The Puffer Forum

The last four days my dwarf puffer has been going down hill. She is normally very active and swims to the front to great me. Now, she doesn't. She just lays on the ground or on another surface.

I just tested the water and got the standard readings:

pH- 8.2
ammonia- 0
nitrite- 0
nitrate- 5

What should I do?


ADDED: She's not eating. I just did a mini water change, 10%.

Poor thing.. When has it last eaten? Is she emaciated? How long have you had her?

She ate maybe five days ago? I've had her for a month. I don't think she looks emaciated but I'll let you decide, here are some pics:

Have you tried live bloodworms?

How's your little puffer girl? I hope she's doing better.

TheStig wrote:How's your little puffer girl? I hope she's doing better.

Sadly, no. She is now not responsive to ANYTHING. I only know she is alive because her pectoral fins are fluttering slightly and her chest is moving. She's on her side. I think she's just waiting for her time to come now. When I got her she had a huge belly. (I thought she was full of eggs.) She still has a huge belly but is skinnier everywhere else. Maybe that has something to do with it? I'm thinking tumor or maybe a genetic thing that has finally caught up with her.

Maybe filled with worms? Time to euthanize?

She died yesterday while I was at work.

Do I need to do anything to the tank?

Sorry to hear abt your DP.

I would probably do a WC, and then test the parameters. Interested in reading what others have to say...

When my first DP died, I had put him in the QT away from the other DP. Good to know what the protocols are if a death occured in my main tank, with other inhabitants.

Good qn.

If you have other fish in the tank then I'd probably treat the entire tank for internal parasites to be on the safe side.