The Puffer Forum

Hey guys I need some serious help.

My largest puffer (reticulated 17") who I have had for years isn't doing well. He's just getting over copper treatment from a bad case of velvet (cupermine, didn't have a choice since I don't have a large enough QT for the fish and can't test for CP).

He hasn't been eating normally and swimming oddly (flips and rolling but could swim up and down) over the last week and has stopped eating crabs and clams which he did before and during the copper treatment.

Last night I was petting him and he freaked out swimming all over the tank erratically and partially puffed up which he has never done. Initially it appeared that he had an air bubble so I removed him from the tank in hopes that it would go away and it did, he seemed to right himself, however, this morning he appeared to have a large air bubble and was upside down. I read to hold him by the tail with his mouth facing up to try and release the bubble. I tried this and he fully puffed and watch him expel everything and seemed to have fixed it. However, he is now upside down and breathing normally and aware but I don't know what to do. I can't tell if he has an air bubble or if that's just his stomach-maybe constipated?

PH-8.0
KH-10
NO3/4-0
Nitrate-100
Nitrite-0
Salinity-1.021
Copper- 0.41 (Hanna tested, currently running purgien, cubisorb, seagel, trying to remove it not sure why it's not dropping)
Completed a 100g WC yesterday and last weekend
Tank Size-500g
Tank Mates
-8" and 6" porcupine puffer
-8" Pinktail Trigger
-7" Assai Trigger
-10" Miniatus Grouper
-4' Dragon Eel
-2.5' Zebra Eel

I'm thinking there might be more air in there. Sometimes, you have to burp multiple times.

So net him and try to get him to puff again?

I was going to take him to contact a specialty vet and possibly bring him in.

You can also try holding him underwater, head up & gently press his belly from the bottom towards his mouth.

Last time I tried he puffed completely and I couldn’t really burp him or rub his belly.

He’s been tryin to flip himself but couldn’t so I was able to help him but he’s had issues swimming for a week so could it be swim bladder?

Puffers don't have a swim bladder.

ammonia level?
tank is overcrowded.
copper may also be the issue. many puffers don't do well with chemical treatments.

ammonia level is posted in original thread

I don't think the 500g tank is over crowded with 5 fish and 2 eels

I think she may have said that, due to your nitrate level. That's really HIGH! Any reason as to why? How much live rock is in there? Do you run a sump?

l1ttlej7 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 30, 2019 4:51 pm ammonia level is posted in original thread

where?

l1ttlej7 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 30, 2019 4:51 pmI don't think the 500g tank is over crowded with 5 fish and 2 eels

I do.
There's obviously something wrong, and as in almost all cases, it's probably water/toxin related.
I see no reference to ammonia levels, and your nitrate level is off the chart!
It may be that the velvet was the a result of poor water conditions.
Your tank is WAY overstocked with fish!

Copper is also poisonous to puffers.

I don't think the 500g tank is over crowded with 5 fish and 2 eels

Might be easier to judge that if we knew the species & size of all tank inhabitants.