The Puffer Forum

It's taken me a few hours to post this as I have been trying to discover what has occurred. My fahaka was found dead this morning . So unexpected, last night he was swimming just fine, ate really well then returned to his corner as normal. When the lights go out around 10 he had another swim round as normal. I get up this morning and he is dead. Everyone else is well, swimming normally with bright colours etc. I fished him out and checked over for injuries etc, his belly was bright and was a perfect specemin of health it seemed. I checked the water and as always everything checked out just right. It's like he had a heart attack or something because he was young. He measured a whopping 16" without tail, I just don't know what I have done wrong. I am OCD on my tanks and always get long lives from all my wet friends. He was by far my favourite pet ever and I will miss his friendship. I am not going to replace him as I cannot deal with this again. R.I.P good friend.

I'm so sorry Bertie It's so difficult to lose a pet. He must have had a perfect life, and perhaps it was just the end for him, and you did nothing wrong.

Gwen

So sorry to hear that ! he would have the best friend in the world so ....
U r the best ! from the word we know that we take good care of him , Amen ~

May he rest in peace .

It is very hard to handle the loss of a valued pet. Unfortunately we cannot always easily determine the cause of death. This is especially true of wild-caught pets where there are always possibilities of of wild-contacted pathogens/parasites which can persist indefinitely even under the best captive upkeep techniques. Somatic parasites such as somatic nematodes (macroscopic and occasionally visible as lumps under the skin -my T. mbu definitely had some of these) or microscopic flukes or similar smallish to microscopic parasites are not rare and essentially untreatable (my Palembang's puffer had something of this type which effectively destroyed his liver). Hobby treatment of those more often than not can lead to the death of the treated fish from toxicity of the meds or simply from the toxicity of the dead parasites, a lose-lose situation. Such are the long-term hazards of wild-caught pets (and sometimes of commercially bred pets).

Oh dear, so sorry for your loss. May he rest in peace

very sorry bertie

I'm sorry man. loosing a puffer must be like losing a dog or a cat. I lost both this past year. God Bless

OMG, that's horrible!!! I can't imagine waking up & finding Filbert dead! :'(
How would you feel about a necropsy?

He probably didnt know he was gonna pass either. Great job raising and kepping a beautiful specimen and sharing your experiences and knowledge from your beloved it sure helped me for the short time I had mine. Bless thee

Sorry Bertie, thats a really tough loss and I hope you try again with another Fahaka.

OMG What a shock! I am so sorry about your loss! I totally hate how fish seem to do a quick 180 in terms of health as one of my GSP's did 2 months ago. Makes me feel so helpless and that I could have done something different to prevent its demise.
RIP to your little buddy. It is so strange how a lot of puffer owners have been suffering from sudden deaths and tragedy's like this lately.

Thanks guys, he will not be replaced. I will look at different species so feel free to throw some ideas around. Pp I have already buried him. I would not have the stomach for dissection

Well I just got a congo replaced my fahaka...lol interesting things...maybe a hairy puff

bertie 83 wrote:Thanks guys, he will not be replaced. I will look at different species so feel free to throw some ideas around. Pp I have already buried him. I would not have the stomach for dissection

I couldn't get myself to get another GSP either.

As for suggestions: dogface, porcupine or spiny boxfish?