The Puffer Forum

Hi, I received my first spotted Congo puffer 1 week ago from a reputable source and know that it has been treated for parasites. I have personally spoken with the seller over the phone who has experience with many different puffers and I trust the quality of his fish. I’m not sure of the exact protocol to deworm the wild caught puffers he receives, so I can’t give details on that. The fish arrived in decent conditions and has had a consistent appetite for live snails and frozen bloodworms from day 1, with small feedings 2-3 times each day. It is still eating normally. It had slightly clouded eyes when I got it and the cloudiness has not gone away over the course of 6 days now. He is in a 75 gallon planted aquarium with about 20 shrimp and 6 Corys. The puffer has left all other inhabitants alone.
My Ph is about 7-7.2, ammonia is 0, nitrites 0, nitrate is about 3ppm, temp is 78 Fahrenheit, and GH is 5. I have been checking parameters daily and these have been consistent. I did a 30% water change for the first time since I got the fish and this fish is the only new addition. Tank has been up for about 6 weeks. Fishless cycled with turbostart and ammonia in about 10 days. Corys were added after that and have been doing great. I have been dosing 5ml 2hraquarist complete liquid fert daily, and have added stressguard for the first three days after adding him.

Pic - https://share.icloud.com/photos/0cdW-nI ... v2ZnB3A3bA

Is he exhibiting any issues? Looks healthy to me.
library/hospital/internal-parasites-pre ... treatment/
https://www.pufferfishenthusiastsworldw ... choutedeni

Well his tail fin is almost always clamped like in the picture and he's not very active when he isn't eating. This is really the first SCP that Ive had, so I just wanted to make sure. I don't want my fish to suffer for my ignorance. In case he does have an internal parasites and to error on the safe side, I started treating his morning meal of freeze dried krill with metroplex (metronidazole) and seachem focus to bind it. No real issues with eating and is not wasting away, but still keeps his tail clamped and both eyes are partially cloudy. He does have the blackened striping across his back most of the time, which is an indicator of stress. Ive been doing partial water changes every three days as well, just in case there is something harmful that Im not detecting. He hasnt gotten any worse, but not much better either.

Is it possible hes being bullied by any other fish?