Freshwater Puffer Dying?!

[jenl623]

It sure looks like it. Here are my parameters:

6 gallon Eclipse tank, I've had it for three years with the same occupants: two dwarf puffers and one ghost shrimp, artificial plants and rocks. I cycled with a couple tetras, and made sure the cycling was complete by having the water tested.

I do a 25% water change once a week.

I feed live bloodworms once a day in the afternoon.

Temp is always between 76 - 78.

Amonia: 0; Nitrate 10 - 20; Nitrite 0; Hardness 150; Chlorine 0; Alkalinity 180; ph 7.8 - 8.4; Ammonia 0.

When this started happening I added a tablespoon of aquarium salt - and have been replenishing it proportionately to the water changes. I then tried Melafix for a week and that didn't seem to be doing anything (that was several weeks ago).

So here's what happened - one of my puffers started developing what looked like popeye, but only in one eye. It stayed about the same for weeks and he was eating fine and very active. In the past week it's gotten HUGE - big white puffed out glob where his eye used to be. Two days ago late in the day he started rolling and floating and then lying on a plant. He looks puffy all over, fat tummy, and he's got his tail tucked tightly to the left when he's swimming around. Yesterday he was active and ate a bunch of worms, but this morning when I came in he was laying on a plant again - didn't move when I turned the light on, but started swimming around. The fish guy recommended the Melafix before - and not anything stronger because of the other puffer and shrimp. I don't have a hospital tank - and don't know what to do at this point. From posts I've read it seems like this must be an injury rather than popeye because it's just the one side. Looks like he's gotten much yellower on his belly too (at least I think it's a he - there's a faint line down the belly). Please help if you have a clue as to what's going on!!! Thank you!!

[yunachin]

Is there any way that you can get a picture? I am thinking this may be something fungal seeing as it has lasted for so long. Eating is a good sign and I think he may not just feel well so he is resting on the plant. I recommend finding something to use as a quarantine because you may have to treat the fish for five days with a broad spectrum antibiotic such as Nitrofuran (Furan).

[Myaj]

As a rough guess, I would agree with Chin. Probably an injury that ended up with either a fungal or bacterial infection, that's pretty much killing the little buggar.

Usually we try to avoid medications with puffers as they are so sensitive, but in a situation like this I'd be looking at getting some antibiotics into that little guy ASAP. As Chin said, try to treat in a hospital tank (use some gravel/decor from the setup tank, even if all you can setup is a small rubbermaid tub with a sponge filter). The medications might damage your biofilter in the existing tank otherwise.

Do daily water changes to keep the water as clean as possible, try to keep stress levels down (no loud noises, bright lights, keep him in a quiet area).

I don't know a ton about medications so I can't help much with suggesting which one to use, but IMO an antibiotic is definately called for.

[pufferpuggirl]

I'd say you need to increase those water changes to at least 50-75% weekly if you aren't able to do them daily as Myaj suggested.
I hope your puffer pulls through

[jenl623]

These pictures are from my cell - the camera is at home but will take better ones tomorrow. Sounds like I need to ready a hospital tank - using the cycled water from my display tank and decorations and an airstone - a couple of gallons? These pictures are bad but maybe you can see part of the problem -

Photo_052809_004.jpg

[yunachin]

Yeah, if that was from an abrasion then it would have healed by now. When you set up your tank for hospital have a heater, airstone and maybe something small for him to hide in. You won't need anything else. You want to treat with Nitrofuran but I am not sure whether it should be administered directly to the tank or given in bath form since he is so tiny. Hang tight though and I will get the answer for you.

[khoa.tran]

I'm sorry to see your little guy like that, I really hope he gets better. Like Yunachin said just put him in a hospital tank and treat him with some kind of broad spectrum antibiotic. Try to keep the water aerated and make sure the water parameters in the tank are good aswell. Good luck

[Corvus]

I agree with what was written before. I also supect a wound that became infected with bacteria and then fungus and apparently cannot heal, because the immune system alone is too weak. To me this does not sound good.

I'd choose a hospital tank or if not available 0,5-1 hour aerated baths with 10-20times the necessary concentration for permanent treatment. As an antibiotic I'd choose Maracyn (without the 2), which is erythromycin, or a comparable product if available in your country. Furan 2 would be another option, just don't mix them.

You can also harden up the display tank (or hospital tank) water with aquarium salt and if you wish and feel capable to do so change the salinity to very light brackish (about 1 g NaCl salt per litre), which is an oldie, but still often goodie in helping with external infections and fungus.

Good luck!

If it survives you should change the diet.

[Myaj]

Oh the poor thing!

Keep us updated on how the little guy does. That's a huge infection for such a small fish, but they can be tough little buggars and pull through.

Get on the clean water and antibiotics asap though, that's your best bet.

[LilGreenPuffer]

Poor little guy. As everyone else has said, pristine water is crucial to the healing process. Don't let water changes slip while you're worrying about the treatment.

[jenl623]

Thank you so much everyone!!! I got a hospital tank setup and some Furan-2. I got an airstone and and a one gallon plastic tank. I didn't think I needed a heater because my tanks in here stay at a constant 76-78 degrees and didn't want to overheat, but I have one if needed. I got the small size tank because I don't want to syphon all my cycled water into the hospital tank and leave the other six gallon tank compromised (seems logical to me?). I'm setting this up and am going to add a plant or two as a hiding place. Not sure if it's the bath method or longer term like Chin was saying, so I'm going to see if anyone posts one way or another before I put him in, but if I don't hear back I'm going to start the four day course with him - thinking that I can always adjust if necessary.

[jenl623]

OK - he's in the new hospital tank with the Furan - I'll keep you posted... he was pretty ticked off with being moved so maybe that's a good sign!!!

[pufferpuggirl]

That's great, hopefully he's on his way to a full recovery!

Best of luck

[LilGreenPuffer]

Thank you so much everyone!!! I got a hospital tank setup and some Furan-2. I got an airstone and and a one gallon plastic tank. I didn't think I needed a heater because my tanks in here stay at a constant 76-78 degrees and didn't want to overheat, but I have one if needed. I got the small size tank because I don't want to syphon all my cycled water into the hospital tank and leave the other six gallon tank compromised (seems logical to me?). I'm setting this up and am going to add a plant or two as a hiding place. Not sure if it's the bath method or longer term like Chin was saying, so I'm going to see if anyone posts one way or another before I put him in, but if I don't hear back I'm going to start the four day course with him - thinking that I can always adjust if necessary.

Actually, the water hold very little bacteria, unless you've just squeezed it out of your filter cartridge or similar bacteria home. 90% of the bacteria lives on surfaces, like on bits of gravel and sand, and in the filter. So, there would have been no danger there.

Since you've got a puffer in a 1g, make *sure* to do water changes at least once a day, about 50%, especially since the tank isn't cycled (unless you added substrate or something from an established tank, or used SafeStart - but do frequent water tests, even if it is cycled - small spaces can be risky).

[Myaj]

Agreed, the bacteria lives on surfaces, not in the water. You basically just put the little guy in a tank full of dirty water. I'd do daily water changes and continue the medication, watch for signs of stress like gasping at the surface, etc.