The Puffer Forum

To give a little backstory about a week ago I purchased a juvi Jack Dempsey, he is ~1.5". Around 3 days ago I noticed he was spitting out food (suck the flake in then spit it out). I immediatly tried other foods with little success. I also noticed he was acting lethargic, basically he acts like a Discuss (slow swimming). So thinking it was poor water condition I did a 30% water change. Now, today I notice that he is flashing, immediatly i check his body for ich and/or flukes. Nothing.

Water Params were normal and shouldnt have caused the change:
Nitrate - 30ppm
Nitrite - 0ppm
Ammonia - 0ppm
pH - 6.6


I added a little scrap coral to try and buffer the pH up a little, but that shouldnt have caused the flashing. Also I have dosed some Malacite Green, Melafix, Pimafix, and now I am giving him a dip in some copper med.

Now I have noticed another behavior, he is opening his mouth. It looks like the fish equivilent of coughing.

Now originally I thought it was flukes, what else can I try?

THANKS!

CLIFF NOTES:
1.) Jack Dempsey is Flashing, lethargic, spitting out food.
2.) Treated with a mixture of 2G Water, 1 tsp Marine Salt, 1 tsp Malchite Green, 1/2 Tab Parasite Tab (copper) for 4 hours. Treated tank with malacite green for 7 days.
3.) Performed two 40% water changesin past week.
4.) 5 days later he is flashing and appears to have laboured breathing.

PLAN OF ACTION
1.) Long term treatment with copper in spare 25G tank?
2.) ???

What made you think it was poor water conditions?

Pufferpunk wrote:What made you think it was poor water conditions?

I have often read about Cichlids "flashing" due to water change/poor conditions. I thought mabe my filter had been forced into recycle.

Well he is flashing like mad once again

I dunno wtf it could be. I have tried about everything!

Should I try copper meds!?

Check the heater in the tank for cracks. I once had an Oscar that flashed suddenly for no reason, it seemed and only at certain times. I was doing an emergency water change and found glass in the tank and upon further inspection, found that the heater had shattered and was shocking the fish. My Oscar was the only who seemed to feel it. I didn't even feel any shocks when my hands were in the water. Just athought.

If you don't see any external parasites, I'd stear clear of copper meds.

Is he eating? If he's eating, is he spitting back out food? It could be some internal parasites cause discomfort thus the flashing behavior.

Basically, you've treated for external parasites but not internal parasites or bacterial infection. If he's spitting food, I'd treat for internal parasites. If he's not, I'd first use carbon to clean the meds out of your water and consider treating for bacterial infection.

Eric

Jayhawk wrote:If you don't see any external parasites, I'd stear clear of copper meds.

Is he eating? If he's eating, is he spitting back out food? It could be some internal parasites cause discomfort thus the flashing behavior.

Basically, you've treated for external parasites but not internal parasites or bacterial infection. If he's spitting food, I'd treat for internal parasites. If he's not, I'd first use carbon to clean the meds out of your water and consider treating for bacterial infection.

Eric

Well I am currently at the end of a 2 day salt bath to try and heal up any gill damage. From the symtoms I have it seemed like the gills were damaged somehow.

He has been eating apparently I see him poop regularly and I saw him eat a guppy fry yesterday. The poop has a pale pink color. I think he has been picking off guppy fry and ghost shrimps.

Could the gasping be caused by IPs?

Gill flukes - That sounds like a real possibility. I lost a puffer to them about a year ago...good luck. I don't have any good advice on treating them.

It doesn't sound like IPs of any sort - I just thought he could have been flashing from overall discomfort.

Eric

Jayhawk wrote:Gill flukes - That sounds like a real possibility. I lost a puffer to them about a year ago...good luck. I don't have any good advice on treating them.

It doesn't sound like IPs of any sort - I just thought he could have been flashing from overall discomfort.

Eric

Could you see the gill flukes? I cant see anything hanging from the gill plate. I have treated two medicines whhich claimed to be toxic to gill flukes, and yet no improvement.
Malacite Green & Parasite Away

I just got done with the two day salt bath, and he doesnt seem too much better. Still laying on the bottom of the tank as usual.

I could just barely see the gill flukes and they're much easier to see on a puffer than a cichlid (they were obvious when he was deceased and I really check them out).

If you've treated for them, I could only suggest one of two courses of action:

1) Clean up the water, using carbon, and see what happens.
2) Try a broad spectrum antiobotic...you never know what bacterial infections he might harbor that could lead to odd symptoms.

Eric

Jayhawk wrote:I could just barely see the gill flukes and they're much easier to see on a puffer than a cichlid (they were obvious when he was deceased and I really check them out).

If you've treated for them, I could only suggest one of two courses of action:

1) Clean up the water, using carbon, and see what happens.
2) Try a broad spectrum antiobotic...you never know what bacterial infections he might harbor that could lead to odd symptoms.

Eric

I am treating the WHOLE tank now with Jungle Anti-Parasite and Melafix. I just noticed that his gills have some sort of white film, and look to be swollen. I really hope he pulls through