The Puffer Forum

I currently have two figure-8's on their own in my brackish 40gal (1.005-1.008) set up tank which has been set up and running fine for 3 months without any problems. The tank was fishless cycled before I got the puffers months ago and all readings are fine, I have a API master test kit. The tank has loads in it for them to keep busy (plants, rocks, hidy-holes + broken lines of sight etc).

I got the two puffers (about 1” long now 1.5” long) from my LFS around 2 months ago and chose the healthiest well rounded puffers they had. They were kept in brackish conditions and had a good shape and no fin damage.

But now I believe I may have encountered a problem as one of the puffers looks a lot skinnier that then other. The skinnier one is the busier more aggressive puffer (bites my hand if I put it in the tank and glass surfs/begs more often) and chases the other relaxed more round inquisitive puffer (never glass surfs/investigates everything in the tank daily) away from food. They both eat well but have different body types.
Could this because the skinnier puffer is more active?? or could it be a internal bacterial infection/parasite??

They get fed frozen bloodworms daily and ramshorn snails weekly.

I tried to give the skinny puffer bloodworm soaked in anti internal bacterial meds but he/she took the food and then spat it out. What can I do to help him/her??

My missus says they look fine and there is no difference but I am convinced something is up.

Please help with my problem I love my little puffers and want to do every thing to help them.

Cheers

Sean

Ps. Sorry for the long winded story.

Sounds like it may be internal parasites. You can try fasting for a few days and then feeding the soaked food and it's fine if both of them eat it. What medicine are you using? We may be able to recommend something different and maybe more appetizing.

Also, they should have a diet which is more varied than just bloodworms and snails. Do you soak their food in a nutritional supplement before feeding?

I currently have Interpet No.9 Anti Internal Bacteria Treatment (I dont know if its any good).

Food is been soaked in a vitamin solution.

I gotta go shopping this weekend to get more food for the puffers and to beef up their diet. Only had bloodworm this week to feed them.

Sounds good

Hopefully someone from the UK can recommend a medication based on what's available locally. I've used the Jungle Fizz tabs but I don't believe they are available in the UK.

Flutter wrote:Sounds good

Hopefully someone from the UK can recommend a medication based on what's available locally. I've used the Jungle Fizz tabs but I don't believe they are available in the UK.

I heard 'jungle fizz tabs' menioned before but I have never seen any in my LFS so I think you are correct in saying that they are not available in th UK

So how should I go about treating my puffer fast him for a few days and then feed him the interpet No.9 soaked food?? Should I medicate both of them?? and how long for??

Or is there a better med I can use which would be availble in the UK?? I was also thinking of changing my vitamin supplements as I just get it of ebay, does anyone know of a good branded alternative???

Your help is much appreicated

The interpet meds you are using are not going to kill internal parasites, if it is intended for internal bacteria? You can easily get the Jungle Fizz tabs shipped over here - I got some on e-bay.
I use Atvitol liquid (JBL) to soak all frozen foods in for extra vitamins for my GSPs.

bigfatfish wrote:The interpet meds you are using are not going to kill internal parasites, if it is intended for internal bacteria? You can easily get the Jungle Fizz tabs shipped over here - I got some on e-bay.
I use Atvitol liquid (JBL) to soak all frozen foods in for extra vitamins for my GSPs.

Cheers, I will go to my LFS and get some anti-parasite tommorrow when I restock my food collection

and start the treatment.

I agree--parasites are not a bacteria. Jungle tabs are what you need. Also, try soaking in Garlic at the same time to enhance flavor. I would suggest if the puffer continues to stay aggressive towards the other one, that you get a 3rd F8. Aggressive fish do better in 3s or more.

Kusuri Wormer Plus, youll find it on some sites, ebay is usually the cheapest.

Oh & I love their names - Pegasus & Perseus (I watched the original Clash of The Titans the other day!!)

Kusuri Wormer Plus works well, if you put it in the water and soak the food in it then the fish shouldn't be able to tell it tastes bad since it is in the water too. I hope your Figure 8 gets better!

I have ordered the Kusuri Wormer Plus and should get it in the next few days.

Also full stocked up on a range of foods krill, bloodworm, chopped mussel, chopped cockels and am now looking for a good source of ramshorns on ebay. Hopefully that will give them a better balanced diet

I will start the anti parasite treatment as soon as it arrives.

Cheers for all the help guys

I have found the easiest way to get them eating the soaked food is treat the tank water too. They won't notice it tastes funny when all the water tastes that way, and whatever bit they do get from the water can only help.

My Kusuri Wormer Plus was delivered today, I know how much to put into the water but how much do I need to treat the food with (they are only about 1.5" long puffers).

Also how long do I keep treating for (the packet says one dose take 4 days) so should I dose the tank once and then feed soaked food for 4 days???

Cheers Guys.

ps. Will put up some pics in the Brackish section soon