The Puffer Forum

So I came home with some shrimp to feed my porcupine, and I apparently gave him more than he could handle. He was absolutely fine before this, but afterwords he would either be blown by the powerheads like nothing or stuck to the sides of them. He was still alvie but couldn't swim, couldn't stay straight and appeared to have trouble breathing. I could see shrimp coming out of one of his mouth and one of his gills. I grabbed some tweezers and tried to pull it out of him, to no avail mostly. About five minutes later he seemed to be able to get a little bit out of his mouth, and I again grabbed the tweezers and pulled it out. It didn't seem to help very much. I'm at a loss right now and I'm afraid he won't make it much longer. Suggestions?

How is he now?

Laying, not doing anything at all... No gill movement, no fin movement, no eye movement... I tapped him a couple of times with the net because I knew he was gone, but he still has a little life left in him.. I just have no clue what to do.

Oh.. when I tapped him with the net he just rolled as if he was dead... I picked him up with my hand to be sure...

I find his behaviour very odd... He should be able to handle a little overeating.

I would think so too, but it was sticking out of his mouth and one of his gills and he went from full of life to lifeless in a matter of minutes.

Can you try to burp him?

I did, but nothing.

I feel terrible for you! Maybe he just needs to rest after his large meal.

I guess at this point I can only hope for the best.

Didn't make it through the night.

So sorry... That's amazing overfeeding killed him so quickly. So sorry for your loss...

I'm so sorry, poor little guy.

And a good warning for all of us about the immediate dangers of over feeding

sorry to hear that... Maybe he had choked on it? If that's possible...

Thanks everyone. Yeah, the shrimp sticking out of his gill makes me think he choked/couldn't breathe. It was pretty horrible not being able to do anything. Big lesson learned, but a horrible way to learn it. I'm guessing he couldn't tear it up since porky's having crushing plates.. idk.. it hurts either way.