The Puffer Forum

I'm really feeling quite sad because clearly there is something very wrong with my Abei puffer. I hadn't noticed because she likes to hide behind a big terra cotta plate I have in the tank and I normally drop her food behind it and I see her coming for it. Now, I don't know this is a female Abei, but I've always thought of this one as a "she". This big "lump" has only come up within the past few days. She was eating fine, but hasn't eaten anything in maybe 4 days, which is unusual for my Abei.

To give some background, maybe about 2 years ago, I thought something was wrong with her back then. She had smaller lumps on each side of the top of her body, but they were symmetrical and she seemed fine in every other way, eating good, being active, showing her colours, so I didn't think much of it. And then over time, they went away. So you can imagine my surprise when I got a good look at her this morning and seen this really large lump on her . It's on her right side and I really think this is serious. Besides not eating, she seems to be breathing heavily and laying more on her side than sitting as she normally would.

I've had this puffer about 8 years and she's always been active and full of funny antics. I've never had a puffer with an issue like this, and while I honestly don't know ... I have a sinking feeling she's on her way to Puffer Heaven. Has anyone dealt with something like this, and if so, is there anything that can be done?

Oh gosh, poor thing! Was she a juvie when you got her? Can she swim at all?

Yes, I've had her since she was tiny. It's really sad because I look into her eyes and she looks at me in mine. I haven't seen her swim, but the way she's laying on her side worries me, she's not all the way over, but as you can (hopefully) see in the photo, she is leaning over some. The last time I seen her actually come up for her food would have been 4-5 days ago. She came up for it, and it fell in a different place, so she retreated back to her hiding spot. I am not sure if she had the lump then or not. It's definitely popped up pretty quick though. I know she can go without eating for a time, but it's the laboured breathing that saddens me. She's still moving her little fins. I just think it's very sad and I have this feeling she's leaving me soon. I hope she's not in pain. I guess I think it's odd that she had 2 lumps a couple years ago and they went away, and now this ... only I don't think this will go away.

Do you have a vet you can take her to for a biopsy?

The vets around here? I highly doubt they would know what to do. And aside from that, we're still in a sort of lockdown. If I take my dog to the vet, I literally have to give my dog to the assistant, remain outside and then wait for them to do whatever. I can't see them even knowing how to deal with a puffer fish.

This is crazy....
Did she make it? Did you find out why the lumps appeared?