The Puffer Forum

My suvatti has been breathing hard all day. Mouth open and heaving. He ate yesterday, two thawed cocktail shrimps and was acting normally. Today he won't even chase my finger around the glass.

I performed a 50% water change and there has been no effect (changed about 15 minutes ago). The ammonia before the change as 0ppm. Nitrites are at 0 as well (I can't find my nitrate kit).

The heat is at 77 or so and there is an airstone.

I'm pretty worried about him and would appreciate any advice. I love this guy and would hate to lose him to something negligent on my part.

Thanks

Maybe he ate too much?

I thought that too, actually. Or maybe the shrimp hadn't thawed all the way but it was yesterday this happened so it should have thawed by now!

His belly is a bit distended. I just hope it isn't anything more serious. Any other thoughts?

His belly is a bit more distended thatn before. Like a little lump on the bottom. Still breathing hard.

Could he have inhaled some air? What are the symptoms of inhaling air in a puffer? Should I try to burp him? He seems worse.

Completely normal behhaviour after a big meall.Check water params just to be sure but expext your puffer to be like this a couple of days.How big is he?

When my puffer overeats, she tends to sit at the bottom of the tank, heaving. Until her tummy deflates in size, she usually is like this. I always hope that would teach her a lesson not to overeat, and leave food for the male puffer but oh well... guess she hasn't learnt yet.

He's about 5" or so. He seems to be a lot better this morning. No heaving. He won't chase my finger though. He usually stares me down and tries to eat me through the glass.

I hope you guys are right about the eating thing. I've never seen this before with this guy. Of course, I've never fed him this much either. I wonder if it's the food thing or the water change. I guess I won't know for sure, but the water was fine before I changed it.

He had a rough night though. Sitting around and heaving. Thrashing a second later. Sitting some more. I thought he was a goner.

I think he has a swim bladder problem. He's puffed up twice and deflated and now he's sitting on the bottom with his face buried in the sand on his side with his tail in the air.

What should I do to treat this in case it really is a swim bladder problem? Is there anything I can do?

Whats the substrate?If its sand try and get him into a hospital tank or change 90% of the water.

He didn't make it. I just found him dead.

Why would I move him if the substrate is sand?

Is it sand?

Yes......Again, why does that matter?

Do you stir it up every week to remove any anerobic (toxic) pockets of air that may develop?

Everyone is so indirect!

I stir it up occassionally. I don't think I do it every week, no. That's an interesting theory, though. What are the symptoms of anaerobic bacterial infection?

I just necropsied him and there as a large air pocket in his mid-chest. Not knowing puffer anatomy well, I can't say for sure, but I have a feeling he had trapped air.

More importantly, have you noticed a hydrogen sulfide smell while doing water changes?

Hydrogen sulfide poisoning is a bit of a longshot, I think.
How long has the tank been set up?
Did you treat the change water for chlorine? (Duh. sorry, obvious question)

I'm really sorry about the loss of your puffer.