The Puffer Forum

Hi,
I've spent most of the day on here learning all I can about my GSP, Poddington. My husband bought him for me yesterday as a surprise.
After much reading I've come to realise that Poddington may not be a happy little puffer
He seems to have a very poor appetite compared to other puffers I've read about which got me looking into what may be causing this. I suspect (from what I've learnt on this fab site) that he may have IPs as his belly is quite flat with dark discoloration and the poo I just saw him pass is white and stringy with what looked like bits of the few bloodworm he has eaten.
Am I right in thinking it is worms or could there be other possible causes?
If it is worms could someone please recommend a good med available in the UK and any other advice would be much appreciated? I'm so worried for my little Pod
He's in a 30 (UK gallon) tank on his own.

Strangely enough, order through ebay and get the Jungle Parasite Clear tablets from America. That's got 4 different meds in it, and I feel that it's better than what we can get here because with having the different meds, it can tackle different IP's. Not very expensive either, about £5 for 8 tablets (1 tab per 10 US gallons).

Thats great, thank you again !!!
I'm so worried for him, will it be ok to wait till I get some off ebay?
This is the first time I've ever had an ill fish from maidenheads, they've always been great before.

What part of the UK are you in?

Oh no!!! just done a search for it on ebay and none on there.

oops just double checked as forgot they list international sellers at end of page.....there is some phew

My favorite IP med is Kusari Wormer Plus, sold from the UK. I have to import it to the USA. A few years ago I had good success with the jungle fizz tabs, but last time I tried them, nothing. I worry that their wide availability in the US and people, especially fish store employees, who don't use them properly has a few resistant bugs going around on this side of the pond.

I'm in Hereford Ppg
Thanks Nick I'll see if its available by me, I'm off on a hunt tomorrow as I want to get something for him asap.
There are a few places I can try...fingers crossed I can find something

Hi Nick,
I've found a Kusuri wormer plus for discus 500 gallon pack on ebay.....would that be the one you use?

i've just used kusuri wormer plus on my gsp and dwarf puffs, couldn't find any Jungle Parasite Clear, yes the 500 gallon packs on ebay are the correct ones poddington.

I usually buy the 2000 gallon pack, to save on shipping(Back when I worked at a pet store, I'd end up handing out several times the volume I use personally to people with holeinthehead, camalanus worms, or other really nasty parasite infections that improper use of locally available meds had already made into superbugs.) but yes, it's the stuff. It's also particularly effective on mouth/throat infections when added to the water, so it may help fish that won't eat, or spit out 90% or more of what they try to eat.

Pod still not eating. Had a bit of a lunge at a piece of shelled prawn I wiggled at him but then sedately went on his way to the other side of the tank. Also ignored the bloodworm.
I have some IPs meds on the way from a very kind person.
Could the very nice man at the aquatics store I got him from be right when he suggested he is probably just sulking from the house move? He did also assure me that he has been treated for IPs as soon as they got him.

I will admit that some of my puffers do sulk and go on hunger strike when I've moved them from one tank to another. The interesting thing will be to see how long your GSP refuses food. I've never had any of my smaller puffers go on hunger strike, it's usually my lurkers that do it (mainly Baileyi, or suvattii). Thing is, the man may have treated them for IP's but if they don't use the right medication, then it won't make any difference if they did or did not. Not all meds will kill all parasites, and I just don't have any faith in the types of medications that most LFS's use.

Well if you're in the vicinity again soon ask the man at the fish store what they were feeding him on, also ask him what meds they used to treat him with, if he has the bottle to hand look for the key ingredient of flubendazole, this is whats in Kusuri Wormer Plus and before that there was a product we bought on here called Flubenol 15, thats no longer available but they're essentially if not exactly the same stuff.

If he continues not to eat, perhaps he needs a little more encouragement, grab hold of a chopstick or similar sized stick and skewer the food on the end, bob it around in front of him and make him work for his food. If hes still not tempted, gently bop him on the nose with it see if you can get a bite reaction and take some in.

The shop was feeding him on bloodworm. He mentioned Sterazin as a med I could buy from them but not sure if this is what they would have used themselves. I have noticed that Pod does seem more active when his lights gone off and the greying of his stomach also reduces, maybe he needs some softer lighting.