The Puffer Forum

Hi All,

I have a 45L tank with what started off with 4 DP about 6 weeks ago.
(The tank was used to house a few spare fish which I got rid of prior to getting the Puffers, and is fully cycled.)

I am now down to 2.
The fish all look emaciated and of my original 4, 2 have died. The fish are eating and get fed once a day with either blood worm or fine mussel.

Initially thought the puffers had some sort of internal parasite. I tried treating with Kusuri twice but this has not led to an improvement.

The tank has a layer of sand, has stones and bog wood and is heavily "planted" with fake plants (no light in tank, so no live plants).
PH = 7.6
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate between 10 & 20
KH = 10°

15% water change once a week.

Any ideas?

Thanks
Squidward

have you tried any live foods? Blackworms, snails or cherry shrimp?

Do you see them eat to a round belly?

J-P wrote:have you tried any live foods? Blackworms, snails or cherry shrimp?

Yes, there are snails in the tank.

Pufferpunk wrote:Do you see them eat to a round belly?

Can't say I have noticed their bellies swelling. But they do eat enthusiastically and a lot.

Hey there,

If they're eating and not gaining weight, I'd say it sounds like internal parasites. I had a lot of trouble with IPs with my dwarf puffers. I'm not sure what Kusuri is, but my suggestion is to try Levimisole and treat for at least a week, more like two, with feeding only medicated food for the duration. I found I had to soak the food for 30-60 minutes maximum and feed immediately after, or else it was nearly entirely rejected by the puffs. Also, blackworms worked best for me, but they can sometimes be more difficult to find.

Yes, I forgot to ask if you medicated their food or just the tank?

Lola wrote:Hey there,

If they're eating and not gaining weight, I'd say it sounds like internal parasites. I had a lot of trouble with IPs with my dwarf puffers. I'm not sure what Kusuri is, but my suggestion is to try Levimisole and treat for at least a week, more like two, with feeding only medicated food for the duration. I found I had to soak the food for 30-60 minutes maximum and feed immediately after, or else it was nearly entirely rejected by the puffs. Also, blackworms worked best for me, but they can sometimes be more difficult to find.

The active ingredient of Kusuri is Flubendazole

You medicate the tank with it, not the food.

Then I'd find something to medicate their food with, because FW fish don't drink water.

Pufferpunk wrote:Then I'd find something to medicate their food with, because FW fish don't drink water.

It works with my Angels.
And Discus keepers swear by it.

It's not worth swearing over if the little puffers aren't making it. It's best with internal parasites to give the medicine internally. Maybe with the cases of the angels and discus, they just didn't have IP's as severely.