The Puffer Forum

Moderator- please move this thread if you feel it is misplaced.

Hello all. I have 2 F8s in a 29 gal aquarium. I have had them for about 3 months now. They both eat very well, but they are taking on different shapes. The larger of the 2 has a very nice "puffer figure" (nice round belly and thick all the way to the tail. The smaller of the 2 has a different look to him/her. It has a nice round belly, but looks "pinched off" on his backside. This definitely does not look correct, but someone may be able to correct me on that.

I have never treated, nor seen, a case of IPS but I am wondering if that is what this may be.

Please help, I am not sure what to do.

Thank you in advance. Joe.

A pic of this puffer would help a great deal.

Unfortunately I do not have a camera to take a picture. Maybe a better way to describe this would be; Imagine you were to hold the puffer by the tail and pinch his sides together, not his stomach though, just the rear of the fish. He almost looks emaciated immediately behind his stomach.

My guess would be IPs then.

unfortunately I may have to agree.

My SAP had the exact same condition and he was a good eater and very attentive for the two weeks that I had him. then one morning he no longer greeted me and didnt eat that night. i removed him from the tank in fear that the other puffers had hogged the food..i fed im separately but he just laid in the QT wihtout moving very much.....

two days later he passed.....i think it may have been IPS...but not sure

Matt, Have you treated your other fish?

2 questions.
First can I get the needed medication from Petco, and what would it be called? It is the only store that I will be able to go to tomorrow.
Second, can I safely feed both puffers with the IPS medicine? Or should I only feed the infected one.

Thank you in advance.

Always treat every fish in the tank.

Jungle Labs Parasite Clear fizztabs are commonly recommended here, as that product has an additional ingredient besides the normal metronidazole and praziquantel you find in the better IP meds. They also make a similar product, Internal Parasite Guard, that's a crystalline powder rather than fizztabs - I've used it successfully, so if you can't find the other one, look for this one. Levamisole hydrochloride is another option, but my experience is that it's hard to come by.

Well I picked up the fizz tabs. I have to admit that it seems a bit weird for me to put "fizz tabs" into my fish tank!

But if it works, I will be very happy.

Also, it is definitely IPs. I noticed the sick puffer had a tell tale stringy poo.

You're going to have to treat his food with the meds.