The Puffer Forum

I haven't had the heart to post this for quite some time but I wanted to let you guys know. If you remember me during the spring I had Ratchet my fahaka puffer. He went on a 5 month feeding strike eating just barely enough to survive. We went through three bouts of severe bacterial infection and a possible parasite infestation. I spent many a night crying in front of his tank watching as he struggled to pull on. I'm starting to cry even as I post this. On June 6th Ratchet was found dead in his tank resting on his side in the sand. I put his body in the freezer until such time that i can bury him. When he died he was clean of infection and was actually pecking at food. I think his body just finally gave out on him. I feel like such a horrid puffer mom not being able to help him. I'm just not sure why he died. His water parameters were perfect the entire time. The 5 clown loaches that he lives with never got sick once and are living quite happily in the tank to this day. For now Ratchet's tank stands empty with just the loaches. I'm not sure I can bear to get another puffer. I was so attached to Ratchet that his loss is gut wrenching. It literally makes me sick to my stomach. When I got him he was barely an inch and a half and highly emaciated. At the time of his passing he was 6 inches tl.

Ratchet you will be sorely missed.

I am so very sorry for your loss. Just reading that got me all teary-eyed. That is really sad and I do remember your struggle to get Ratchet back to good health. I wish it had turned out differently, and I can certainly understand a little of how you would feel. I've got BeeBoo, my Mbu and he's about 10" long now and I'd be gutted if anything happened to him.
Please don't blame yourself, you're not a bad puffer-mommy, things happen sometimes, and it's not your fault. Sounds to me like you did all your could and really put your heart into it.
Give yourself time, you may decide on another puffer after you've had a chance to get over Ratchet.
Please accept my condolences.

So sorry to hear about his passing I was really hoping Ratchet had pulled through the hunger strike. I opened this thread and saw a pretty picture and was happy because I thought I'd be reading about how Ratchet was eating again and doing well.

Rest in Peace Ratchet.

I am so sorry for your loss! He was such a beautiful puffer. Sometimes they don't make it, whatever we do to cure them. It sounds to me that you did a very good job, but that he just wasn't able to make it anyway.

aww no - sorry to hear that

i dont know what id do if my mbu moob died - i havnt had her long - from a member off here - but im soo attached

They are so personable, I think it's all too easy to get attached. Even though I have many puffers, I love them all because they each have their own specialness about them. If any one of them died, I would be upset. Of course, BeeBoo my Mbu is my dearest and I would definitely be gutted if something happened to him.

So sorry for your loss

I do know that you did everything in your power to save him.

sorry for your lose

QT that is sad. Do you think you will ever try again?

Thanks guys for all your replies. It means a lot.

That's too bad qtrhorse. Poor guy. Rest in Peace Ratchet.

sorry to hear of your loss, RIP Ratchet

I'm going to give Jabba an extra shrimp in Ratchets honor; "RIP"

im so sorry about your loss. Although I am not an owner yet, puffers have such great personalities, and getting attached to them is easy (I'm attached to my LFS Porky, i take care of him on occasions) You did not sit there and watch your puffer suffer through it, you did everything you could. Im so sorry for your loss