The Puffer Forum

Sadly, after almost a year of having my Fahaka Oreo, his clock just ran out. Water conditions were fine, the beak was a great shape, far from overgrouwn, a nice belly, far from overeaten. He was very active, and it was very sad losing him, considering I even worked for 4 months to afford the 125 tank just for him

I guess I'll have to try and get another one, but its wierd, I just don't like the other Fahakas I see like I did mine, but I'm sure its just too soon.

Sorry about your loss. If none of the other fahakas are what you are looking for, perhaps it is just too soon to get another.

Yeah, I mean every puffer I see, I just find flaws with. I just keep comparing them back to him. Maybe just needs time.

Sorry for your loss... This might sound awful but have you considered an autopsy?

That could be very interesting, you should consider it. I've never autopsied any of my lost fish, but have cut open a few other animals (I grew up on a small farm, I'm not sadistic). You can learn a lot when you autopsy animals.

I found one of my puffers to have liver problems. It was yellow & hard as a rock.

Sorry for your loss Jason.

That's so sad, I am sorry you lost your friend. I have been pufferless for a couple months since Percy and Penelope died it is hard to look at other puffers and not think of 'em. I have been tricking out my tanks though with the thought of another puffer in the future.
If you do decide to see if you can find any explanation for his passing in his body: grosser than gross but I find necropsy to go a little easier if the body is slightly frozen.

Puffer skin is really tough to cut through. Like leather w/spikes.

I didnt think of that, I bet on a bigger fish like that it is a real challenge to keep it neat without a surgical blade.

I wouldn't really know what I'm doing, nor would I have the heart to do it. I'm sure soon enough I'll be fine, and I can get another guy for my tank. It just sucks

They sell pocket knife "bases" that take commerical carpet knife blades as a blade now, they are VERY sharp and can be disposed of after use. They also have points, unlike most razor knives you see, so they are much better for autopsy. The blades could be used without any holder, but would be more awkward. Disposable razors are DEFINITELY the route to take when doing an autopsy though.

I'm sure that doing an autopsy on your friend could be quite disturbing but I'd what to know what went wrong.

Of course, there's no point in doing an autopsy unless you have a grounding in (normally functioning) fish anatomy. If you have no baseline for comparison, it's a bit of a waste of time.

And finding someone with that knowledge to perform the autopsy is likely going to be very difficult - and expensive. Not to mention, traumatic.

Yeah, I'm fresh out of highschool with only G12 bio under my belt. No way I'm sure what I'm doing on a fish