The Puffer Forum

Hi Puffer people
I'm posting this for PinkFloydPuffer. She's having computer problems and can't log in.
I hope you can help her.

The day before yesterday Fletcher was perfectly fine. Yesterday evening I get home and notice she's sitting on the bottom. I thought that was strange, but maybe she was just sleeping. Eventually she got up and was swimming about. Then I noticed that she looked all.... sunken-in.... I'd think her ribs were poking out if she had any. I tried to feed her, but she'd just nibble on it and then spit it out. Then this morning my mom comes in and says 'why is your fish folded in half?' Fletch had curled her tail around her, clamped her fins, and was sitting on the bottom. She will swim a bit, but often some of her fins are clamped. Her dorsal and anal fins also might look like they've gotten a bit of damage on them. I also noticed that her gills seem red and inflamed. I tested the water last night and this morning. 0/0/<5. I did a 50% water change a few days ago. I wanted to do a small change this morning, but for some reason both of my gravel vacuums have suddenly disappeared. I looked everywhere, but I was late for work already, so I needed to go. So instead I contented myself by dumping in a capful of Prime.
I'm at a loss of what could be wrong here. It was such a fast change. And now I have to sit here at work for 8 more hours until I can see her again. I'm afraid she'll be gone when I get home It's heartbreaking.

Additional info:
Fletcher is a Figure 8
1.005 sg, 8.0ph, 20g tank with the puff, a few ghost shrimps and a few nerite snails, waterchanges 50% weekly, been dewormed with geltek, did a 3-day dose of melafix when I added her a couple weeks ago, recently I added more silk plants and a 48" flexible bubble wall (there's a ton of bubbles), the tank has been running since june.

Thank you so much. I'll send PFP any replies or suggestions.

I finally got logged in. She has had no change since this morning. Still red gills, clamped fins, and really bony looking body. Here's a few pics. I'm scared I'm gonna lose her, I really have no idea what's wrong, and judging that no one's replied all day, sounds like no one else does either.

I'm just responding, so you know someone is rooting for Fletcher but I have no idea what's wrong with him. Red gills, thin--could mean some sort of parasite. I'd start dosing Prazi in there.

Thanks PP, I'm definitely pulling at straws at this point. I'll start treatments tomorrow. I think I still have some Jungle parasite clear w/ praziquantel around here somewhere....
Do you think melafix/pimafix would help anything? I don't want to use it if it'd react with meds though.

You can add either to other meds w/o worries. I'd go with the Melafix--could possible sooth the poor fellow. Pimafix is for fungus.

Melafix it is then. I found the Jungle PC, so it's in. She looks horrible though, I hate seeing her like this. The clamped fins that lead to not so well swimming are awful I'm hoping this works, cause it doesn't look like she has alot of time left. Thanks for your help, hopefully this will turn out for the best. I'm clueless as to what this is.

I wonder if she was caught with cyanide, that might explain what's wrong with her.
I don't know much about it but don't it take a few weeks for side effects?
Hoping she get's better, keep us posted.

Good luck with Fletcher, I hope he pulls through. Having a sick puffer is not a pleasant time.

This morning she was sitting on the bottom. When she tries to swim it's kind of jerky and odd-looking. Her fins are still clamped.
This morning I saw her pooping out something about a half inch long, thin, and pale yellow in color. Definitely seems like IPs to me. So that's at least part of the problem.
.....Today is going to be another long day at work.

At least he's still alive today. I was worried...

Me too.... everytime I leave the room I say goodbye to her, cause I really don't know if she'll pull through

I got teary at that last post.

come on fletcher!! you can do it!

good luck with the treatments..

Thanks everyone. I called home to check on her, they said she's still sitting on the bottom and all.

She is looking horrible....
She'd been sitting on the substrate in one spot all day, and a few minutes ago she started 'sitting' like this....
I don't think she's gonna make it



Hm... if that pic isn't working for you either then try this link: http://hosted.drpic.com/8JS3OUN14C

She's all curled up and on her side... kind of... it's really unnatural looking and makes me so sad

Yeah... that doesn't look good.