The Puffer Forum

Hi I know this is weird but If your puffers anus is open frequently does it mean they are constipated or too full? I read somewhere that is true, but not sure when it is a problem or what you do about it. Anyone know about this?
Thank you!

Sometimes an open anus can be related to IP. I've never had a puffer be constipated before, but that's not to say it can't or hasn't happened to people. How full does he look? How's his coloring? If you have a current picture that might be helpful.

Hes a GSP and Has beautiful color, bright white belly, bright green body and happily swimming about. He's acting normal and is eating but his anus seems to be open frequently. I will try to take a picture of him tomorrow. He is very round and looks very full. I didn't feed him today since he ate yesterday because he looks so full. How do you know if they have IP?

asking a stupidish question but have you noticed any changes with the amount of poop you see?

If you haven't seen poop for several days, then constipation may be an issue, although that can be caused by IP. If his poop is white, or you see white stringy things hanging from his anus on occasion can be signs of IP, but they usually cause the puffer to have a sunken in look as opposed to be healthy and full.

What are you feeding him? Dried, pellet, or flake foods can lead to blockage in puffers, and are an inappropriate diet anyway. Never hurts to ask.

You can try adding espom salt to the water to aid in bowel movement.

Treat any new puffer for IP's, most if not all will have them.
Sounds like that would cause an opening anus, but I can't say for sure. But treat for IP's immediately.

Every single puffer I've owned and treated for IPs passed them. That's saying something. Most puffers are wild caught so it's pretty much a given.

I feed them snails, shrimp, mussels,clams, dried jumbo brine shrimp tried frozen peas but they don't care abt that.There poop is pinkish, never saw white stufflike you said. I have a 55 gallon tank should I give them espsom salt and how much? I'm a bit new to all this but what do you treat them with for ip? Thx!

It sounds like you have a good diet, but I would throw the brine shrimp out.

I've used metronidazole successfully in the past. You can add it directly to the tank, but it is much more effective to soak their food in it. You can get something called "aquatic metronidazole" from an aquatic drug company on ebay for a decent price.

More on IPs here. library/hospital/internal-parasites-pre ... treatment/

Oh, and epsom salt is one tablespoon for every 5 gallons of water.

I just thought I'd ask, but, you do have him in brackish or full marine, right? That makes the dose I told you correct, but also confirms that he isn't having problems from not having proper water conditions. While your at it, what are your water parameters? Everything up in red at the top is helpful.

Ok I'll look it up, should I try epsom salt and how much should I give for a 55 gal tank and also how frequently do you give it? When do u know when to stop? They are in brackish w/ sand bottom. 120 gh, 120 kh, 7.0 ph,0 no2, 20 no3, 0 Amon. 10 sal 1.004 grav. Tank cycled brackish 3 weeks ago, previously freshwater. Used filter from other tank that was brackish that the gsp's came from along with the 1 from freshwater. 2 gsp's in 55 gal tank currently.

Like I said above, 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons for brackish or marine water, so you're looking at 11 tablespoons, or a little less than 3/4 cup. It doesn't affect SG in any way, so that's not an issue. In all honesty I'm not sure how often to dose. I've never had to do it for any of my puffers, but my father has. I know that he dosed, waited 3 days, and then did a 75% water change, with a normal 50% water change at the end of the week. That was for BW and SW puffers. I don't remember any of the puffers having problems that lasted longer than that.

Just as an afterthought, it is probably best to dissolve the epsom salt before you add it. Since your nitrates are at 20, you could do it during a water change, and then follow the same schedule or water changes my dad used. His store specialized in BW and SW puffers, and he knew and knows his stuff since it was his Masters degree and career focus. I trust what I learned from him.

Definitely dissolve anything you add to a tank, the change in TDS can throw the fish into osmotic shock.
I'd only treat their food, I'd add medication to the water if it were an external malady, but this medicine needs ro get directly inside them to kung pow the worms out.