The Puffer Forum

Bullet swallowed air! He can't swim! Help!!!

What I've heard to do is hold him by the tail and gently shake him side to side underwater.

See the article in the Library.

Ive also heard that you can grab them by the tail gently and pull them backwards to force the air out

"If your puffer takes in air or you find one that has, find either a glove or a net to hold the puffer. Take the puffer in your hand using a net or glove, to protect the puffer from oils and other undesirables. You want to position the puffer underwater with its head pointed toward the surface of the water. Carefully take hold of the puffer supporting its entire body. To do this and restrict the movement of the fish, hold the head and body, the bones of your hand parallel to the fish’s spine and along its back and the fingers wrapping the head , avoiding the eyes as much as possible. Use your other hand to gently nudge the stomach to help the puffer release the air. Throughout the process, the puffer may attempt to reinflate. This is okay because the puffer is underwater and will refill with water, further helping to expel the air. If you need to “burp” a puffer larger than 6 or 7 inches, it may be necessary to enlist the help of a few extra hands. Also, with a large puffer, gloves will work better than a net to hold the puffer."

library/hospital/help-my-puffer-is-air-filled/

I did it! He's swimming around fine now! But I didn't use a glove, what will happen?

Keep the water very, very clean. If you have disturbed the slime coat, which you probably have, Bullet is more susceptible to infection. Water changes twice a day, considering everything else you've got going on in there.

put some aquasafe or a stress slime coat liquid in there...thats what i would do

I put some Tetra Aquasafe in. It says it enhances natural slime coat.

He should be fine either way.

All that stuff is crap--use Melafix.

I thought melafix was an antibacterial fish infection remedy. The bottle says for open red sores, fin and tail rot, eye cloud, pop eye, bodyslime and mouth fungus, and open body wounds. I guess he could use it to get rid of the bacteria he got on the fish... i dont know, i guess what im trying to say is that i wouldnt have thought to use melafix at first.

I have no clue, Mrs.Puff. I've never seen it in a store.

Mrs.Puff, I saw a Spongebob last night and Mrs. Puff got arrested! You naughty girl!

Mrs.Puff wrote:I thought melafix was an antibacterial fish infection remedy. The bottle says for open red sores, fin and tail rot, eye cloud, pop eye, bodyslime and mouth fungus, and open body wounds. I guess he could use it to get rid of the bacteria he got on the fish... i dont know, i guess what im trying to say is that i wouldnt have thought to use melafix at first.

It's great for healing and repairing tissue.

lol yea mrs.puff got arrested!! lol i watched the spongebob bash for the longest time ever!!! except for about 1/2 day or so but it was awsome