The Puffer Forum

I believe my puffer ate some small grain gravel. I did not witness the actual occurance, but my 5 yr old son said "Max was hunting a baby snail that was on the sand. The snail was the same size as the sands, I could barely see the snail only bc he was moving! When the puff went to get the snail he got a mouthful of substrate with it!" The only food source in Max's tank is what I drop in, save the possible snail here or there... so I know his belly isn't all lumpy bc he ate something while I wasn't looking. He can't swim upwards very well, it takes a lot of energy but he eventually sinks back down to the bottom, like he's being pulled back down by his bottom. He's hiding in all sorts of uncommon and unusual places, acting very skiddish and afraid. He's no longer excited by the sight of me, and will barely come out of hiding for food, let alone do his "happy dance" and begging at the surface like he did just hours ago. He's breathing heavily like after a meal, but no stress coloration.

Is there any way he will pass this, if it IS sand/gravel? Is there anything else it could be?What can I do, I feel so damn helpless... I was really looking forward to raising him from a baby and seeing him live long past his 10 yr expectancy, sure hope my puffer's hair-brained mishap isn't irreversible.

1.) Ammo: 0, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: 5/10ppm
2.) 20 gallon Long w/juvenile Cochinchinensis (Fangs) puffer. Age unkn- size 1.5".
Substrate: CaribSea Super Naturals (Med grain) sand in "Peace River", grain size 1-2mm (to compare, fine/reg sand runs .25-.75mm).
3.) Food: blood worms, snails and ghost shrimp. H2O change schedule: 25% WC every other day for the last 3 weeks, alongside SeaChem Stability, to help keep ammonia down while the BB ramps up from the heightened bioload (also seeding a new spongefilter at the same time). This week I am implementing the new reg water
change schedule of 50% every 5 days. Adding only SeaChem Prime dechlorinator and reg Wonder Shells to the water.
4.) Tank Changes: Added floating plants (water lettuce) to the tank on Thurs 5/18. Added LED lighting and sponge filter to tank on Fri 5/19.

It should pass.

Thank you PufferPunk, you haven't been wrong yet (best I know)! I wanted to update to finish the thread with the solution.

lol I found him sitting atop his second filter (large sponge he only sleeps under) with his rear hanging off, and hanging from him I find...

...a Nerds Rope. It was nearly an inch long brown poop covered in red, clear, orange, white, and brown pebbles. I couldn't stop laughing, mainly from relief but also bc it so startlingly looked like a childhood candy. I bet that hurt to get out... I love puffers. It scared me to death, but I hope he learned his lesson.

LOL!

So glad he's ok!! That's the problem with puffers! They're so curious and goofy that it gets them into trouble! Whenever mine eats, he gasps like he's dying! Gave me a heart attack until I realized he's just a pig and gasps while he's digesting! I panicked and went through the routine every time: check water params, adjust currents and lighting, make sure he's not eating too much, sit and worry until he calmed down. Turns out he's just a piglet and horks down food so fast he gasps for awhile. He was happy as a clam with his full belly and I was freaking out needlessly! Silly derpy puffs!!