The Puffer Forum

whats the best way to get air out of a puffer is it swallowed some while it was puffing up? i'm pretty sure mine did. i thought at first that he was just dying, but once i turned off the air pump he's been swimming just fine but he's still upside down and puffed up so i'm assuming he puffed himself up with air. whats the best and safest way to get him to burp out the air?

ok so i tried holding him by the tail under water with his head up and shaking him gently and he's not burping it up. i also tried gently pressing his stomach to make him burp but its not working. he's just getting really pissed off at me and keeps trying to bite me. he's alot better acting than last night (he's swimming strong and putting up a fight when i try to grab him) but he's not getting rid of the air. is there anything else i can try? and how long should i hold him verticle for before i should give up? i could really use some help.

Sounds like you did everything right.

Have you read this article on burping?: library/hospital/help-my-puffer-is-air-filled/

If that doesn't help do a search on the forum for burping puffer until perhaps some others can give you advise.

Hopefully you get him feeling better.

Instead of just pressing his stomach, try giving him a slow, gentle squeeze from the tail up while holding him head upward. Don't crush him, just squeeze a bit from all sides, rather than just pressing on the belly.

thanks, i went out to get some more supplies for the tank (namely marine salt) and when i came back he was deflated and lying dead on the bottom of the tank. i'm adding the marine salt to get the SG to where it should be and then i'm letting it actually cycle on its own with the snails in it. i'm going to try and get a new F8 once the tank is truly cycled this time. i just hope i can do better next time. thanks for the help everyone

Aww I'm sorry .

So sorry to hear that! A tank can't just "cycle on it's own", with or without snails. Be sure to read the Fishles Cycling article in our Library & be sure to remove the snails before you add ammonia.