The Puffer Forum

Hi there,

We got a dogface puffer (named Cutie for obvious reasons) about 7 months ago to add to our 180g FOWLR tank. About a month after we got him he got ICH which was successfully treated with freshwater dips. Then he got accidentally bit by a bigger stars and stripes puffer during feeding. (Cutie used to be a very aggressive eater - not anymore). He also got through this okay and healed nicely.

Ever since he has just been getting thinner **see attached jpeg**.
http://elementltd.com/cutie.jpg
He seems happy; the big puffer and him usually cuddle in the afternoons. His tankmates are:
his pal, the 2 1/2 year old hispidus (who is doing exceptionally well),
a 1 1/2 year old humahuma,
a couple of damsels
2 yellow tangs
a little flame angel
a snowflake eel

all of whom are doing very well.

There is nearly zero aggression in the tank so Cutie has a fairly stress free lif. The tank has many hiding spots and is certainly adequate for the number of inhabitants we have. All fish are in excellent shape and most have been with us since the beginning.

Last week Cutie got ICH again which freshwater dipping has seemed to clear up. We also discovered that his teeth were overgrown so we successfully trimmed his teeth with cuticle scissors - and he can now open his mouth fully. After having a really good look at him (this tends to happen when you're petting him for reassurance under a spotlight...) we noticed just how thin he has gotten over the last month.

So we have been watching him very closely for the last two days and he goes for food, gets it in his mouth and spits it back out. It seems that when he gets the food in his mouth now, his jaw "twitches" and he can't get the food to his stomach. Even really small pieces of food.

Since some of our other fish are aggressive eaters, we are going to put Cutie into his very own 30 gal QT tank so he can have some rest, and be able to get enough food without all the other fish fighting for it.

My question is...
What could this be? What is the treatment for our little Cutie? I have read on this site that he may have an iodine deficiency - should we add iodine to the hospital tank? Or is there something else going on that we may have missed?

A water test was done yesterday and the parameters are as follows:
Ammonia - 0.1
Nitrite - nearly 0
Nitrate - about 20

These readings have been pretty much consistent over the past 2 years.

Feeding: We feed vitamin fortified pellets in the morning (4 different brands that are rotated), and at night we feed a variety of frozen food including krill, ocean plankton, brine and mysis as well as regular treats from the supermarket.

Water Changes: We change 25% of our water once a week since our tank is still cycling from upgrading from a 55g to a 180g+50g sump.

In the last week we have added more live rock and more tiny blue leg and red leg crabs.

Our 180g has been set up since mid January seeded from a 2 year old 55g.

Any and all help/advice would be greatly appreciated. We love our CutiePie and will do whatever it takes. We are afraid we will lose him if we don't do something immediately. Please see attached photo.

http://elementltd.com/cutie.jpg

The skinnyness usually is the visual symptom of internal parasites. There is an article somewhere about it... let me see if I can dig it up...

Is that tank huge? I agree with Tihsho that treating for IP's is a good idea. Cutie is dreadfully thin. You may have to force feed him to get medicine into his tummy. Also, you should address any ammonia and nitrites in the tank, and get them to 0.

I'm no expert, but I have to wonder why he is getting ich and possibly parasites if all else is actually right with your tank. In freshwater, ich is a sign of poor water quality. Yes a stressed fish is more succeptible, but the poor environment must also be there.

Rather than saying "The tank has many hiding spots and is certainly adequate for the number of inhabitants we have", why don't you post the full specs of your tank? What are all the inhabitants? What is all the equipment? If the ammonia and nitrites aren't 0 all the time, then is something wrong? ...especially after 2 years.

It would be a shame to cure Cutie, only to have him catch ill again because of the origional problem.

Best intentions, hopes and wishes. Good luck.

Oh and I meant to add, if ick is in the water, FW dipping is a temporary solution to help the parasite load on the fish at that moment; it will catch it again upon re-introduction. Go to http://www.wetwebmedia.com and search for marine parasites.

I've read lockjaw is sometimes caused by overgrown teeth, too, and from that picture, it looks like that might be part of the problem.

iodine is anintegral thing as well, and lck of it causes lockjaw.

add an iodine supplement as well (lugials or essential elements.) and try feeding him after the others. so he does not have to fight for food.