. Tomorrow I guess I'm going to go get some praziPro or whatever it's called. I've looked at it at the LFS before and read about it on here, I think. He's still eating well and acting ok except for that. Of course I'm trying to blame myself. Trying to blame the sand like it can harbor SW parasites. Sheesh!

I freak a bit over any kind of itching since I have an autoimmune disease that makes me itch. I'm rather phobic about it. I sure hope I can get this cleared up soon. Any suggestions are welcome.

Harry has been my baby for 1 month and 2 days.

I checked water on Tues. ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates about 11-12, ph 8.2. Haven't checked SG but added SG of 1.010 on Sat or Sun with water change. The SG has been 1.008 for weeks.

I'm going to check water again tomorrow before going to the LFS and will probably do a small water change.
Here we go AGAIN!

I have seen my ex's figure 8's do this after eating hard food, like crayfish or snails, and figure the shells irritated their mouths, since it was always the corners of their mouth they would rub on stuff. It never lasted long.

He ate shell on shrimp yesterday and today. He's rubbing his side, it doesn't seem to be his mouth. I hope I just saw him in a deep sleep for the first time. When I checked on him he was head down on top of a plant. He was sooooo sloooowww when I turned the light on. Kinda bumped around a bit but could clearly see my finger on the glass. Now is not a good time for me to see a deep sleeping Harry.

Nick wrote:I have seen my ex's figure 8's do this after eating hard food, like crayfish or snails, and figure the shells irritated their mouths, since it was always the corners of their mouth they would rub on stuff. It never lasted long.

Elvis tends to rub his sides pretty often after eating. I just figured he was adjusting himself. He's always trying to squeeze into tight spots and tends to sleep in weird positions. I just caught him sunday afternoon wedged between the glass and lr, tail up and face down, sound asleep. If I wake him up he also moves slow for the first 20 minutes or so.
I wouldn't treat with any meds just yet. You can get them and have them on hand just in case but it might be best to wait a day or two. He might just be flashing to flash.
If you are worried about him get a flashlight and check him over really good. This is what I do with Selena. I can probally draw you a map of every spot on her little body right now.
Good luck and keep us posted.

Sometimes things can just get stuck to a fish which irritates their skin and causes them to scratch. I wouldn't medicate unless he was itching/flashing for a few days or showed other symptoms.

How's Harry? Is he still flashing or has he chilled out?

This is terrible, but I really didn't get any time to sit and watch him for long at all yesterday. He ate breakfast well and is acting normal as far as I can tell. I'll have more of a chance to watch him today. I'll let you know and thanks for asking. I haven't started medicating.

How's baby girl?

I really like you but I'm a bit upset that you implied that Harry could be a flasher. He's always been a perfect gentleman.

edmlfc1 wrote:How's Harry? Is he still flashing or has he chilled out?

Oh my gosh! Your read my mind! I really was going to make it sound like: How's the flasher? But I thought I would be nice about it.
Selena still has one bad eye and one eye getting better. I think we may have to change her name to: One eyed Jaclyn. Still working on her and I will not give up. I'll keep you posted.

Oh honey that just leaped off of the page at me. Not that I'm a perv or anything though.

I swear I dreamed Selena had cloudy pupils but the rest of the eye was fine. I was excited in the dream because it meant she was going to be well. Funny what we dream about. I hope it comes true.

Harry was jerking pretty hard earlier, like irritation. He's still a pig though.

Hugs...

edmlfc1 wrote: Oh my gosh! Your read my mind! I really was going to make it sound like: How's the flasher? But I thought I would be nice about it.
Selena still has one bad eye and one eye getting better. I think we may have to change her name to: One eyed Jaclyn. Still working on her and I will not give up. I'll keep you posted.