The Puffer Forum

not sure if it needs 2 b in hospital section lol, but it seemed the best place!! for 2 days now, diddy has had some bloodworm hanging out of his mouth, its not a whole worm, just the kinda white skin from the outside. usully i wouldnt worry 2 much bout that, but im thinking now that it might b stopping him eating :S cos usually, when i put the worms in the tank, all 3 little puffers swim straight for the worms n catch them etc, but since thats been stuck, diddy just kinda stares at them, n dosent bother getting them. im sure he hasnt eaten anything, cos his belly isnt fat like it usually is after he eats couple of worms. what can i do?? will it b 2 much stress for him if i try 2 catch him n take it out?

It sounds like it might be a fungus. I would try to remove it first, very carefully, keeping him underwater, and then see if it comes back.

Being in the water for a while may soften it enough for it to just come away of its own accord - if it is food. If it is fungus, that is a different matter altogether, as it will most likely just get larger. I have to catch my GSP every 2-3 days at the moment cos he has something wrong with his mouth (see thread - GSP with mouth problems - in the hospital forum.)

im pretty sure it is a wormskin, cos i was watching him eat the worm that used 2 b inside it if i just leave it 2 soften tho, will it not end up rotting n make him ill or anything?? i just tried feeding them there, n 2day he has actually tried 2 eat the worm instead of just staring at it..but then struggled 2 catch it

Sounds like you may have to catch him & remove it. Make sure you have some fine tweezers/forceps at the ready.

those little fellas are very good at hiding when they want to arent they!! after an hour searching, i found him n caught him lol, getting it out of his mouth was quite easy really, he was good n didnt move 2 much so its gone now, ill keep a watch see if he starts eating now n if it comes back. cheers for ur help!

oh no :'( it came back!! if it is fungus, what do i need to do?? poor diddy hope hes gonna b ok

I am currently using Pimafix for my GSP (3 days in now, but I can see the furry white stuff already back form where I cleared it). I am looking into using antibiotics as a last resort. I will let you know if I find any info. In the meantime, make sure he is able to eat, keep water scrupulously clean & go with the Pimafix.

do i need 2 keep removing whatever it is from his mouth?? it dosent really seem 2 stress him that much now, i took it off again this morning. or is it best 2 just leave it?

With my GSP, it eventually fills his mouth, so I have no choice. If it doesn't bother him, then, personally I would leave it as the stress involved with getting him out regularly may be a greater risk than the ?fungus itself. I really wish I didn't have to keep catching mine, as I feel that it really is taking its toll on him. (he's an old boy now!)

thanks for your help!! ill keep an eye on it, see if it bothers him

im in shock :O i been so worried that the water has been really bad or something, but ive just done water change, and while i was doing it ive found little baby puffer :O so im guessing that the water isnt so bad after all its so cute man!!! is it still ok to put pimafix in with the baby in the tank?

Wow! That is quite amazing! Pictures???

Pimafix won't hurt it.

not the greatest pic lol, hes tiny, so i was struggling!! but u can see it on the bottom of the breeder box i did see my puffers doing what i thought to b mating behaviour a couple of weeks or so ago, but didnt really expect anything to come of it, cos i havent had them long!!



i will keep trying 2 get a better pic it is 100% a baby puffer, i cant believe how much like the adults it looks already man so cute!

Ahh. I want one!