any suggestions?Puffer can't eat?
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
-
ILuvMyGSP
- Dwarf Puffer
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Puffer can't eat?
We just trimmed my little puffers teeth, now he doesnt seem to be able to eat. he is REALLY trying to eat, im not sure why he cant? i occasionally do see him with food in his mouth but its not enough and hes getting really thin. any suggestions?
any suggestions?"I created the sound of madness, wrote the book on pain, somehow I'm still here to explain, that the darkest hour never comes in the night, you can sleep with a gun, when you gonna wake up and fight?"
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LilGreenPuffer
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Re: Puffer can't eat?
Is there any possibility that you cut his mouth my mistake? Or that they got cut too short?
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
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ILuvMyGSP
- Dwarf Puffer
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Re: Puffer can't eat?
well when my husband trimmed them, he did the top only, and theres a tiny sore on his bottom, but those teeth wernt touched. i still see them so they dont appear too short, maybe a tad bit slanted. im not sure i dont want him to suffer tho. he is getting really skinny, im going to pick up some bloodworms tomorrow and see if he can eat those fresh because he isnt eating them freeze dried. as long as he gets some food in him ill feel a lot better.
"I created the sound of madness, wrote the book on pain, somehow I'm still here to explain, that the darkest hour never comes in the night, you can sleep with a gun, when you gonna wake up and fight?"
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LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
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RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond. - Location (country): United States
- Location: Kentucky
Re: Puffer can't eat?
Freeze-dried worms aren't too palatable, of course.
When you get the fresh ones, get some vitamins too. You can replace more of the nutrition he's lost, even if he doesn't eat a lot. Plus, it's a good idea to give them vitamins anyway. I may have to take a special trip out of town to track some down...
When you get the fresh ones, get some vitamins too. You can replace more of the nutrition he's lost, even if he doesn't eat a lot. Plus, it's a good idea to give them vitamins anyway. I may have to take a special trip out of town to track some down...
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
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Nick
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Re: Puffer can't eat?
Most puffers can eat small earthworms or blackworms even with severe tooth damage.
No matter how magnificent your successes or devastating your failures, the worlds' approximately 5 billion impoverished people could not possibly care less.
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LilGreenPuffer
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- Location: Kentucky
Re: Puffer can't eat?
Yes, something nice and soft. Maybe you could moosh it up a bit if he still has trouble. Good luck. Let us know how it goes.
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
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ILuvMyGSP
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2008 4:45 pm
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's - Ernie and Cricket
- Location: Central CA
Re: Puffer can't eat?
what vitamins do i get? how do i get him to eat them? ill also look into the earthworms and blackworms, ive never heard of the blackworms.
"I created the sound of madness, wrote the book on pain, somehow I'm still here to explain, that the darkest hour never comes in the night, you can sleep with a gun, when you gonna wake up and fight?"
-
LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
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- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:26 pm
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- My Puffers: Dwarf puffer - Thumbelina (only mine in my heart now; she lives in CT with my friend)
RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond. - Location (country): United States
- Location: Kentucky
Re: Puffer can't eat?
My DPs love blackworms. My LFS started getting them regularly to feed their stock after I special-requested them and their fish loved them so much. Definitely try those. As for earthworms, be careful that they haven't been exposed to vermiculite (the little white round things you see in some potting soil). This is highly toxic to fish.
(Blackworm care: keep in the fridge. Daily, remove any dead worms; change water every couple of days. You can offer a bit of finely crushed flake food, but it's not needed. They'll live for weeks like this. No need to quarantine.)
As for the vitamins, get a general multivitamin for fish. Gel-Tek makes one that gets good feedback. A liquid vitamin is administered by soaking the food in the vitamin and some tank water. If he refuses to eat, you could add some to the water as he heals from whatever is bothering him - not as effective, but it works, just like an IP medication.
If worst comes to worst, you can force-feed, but he won't suffer lasting damage by starving for a couple of weeks, so I wouldn't freak out yet. Puffers can go for quite some time without food.
(Blackworm care: keep in the fridge. Daily, remove any dead worms; change water every couple of days. You can offer a bit of finely crushed flake food, but it's not needed. They'll live for weeks like this. No need to quarantine.)
As for the vitamins, get a general multivitamin for fish. Gel-Tek makes one that gets good feedback. A liquid vitamin is administered by soaking the food in the vitamin and some tank water. If he refuses to eat, you could add some to the water as he heals from whatever is bothering him - not as effective, but it works, just like an IP medication.
