The Puffer Forum

Please, please, please can anyone help me ????????????????????



My Mbu puffer 14 - 15 inches long. He was happy and healthy until about 6 days ago. I do not know what has happened, but he has stopped eating he looks fine and still swimming around his tank but he just wont eat anything. I have tried to temp him with his favourite cockles and mussels and also on prawns but nothing is tempting him in any way. I have read somewhere that he may be constipated, and someone had said that you can treat this with epson salts, is this correct? I am only asking if he could be constipated because normally I have seen evidence on the bottom of his tank, but not seen any for a few days. However when I was looking at him today I have noticed that his mouth is different on one side, and that it is slightly red, could he have some shell stuck? if so how can I help him. I love my fish dearly and I am desparate to do anything to get him back to his normal self. I am so worried. I originally brought him from my local aquatic centre. He was full of white spot and hardly moving looking more like a loach than a mbu because he was so thin. After they had treated him I brought him home and he has never looked healthier. Until recently.
My tank has been setup for 4 years and the results of my last water test were ph 7.0, ammonia 0ppm, nitrite 0ppm. My tank is 5ft x 2ft x 2ft, I did have some cory with him to begin with but after finding one with no head and another with no back end I removed them to my other tank. There are a few guppies in with him but he has never bothered with these, and they are to pre-occupied with themselves to bother him.

I have made no changes to the tank set-up only a 20% water change which I have done since having him/her. I have added nothing different to the tank chemical wise apart from a little salt, and aquasafe, again I have done this since having Mr Mbu otherwise known as Maisy Mbu.

Please help me

Hi, Could you please answer some more of the Qs above in red? What makes you think he might be constipated?

Hello everyone.

I really do thing he may have something stuck in his mouth, he has a swelling appearing on the left side as you look at the picture.



And his mouth looks totally different on the left to his right hand side.



Getting really worried now incase it is infected

Questions in red, please.

A picture would be helpful, too.

Edit - pictures downloaded this time, got it!

ANSWER ALL these Questions or we CANNOT HELP YOU!!!!!!! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity?????????????????

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 ???????

4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so.??????????

5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it?????????

Perhaps it's a tumor. It could be a buildup of fluid caused by an infection - perhaps he scraped the inside of his mouth while eating, and it infected from the inside? This is especially likely if your water parameters are poor.

My suggestions, would be tumour - although I would think that would not be such a sudden onset. Something that could happen quickly would be an abscess - a build up of white blood cells that die & cause pus. I have experience of both with my old GSP. An abscess could easily be caused by the sharp edge of a broken shell. I think the only way of a definitive diagnosis would be to look in his mouth properly. Is he handleable? Or would you need to sedate him?

I really appreciate all your help guys.

I stroke my puffer everytime I do a water change, he just sits there looking at me, but I have never attempted to hold him, I have no idea at all how you would sedate one to look at them closely. Everytime I approach his tank at the moment he is looking at me with his puppy dog eyes now, asking me in his own way to help him.

I have tried to find an aquatic vet, do they exist it is immpossible

I have carried out another water change this morning Sat 29th August. And tested the water.....

PH 7.4
Nitrites 0pm
Nitrates under <10pm
Ammonia 0pm
Salinity freshwater
Temp of tank 26

He is starting to look quite thin to what he was

The temperature of your tank is 26 degrees? Even in celsius isnt that about 35 degrees. I'd say that water should be more around 74.

26 C = 79 F....

AngelMbu wrote:I really appreciate all your help guys.

I stroke my puffer everytime I do a water change, he just sits there looking at me, but I have never attempted to hold him, I have no idea at all how you would sedate one to look at them closely. Everytime I approach his tank at the moment he is looking at me with his puppy dog eyes now, asking me in his own way to help him.

I have tried to find an aquatic vet, do they exist it is immpossible

Where are you based Angelmbu? If you cannot find an aquatic vet, what about contacting a local aquarium? They may be able to help or to give you contact details of the vets they use. How is the lump looking today - any change?

hmm better convert temperatures somewhere else.....

Hello bigfatfish

Thanks for all yor help, I hadnt thought about telephoning a local aquarium before. I live in Teesside and I think my local aquarium would be Scarborough Sea Life Centre, so I will try them today.

Mr Mbu still hasnt eaten yet, I am treating the tank at the moment with an anti bacterial treatment. I did telephone the manufactures first to make sure you can safely use it with Mbu Puffers, which you can but will a slightly lesser dose than you would if you were treating other tropical species.

His mouth does appear to be slightly less red than before, however the white spot thing that you can clearly see on the photos above appears to have become slightly larger in size, and the swelling externally and internally has also increased. He tries to purse his lips in such a way as to suggest he is trying to dislodge something although I imagine it must be very uncomforable for him at this time. His breathing has become a little faster I believe.

Have double checked the tempreture that Mbus should be kept in and I am well within the guides for them, although I have turned the therostat up 1 degree as this may help his immune better, to help fight infection.

I hope they will be able to help you. If the swelling has increased already & the white bit looks bigger, makes me lean towards an abscess - wonder if the white area is it sort of coming to a head? Make sure your water is scrupulously clean.
I know how distressing this must be for you & how helpless you must feel - believe me, I was in your shoes not so long ago. The abscess on my GSP was on his left lower jaw (outside), which I had to lance & treated only with Melafix - this healed up fine.The tumour in his mouth at the end, was something that was unfortunatley inoperable & I had to make the decision to put him to sleep.
I hope you will find someone to help. With a fish the size of yours, anaesthetising him shouldn't be taken lightly & someone with experience in this area would be ideal.
I have only worked with smaller fish & I am in Devon - couldn't really get much further away from you if I tried!
Anyway, fingers crossed that someone can help you - let us know. If not & you do decide to do something yourself, come back to the forum for advice - Good Luck. xx.