no idea what is wrong
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.
- side19
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 464
- Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2008 6:00 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: 1 Figure Eight Puffer (Tetraodon biocellatus), Ra
1 South American Puffer (Colomesus asellus), Cocha(aka. Dizzy) - Location (country): United States
- Location: Manchester, CT
no idea what is wrong
ok, so ever since my male DP romeo got attacked by his female counter part Juliet, he's been very thin. it looks like he has IPs, but i've treated him several times before, and treated him for them again just after teh attack, but he's not getting fat. he's actually been very thin for over a month now, but still eats regularly, to the point his tummy is round, but is then skinny again by morning. he looks like he has IPs, but as i said i've treated him. his vent isn't red, his poo is fine, and he's got an appetite. the only other weird thing is he's been swimming a little oddly too. ever since his attack he's been swimming on a slight angle. if you were looking at him head on his body is tilted like this / with his good eye pointed slightly to the ground. and he tends to spin around alot, but i figured that was because he only has one good eye now. any idea what could be wrong? i want to try over feeding him to fatten him up but juliet doesn't need the extra food and he won't fight for his food. any ideas what it could be? i'll blow up a picture i just took of him an hour ago and post it.
- side19
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 464
- Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2008 6:00 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: 1 Figure Eight Puffer (Tetraodon biocellatus), Ra
1 South American Puffer (Colomesus asellus), Cocha(aka. Dizzy) - Location (country): United States
- Location: Manchester, CT
Re: no idea what is wrong
here are two pics of him.
side with the bad eye

side with good eye

sorry the pics aren't the best. i can never seem to get any good pics.
side with the bad eye
side with good eye
sorry the pics aren't the best. i can never seem to get any good pics.
- 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: no idea what is wrong
He does look really thin. I'm not sure about that.
Is it possible that Juliet damaged his swim bladder when she attacked him? That would account for his trouble swimming.
Is it possible that Juliet damaged his swim bladder when she attacked him? That would account for his trouble swimming.
"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!
- side19
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 464
- Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2008 6:00 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: 1 Figure Eight Puffer (Tetraodon biocellatus), Ra
1 South American Puffer (Colomesus asellus), Cocha(aka. Dizzy) - Location (country): United States
- Location: Manchester, CT
Re: no idea what is wrong
its possible, but he really doesn't have an issue with moving around, he can control himself and attack the bloodworms again with perfect accuracy, he's just always tilted to one side, and seems to always want to turn to the side with his good eye is he's turning around (he can go the other way, he just doesn't do it much). i'm more worried about the fact he's so thin than anything. he was always on the small side, but not this thin.
- 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: no idea what is wrong
I completely missed that about his eye getting hurt. 

