The Puffer Forum

So I've had my Congo puffer just less than a month (got him 14 November), and I did a worming with praziquantel immediately, even though he wasn't showing any real effects from parasites. I did notice that ever since having him, he wouldn't open his tail, he would keep it very tightly closed, and he also breathes very heavily. Then about a couple weeks ago, I seen the "string of pearls" poop in his tank, but I also noticed that he was opening his tail and using it as normal, but the heavy breathing continued. I seen more stringy poop the following day as well. He's been eating good all along, though sometimes he completely regurgitates all of his food. I was worried about him so last night I found my 'Tank Buddies' wormer, which of course has 4 medications instead of just praziquantel, and I dosed him with that. I observed a huge stringy poop this morning, so maybe he still has issues, though I am hoping this 2nd worming will get him through it.

Does anyone think his heavy breathing is anything to worry about? I do recall my other Congo breathing a bit heavy, but not sure about this one. I was going to do a water change, as the water looks a bit cloudy and I need to get that poop out of there. Should I do another dosage any time soon? It has been ages since I've had to worm a puffer, as I've had most of mine a while and/or they've been in very good health.

Thanks everyone.

Dosed the tank or his food? FW fish don't drink water, so dosing the tank is a waste & non-treatment.

So you don't think puffers absorb medications through their skin at all? If they are so sensitive to chemicals, I think they must .... and it's worked before, but we'll see. I have never had good results dosing food, as the puffer usually doesn't eat it.

You MUST treat internal parasites internally.

+1 to the food dosing. I was constantly having to dose the tank due to the white stringies untill i learned to does its food.

Just soak the food in garlicguard and a drop or two of Prazi, don't overdo it.

Also, the Prazi decreases oxygen in the water so add an air stone or two. That could be the reason for hard breathing.

Good luck!

I use to breed and raise discus and when I was first learning I went out and bought a bunch of discus from a local store and at the time didn't know how to tell from improper shape to being stunted so at the time I went simply for the colors and out of the group I had a blue diamond discus that wasn't growing like the rest my friend suggested I treat for internal parasites so I used prazi at the suggested dose and I did not add any to the food and within an hour tape worm was coming out of the blue diamond
the next dose again done in only the water tape worm was pouring out of the little guy and then 3 days The discus died so I would say that you are safe with adding just to the water for at least tape worm and of course couldn't hurt to add it too food as well. Good luck

FW fish do NOT drink water. No way can the meds reach IPs without medicating food. My thought is your discus was so overloaded with worms, they were coming out the other end. The discus died! I don't see how you might think this is helpful info.

I also thought treated "baths" work as well. I treated my apisto with levamisole but I treated the tank and not food. This link also say prazi may work as a bath: http://www.fws.gov/fisheries/aadap/PDF/ ... 7feb07.pdf

I am not sure how accurate these are but I am interested as I am getting a new puffer soon and may want to do a prophylactic treatment.

Thanks.

Js

Again, FW fish do NOT drink water!!!

do they have to drink to absorb meds?

Pufferpunk wrote:Again, FW fish do NOT drink water!!!

Can they not absorb the meds through their skin PP?

Not into their gut.

What PP is saying in case you still aren't getting it, is that worming medicine is designed to attack parasites in the stomach. Getting the medicine into their blood stream via skin absorption does you no good when you are trying to attack parasites in the stomach. By treating the water you have slightly changed the puffers water chemistry causing him stress, but have gotten little or none of that medication to the parasites where it is going to aid your puffer. There are medications that might do your fish good by skin absorption, but obviously it's not gonna work with worming medicine.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
What they said.