The Puffer Forum

Hey everyone! I'm a long time lurker (you guys have been very informative, thank you!) and I'm pretty bummed that me joining is on a negative note.

I have a figure 8 puffer who has what I think is a Nematode.



If those aren't clear enough, I did take a video of him swimming around and it has a few clear shots. Let me know if you want to view it.

So, what's the diagnosis?

If it is a nematode, (which I think it is ) I'd really like your opinions on what to do. From what I've read on my searches there is nothing besides surgery to get rid of it. How difficult is surgery? What are the odds that he would survive it? What about just leaving it? How long can he live with it? What is the chance it will spread to his tankmates? The LFS that I bought it from has a 30 day fish guarantee. Should I just take him back and not risk infecting the others? Or will the others probably have it already?

As far as i know as long as the puffer is healthy then the nematode will not harm the puffer. However attempting to kill the nematode will cause it to rot inside the puffer and since there is no way for the puffer to dispel the rotting nematode the puff is simply poisoned and dies. When they are sick i believe the nematodes jump at the opportunity to multiply. Nematodes are also permanent as far as i know.

Someone feel free to correct me if i am wrong.

What pufferfreak posted is how it was explained to me. A few years back I was given a figure 8 with nematodes, and he was kept by himself, equipment was not shared between tanks. He lived a decently long life, but eventually did pass away. I don't know how old he was before he was given to me, but I had him for several years. He had a LOT of nematodes, mostly around his jaw area, and I believe one of them just moved into a position that made it hard for him to eat.. he didn't eat for about 2 weeks before he passed.

How do you know if it is a nematode, a cyst, a tumor, etc? I don't think you really can know. If it moves positions, then yes, it is a nematode that is awake and on the move.. but if the fish is healthy with a good immune system, they stay dormant.

Surgery I never tried, because my puffer had so many, and their location. I suppose you could try it, but the key would be to keep everything sterile as possible, use antibiotics, tank water clean as possible after surgery and of course, hope that there aren't more somewhere else inside the fish that you aren't seeing. It won't do you any good to remove one if there are more.. but if it is a tumor, removing it would probably be a good thing.

Now, one thing I"m seeing in those pictures, or should I say not seeing.. is this a bump or just a mark? Because it kind of just looks like a healed bite mark (circle shaped). I'm assuming its a bump but just want to check.

As far as what to do with the fish.. I would say quarantine it (as you should have done from the first, NEVER introduce new fish to your established tank without letting them sit for a few weeks to be sure they are healthy) for a while and observe the bump, see if it gets better, worse, moves, etc and then decide what to do from there. OR take advantage of that 30 day guarantee and take it back to the store ASAP.

I don't know what to tell you as far as if its infected the other tankmates, because for one, we don't know if it is a nematode and two, I'm not entirely sure how they spread to other fish.. but if it is a nematode, buying/transporting/introducing to a new tank is definitely stressful to a puffer and will likely lower its immune system, which is of course, what gives a nematode the chance to "wake up" out of its dormant stage. This guy looks pretty happy and healthy though, from what I can see in the pictures.

GREAT pic of a nematode! Can't we use that somewhere? I thought there was a time we were looking for good pics of diseases?

I checked on him today, the spot has moved so it's a nematode. Feel free to use the photos.

I feel awful. I'm pretty attached to the little guy. I got him and his tank mates at the same time. which is why I didn't quarantine, they were all in the same tank in the LFS.

Is there a chance that it will go dormant again? Or is it likely that it's just going to stay awake? I think I'm leaning towards taking him back especially if he is going to risk his tank mates. I just don't have space to set up another permanent tank for him to live on his own.

It may or may not affect the others in your tank & at this point it's really not fair to infect other fish at the LFS (IMO), unless they are going to QT it for life or sell to someone who doesn't care it's infected. They can live quite some time with these worms in them, as long as you keep the fish as healthy as you can, keeping it's immune system strong.

I've decided I'm going to keep him. I went to my LFS with the intent to ask about bringing him back, but when I got there I decided I could never part with him. I'm way to attached to him. I figured might as well give him the best life possible, however long that may be.

I'm currently treating them for internal parasites. The smallest guy looks a little thin and I think I spotted white stringy poop. Hopefully that goes well.

Thanks for the help