"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!
- pufferpuggirl
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 3979
- Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 3:04 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffs & Stuff:
1 x M Abei
1 x M Turgidus
1 x T Palembangensis
1 x M Baileyii
1 x T Schoutedeni
1 x T Leiurus
1 x T Miurus
Rainbow crab
crayfish - Location (country): Yorkshire, GB
- Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Re: no idea what is wrong
Could you possibly remove him and let him have his own space so that he's not intimidated when it's feeding time? I had 2 Congo puffers once and the male severely intimidated the female and she would not eat. Just a thought.
I'm thinking either he swims on an angle so that his good eye can see better, or that maybe, as LGP says, his swim bladder may have been affected in some way.
I think it would probably be kinder to put him in a tank on his own, let him recover from being attacked and see what happens in that situation.
I wish you all the luck with your little guy.
I'm thinking either he swims on an angle so that his good eye can see better, or that maybe, as LGP says, his swim bladder may have been affected in some way.
I think it would probably be kinder to put him in a tank on his own, let him recover from being attacked and see what happens in that situation.
I wish you all the luck with your little guy.
"Puffer .... man's best friend?"
- side19
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 464
- Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2008 6:00 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: 1 Figure Eight Puffer (Tetraodon biocellatus), Ra
1 South American Puffer (Colomesus asellus), Cocha(aka. Dizzy) - Location (country): United States
- Location: Manchester, CT
Re: no idea what is wrong
thanks. giving him his own tank is out of the question, i can't have anymore here at school, and my parents refuse to let me get more at home. i do have a floating baby tank that i can get up here for him to recover in, but by no means would that be a permanent fix. do you think if i isolated him until he fattened up again he would be ok to release back with the female? like i said he's getting plenty of food to make his stomach round, he's just still is so thin.
- pufferpuggirl
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 3979
- Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 3:04 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffs & Stuff:
1 x M Abei
1 x M Turgidus
1 x T Palembangensis
1 x M Baileyii
1 x T Schoutedeni
1 x T Leiurus
1 x T Miurus
Rainbow crab
crayfish - Location (country): Yorkshire, GB
- Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Re: no idea what is wrong
To be honest, I'm not sure what to make of that, because as you said, it sounds as if he may have IP's, but with you having done treatments for those, I'm not sure what to think. I suppose you could always try to isolate him and see if he eats more that way .... it's something to try.
"Puffer .... man's best friend?"
- side19
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 464
- Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2008 6:00 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: 1 Figure Eight Puffer (Tetraodon biocellatus), Ra
1 South American Puffer (Colomesus asellus), Cocha(aka. Dizzy) - Location (country): United States
- Location: Manchester, CT
Re: no idea what is wrong
ok so i'm so confused now. i just feed them and i noticed something weird. he's moving his injured eye! this is the first time he's done it since the attack, and whats even mroe odd, it seems like he can see out of it again! his bad eye was facing me adn he couldn't see me with the good eye at all, and i moved my hand and he darted away from my hand. his eye still has some blood pooled at the bottom, and is a little cloudy, but it looks like he's starting to get his vision in that eye back. is it a miracle?
- pufferpuggirl
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 3979
- Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 3:04 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffs & Stuff:
1 x M Abei
1 x M Turgidus
1 x T Palembangensis
1 x M Baileyii
1 x T Schoutedeni
1 x T Leiurus
1 x T Miurus
Rainbow crab
crayfish - Location (country): Yorkshire, GB
- Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Re: no idea what is wrong
That's fantastic!!! Glad to hear it. Well you never know how things are going to go sometimes, but that's excellent. 
"Puffer .... man's best friend?"
- Bluntokian
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 125
- Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 3:31 am
- Location: NC, USA
Re: no idea what is wrong
We wont know if its a mircale until corvus chimes in with his direct line to god. 
Heres to you and heres to me, In hopes we never disagree, But if we do, Spit on you and heres to me.
- side19
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 464
- Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2008 6:00 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: 1 Figure Eight Puffer (Tetraodon biocellatus), Ra
1 South American Puffer (Colomesus asellus), Cocha(aka. Dizzy) - Location (country): United States
- Location: Manchester, CT
Re: no idea what is wrong
haha, of course.Bluntokian wrote:We wont know if its a mircale until corvus chimes in with his direct line to god.
- 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: no idea what is wrong
Yup, that good ol' direct line to God!
"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!
- Myaj
- Tech Team
- Posts: 4587
- Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2005 12:27 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Bubba, turgidus
Paris, lined burrfish - Location: SE Wisconsin
- Contact:
Re: no idea what is wrong
He is very, very thin. What have you treated him with for the IP's, sometimes you need to try a different type of anti-parasitic for different types of parasites (tapeworms for example will only be killed by certain types, not your standard IP med).
I would separate him with the breeding net while you try to get some weight on him, if it was me, personally.
That's good news about his eye though! A comment on the swimming crooked.. I've known a few horses who were blind in one eye and you could always tell from a distance, they held their head at a funny angle. Don't ask me why, but they did. For some reason I'm thinking that puffers don't really have a swim bladder.. I could be wrong on that...?
I would separate him with the breeding net while you try to get some weight on him, if it was me, personally.
That's good news about his eye though! A comment on the swimming crooked.. I've known a few horses who were blind in one eye and you could always tell from a distance, they held their head at a funny angle. Don't ask me why, but they did. For some reason I'm thinking that puffers don't really have a swim bladder.. I could be wrong on that...?