If worst comes to worst, you can force-feed, but he won't suffer lasting damage by starving for a couple of weeks, so I wouldn't freak out yet. Puffers can go for quite some time without food.
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
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ILuvMyGSP
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2008 4:45 pm
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's - Ernie and Cricket
- Location: Central CA
Re: Puffer can't eat?
ok great im going to ask about black worms tomorrow, i know my lfs carries live fresh bloodworms but im not sure about blackworms, they have never offered those to us, and they know us well and usually suggest things for the puffs 
ill check tho, just incase. im going to be moving back home soon and i dont think we have any local fish stores there, just the main franchises which are about worthless, so no more live worms 
ill pick up vitamins too, thanks for your help!!! i hope the little guy will get better, hes REALLY trying to eat so i know hes pretty hungry, poor thing, i feel guilty eating by his tank where he can see me!
ill check tho, just incase. im going to be moving back home soon and i dont think we have any local fish stores there, just the main franchises which are about worthless, so no more live worms ill pick up vitamins too, thanks for your help!!! i hope the little guy will get better, hes REALLY trying to eat so i know hes pretty hungry, poor thing, i feel guilty eating by his tank where he can see me!"I created the sound of madness, wrote the book on pain, somehow I'm still here to explain, that the darkest hour never comes in the night, you can sleep with a gun, when you gonna wake up and fight?"
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ILuvMyGSP
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2008 4:45 pm
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's - Ernie and Cricket
- Location: Central CA
Re: Puffer can't eat?
"I created the sound of madness, wrote the book on pain, somehow I'm still here to explain, that the darkest hour never comes in the night, you can sleep with a gun, when you gonna wake up and fight?"
-
LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
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- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:26 pm
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- My Puffers: Dwarf puffer - Thumbelina (only mine in my heart now; she lives in CT with my friend)
RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond. - Location (country): United States
- Location: Kentucky
Re: Puffer can't eat?
Link's not working for me - says that eBay is having a problem or something - but I see "tubifex" in there. I don't know if these are the same as blackworms (seem to remember hearing that somewhere...), but I know that they're good fish food. If you can't get them locally (shipping costs, ugh), then I'd go for it.
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
-
ILuvMyGSP
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2008 4:45 pm
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's - Ernie and Cricket
- Location: Central CA
Re: Puffer can't eat?
i think u have to copy and paste the entire link, when i clicked it, it didnt work for me either. its 1/4 cup of blackworms for $8 and $4 shipping, so $12 for 1/4 cup of them. im going to check my fish store tom, if they dont have them ill order these ones. thanks again! 
1/4 cup of California blackworm (tubifex sub) live food
1/4 cup of California blackworm (tubifex sub) live food
"I created the sound of madness, wrote the book on pain, somehow I'm still here to explain, that the darkest hour never comes in the night, you can sleep with a gun, when you gonna wake up and fight?"
-
LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 5301
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:26 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Dwarf puffer - Thumbelina (only mine in my heart now; she lives in CT with my friend)
RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond. - Location (country): United States
- Location: Kentucky
Re: Puffer can't eat?
I got the link, but those don't look like the blackworms I fed my fish. California blackworm - never heard of this. Nick? Got an answer for us?
This is what mine look like: http://media.photobucket.com/image/blac ... -clump.jpg
This is what mine look like: http://media.photobucket.com/image/blac ... -clump.jpg
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
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coldmachineUK
- Former Staff Member
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- My Puffers: 2x T. biocellatus
1x C. asellus - Location: Wirral, UK
Re: Puffer can't eat?
"Blackworm" (Lumbriculus) are often confused with tubificids (inc. the tubifex worm); here in the UK we compound the problem by referring to black mosquito larvae as 'blackworm'.LilGreenPuffer wrote: This is what mine look like: http://media.photobucket.com/image/blac ... -clump.jpg
Here's a useful article: http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/f ... orms.shtml
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36G: FW Planted | 53G: Brackish (F8 Puffers) | 58G: Freshwater Community (Unusual/Rare Loaches)
Interesting stock: S. mahnerti, S. vinciguerrae, S. sp. "crimson", V. maassi, N. masyai, M. guentheri, T. biocellatus, C. asellus.
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LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 5301
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:26 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Dwarf puffer - Thumbelina (only mine in my heart now; she lives in CT with my friend)
RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond. - Location (country): United States
- Location: Kentucky
Re: Puffer can't eat?
Yep, the worms I have definitely have that quick escape reaction mentioned in that article. The Skeptical Aquarist is pretty awesome. Thanks for clearing that up.
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!