The Puffer Forum

I got 3 figure 8 puffers on Friday morning, they settled in really well and were eating. This morning I noticed 1 of them had white poo, so was going to treat for ip's, my lfs has given me the wrong meds so as its Sunday I'll have to wait till tomorrow.
I went to feed them some snails earlier and noticed 1 was near the gravel and when he did come up to eat he completely ignored the snail. Now it looks like something is wrong with his mouth, it looks pinched (almost like something's tied around it) and it looks like he's lost flesh from near his eyes!!!!
My water has tested fine
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5ish
They are the only ones in the tank, and they are still in freshwater at the moment, tank was set up with an established filter. Here's a pic
http://i1069.photobucket.com/albums/u47 ... oto-22.jpg
Hope you guys and gals can help
Here's another photo, sorry they aren't the best
http://i1069.photobucket.com/albums/u47 ... oto-23.jpg

Oh god, I don't think he's going to make it

Do you have a QT tank? he may be being bullied by the others because he may be the weakest of them all if he's sick. if you have a QT, move him/her over to it. Begin treatment with melafix and primafix, and possibly even a salt treatment. The IPs may be very severe, but I don't think they're causing all of those things.

Agree with what was said above, did you use any of that copper based medication for the tank? If so I would suggest a Carbon filter to get rid of it I don't think it's what is causing the major issue but I don't think it could be good for them either.


I agree with nuclear large water change btw.

If you used any copper based meds do a very large water change, and yes use some carbon immediately.

Thanks for replying so quick, I have just set up a qt tank and added melafix but don't have any primafix at the mo
No, I didn't use any of the copper based ip treatment, waited for you guys to say yes or no.
I don't understand why this came about so quick, I mean seeing some white poo this morning does not equal my puffer nearly dead by evening. He was swimming around fine earlier, otherwise I could have got the primafix while I was out. Then this afternoon he's at the bottom of the tank looking a bit off colour and this evening looking like the above pic. Am now worried about the other 2, who at the moment are fine but whatever it is it's quick

Yes, it doesn't exactly make sense (although I am sure there's some explanation). I am thinking the flesh missing near his eye is a sign of someone picking at him, or some super mysterious flesh eating disease (though I doubt this). Just keep an eye on him, offer a hiding spot in the QT tank if you can, and keep the lights off. You may need to do a large water change in your regular tank, in case it is passable. Do you live close to a walmart? Often time they have Jungle parasite fizz tabs there. If you do, see if you can purchase some of those and get him on a treatment ASAP.

Since we aren't exactly sure what this is I suggest adding in what PP suggested last time for that weird fungus.

"table salt - 1 tbsp/10g."

and an airstone to help with gas exchange never hurt either.

Garlic Guard is can help get the fish to get down the medicated food and also DADof4 believes that it helps boost the immune system.

Also here are the active ingredients for jungle fizzy tabs so you can look for something with the same meds

Nitrofurazone, Furazolidone, Potassium Dichromate

That's for FW, for BW fish: 1 tbsp/5g.

You'd need to treat both tanks with this, as well.

Sorry ty pp.

He's gone....I don't know what it was but surely if he was being picked on I would have seen some signs of it in the 2 and a bit days I had him, there were no other marks on his body, these were the first puffers I'd actually picked out myself from the lfs and the first time I've lost a puffer.
Bye bye little friend

I'll start that treatment on my tank ASAP. Thanks everyone

sorry about your loss best of luck with the two remaining ones.

I'm sorry, Donna... I know exactly what you are going through right now.

I hope that the other two will be alright!