The Puffer Forum

I have two new dwarf puffers. One of them stays upside down, cannot swim and only eats when i put a shrimp in his mouth. He has been like this for seven days. Please help!

Water parameters?
How long has the tank been cycled?

All water parameters are high now except pH. I am trying to get all to acceptable levels. I just find it strange that one puffer is fine and the other is not. The tank had water replaced about a week before the puffers were introduced to the tank. We had them in there for a week before the one decided he likes to be upside down on his/her back.

That fish has swallowed air in the act of puffing.

there are instructions for burping a puffer here:

http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/ ... rpuff.html

Can you "burp" a dwarf in the same manner?
I mean they are so small...is there not a risk of internal damage?

I don't think there will be a risk if you are gently. However the risk compared to leaving as he is is negligible.

True...better to try and save it than doom it

Thanks for the advise I will give it a try. Hope it works, will let you know.

good luck, you should post some pics, I think it would go good with the linked article.

We have burped the little guy and he is still with us.

He is still upside down.

We have some pics but do not know how to post them.

He is GSP..and doesnt float...which means not too much air...I have no clue.

You can post the pictures to your photo gallery. http://www.thepufferforum.com/ug

EDIT - I see from your gallery that you already found it! That's great, but those aren't dwarf puffers. That's a Green Spotted Puffer! Check out the pufferpedia.

Yep GSP. Have you your water stats?

Hope you got a big enough tank! You're going to need a much bigger one than if they were DPs.

Thanks for all the input. We do not have any water stats at this time. I will take a sample to our local pet store, then I can go from there and hopefully get her right side up.