The Puffer Forum

In his stomach

He's been fine all day, I raised the temp, he's in a massive 3ft tank with all water parameters at 0 and a Ph of 7.6.

He's upside down, and I can see a 'bubble' in the middle of his stomach. He's kind of yellowish underneath.

Boy am I glad to see you.

Spud is lethargic, lying on the bottom, he was fairly light coloured with a yellow stomach - it's been white up until now.

I've tried burping him, with no luck. A TINY bubble came out. The 'bubble' seems flaccid and is about the size of a grape but not as fat.

He's now very dark coloured and looks massively pissed off at me. He is, however, the right way up now.

Am I worrying over nothing? Is he merely sleeping, or simply doing his best to scare what little wits I have left?

I have turned the aquarium lights off btw. The water temp is up to what you suggested, and I tested the water mid afternoon, and it was still stable.

He did expel what looked like a half digested bit of prawn shell.

Is he better now? You massaged his tummy?

I held him vertically underwater, face up, and sort of massaged his tummy towards his mouth. The bubble is sort of flaccid, and a tiny, tiny bubble of air came out.

He is now sulking heavily in the bottom of the tank, hidden in a plant. He is dark coloured, but at least he's the right way up now.

Is a yellow stomach normal? And lying on his side? He's been relatively active today, swimming up to the glass if he sees us. I'm finding so hard to find information specific to him, as he's not the Congo I thought I was getting. I've not fed him, I know he was fed yesterday, before I got him, but I don't know how many, if any, of the ghost shrimp he ate overnight. I only found around 8 bodies, but I have had a REALLY good look and can't find any more.

Sulking or I've killed him

I think the yellow may just be his darker coloration.

I'm going to leave him alone. I think he's dead though, I can't see any signs of movement at all.

No gill movement?

YES! I can see his gills moving. He's in his Spud Cave, I think I'll turn the kitchen lights out, and let him be.

Thank you for all your help, I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

WE LOVE SPUD!!!

Sadly, I've just gone to check on him, and he has died.

I'm gutted, I really loved the little man. And I don't know what I did wrong, I've just checked the water and all the parameters are spot on, and the temp is 78

RIP darling Spud.

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!