The Puffer Forum

Hi.

He is 4.5 years old 125g tank.
Ammonia-0
Nitrites-0
Nitrates-10-20 (its always hard to tell)
Ph 7.2
80F

I change 40% weekly.

Yesterday he seemed a bit moody. Stayed buried. No begging for food. Came out after lights out but I didn’t get a good look at him. Today the same. Not much swimming. Tried to eat, spat out. Noticed right gill tightly closed and fin tight to body whilst buried, top fin down. Swam up breathing hard doing some sort of coughing, ish both fins working but not that gil. Shut. After some flailing and coughing I saw it begin to work with some big breaths then close back up. He laid back down and buried himself. Breathing heavily. Definitely not feeling well.
Not eating and seems to be trying to get this gill to work? I just don’t know how to help here. But he is getting over a very recent bizarre illness I never found an answer for. Here or anywhere else. I even sedated and tube fed him a few times just to keep him from starving. He just got back to normal, eating on his own, swimming around begging for food 2 weeks ago. His health is fragile so I need to be on top of anything immediately.

What is this bizarre illness that he had? Do you see any worms in his gills?

Well, I spoke to you about it actually. Several times. It had to do with a lump in his mouth. He then stopped eating for 3 months. His mouth started actually deteriorating/getting eaten away. He was starving to death. But you were the only person to answer and you didn’t have any ideas. I didn’t think it was pertinent to get into it again. I planned to euthanize him but my partner wouldn’t give up on him. We tube fed him a few times while sedated and he finally started eating on his own again. Back to normal, putting weight on. A friggin miracle. Now this.

I don’t see anything. If I saw worms I would have thought gill flukes and researched in that direction. The web didn’t have much on this. So I am here.

Unfortunately, this forum is not what it used to be. It appears I am the only person left to answer questions. You might be better posting at the puffer enthusiast group on Facebook.

Understood. What a shame. I appreciate that you are still here trying. The site still has loads of old info and chats that are extremely valuable. I do struggle with the Facebook sites though. It is tough to get good info, atleast that is my experience. I did come across an old string about a puffer with the same mouth issue that mine had previously. It was incredibly interesting. Ultimately unhelpful lol, and found after the fact but I did find it and it was interesting. Exact same story. Anyways, thanks again. Im on a few sites. Ill keep on trying.

That's why I continue to pay the yearly fees here. Hope I can continue to help with what I know. Diseases are not my strong suit.