The Puffer Forum

Schnitzel, my puffer has been very bloated for the past week and refuses to eat, nevermind stalking his favourite prawns he loves. Now he just stays on the bottom of the tank, breathing very heavy and quick, like 5 times a second. I've noticed in the past that when he's stressed, his tail pulls in like a hook, but presently it's just not doing anything. His colouring looks totally fine.
Enviro-wise, he lives in a 37liter/9.7 US galon tank, temperature usually around 26 C, Filtersystem:internal>>300liters/h. I also have an airstone which is always on. Schnitz always used to play in the bubbles, but now, he barely moves. The ph is a tad high, 8.2, but it's never bothered him before. I feed him every two to three days> ramshorn snails, prawns and bloodworms. Ammonia, Nitrates and Nitrites are 0 and i do regular weekly waterchanges of 50%. I have not made any changes in the tank whatsoever and it's been running for more or less 3 months after being cycled without any fish for a month. Schnitzel lives alone. He is getting really swollen and im really concerned. He literally seems constipated. He hasn't eaten in 5 days, which concerns me not as much as the fact that he is not moving. Please help, it's my favourite pet i've ever had and it's the most intelligent one at that too.

Could he be constipated?

Edit: Doh, missed that part in your post. Puffers can get constipated. See if you can get him to eat peas. Otherwise, epsom salt is said to work on constipated bettas but I'm not sure of the amount to use.

1 tbsp Epsom salt the 1st day & add another the 2nd.

Schnitz is not any better. I tried the epson salts, but to no avail.. He's squeezed himself between the filter and the glass, sortof hanging there skew/imbalanced. I dunno if it's the vibration of the filter he's after or the current he's trying to avoid. Today is exactly a week since he's eaten anything.He's breathing seems faster. Could it b a lack of oxygen? Cuz my airstone is constantly on.I dunno what to do....Plz anyone...save my puffr..
I don't think he's got much time left...

Would it be harmful if i continue epson salt treatment????????

I would try it again... If all your params are good and he will not eat peas, it looks like that may be your best bet. Good luck... I lost one of my favorite puffs a few years ago because my PH test was inaccurate (maybe old when I bought it?) so I couldn't figure out what was wrong... I went to the LFS and my PH was 6.5 instead of 8 like usual, but by then it was too late. I now have crushed coral in all my tanks... So I always say if you are at a loss for a cause it is a good idea to take your water to the LFS just in case of human error or a faulty test kit...

I started Octozin(Waterlife) treatment today. I went to my "aquarist" just to ask his advice and after suggesting epsom salt treatment aswell, (which didn't work, he suggested Octozin which is most used for the treatment of bloatedness. I obviously did a 50% waterchange first. I dunno, if this does not work, shnitz will be done for. If he does'nt recover fairly quick, i don't think he'll ever fully recover or he'll kick the bucket. He still is'nt eating....Any opinions???

I've got photos of schnitz converted into jpegs.How do i post them with a reply???Is there a specific size they have to be?

I hope this works...Here are two pic's of schnitz in a fairly bloated, unhappy state and one pic of my tank.




Any opinions??

When he moves does he have trouble swimming, staying upright.

He doesn't really swim...He just lies there. The rare occasion he decides to moves, he swims fine, a bit wobbly but i think it's cuz of the current and he seems a bit weak. He seems heavy, if you could imagine what i mean... When he moves it looks like an obese fish with it's belly wobbling along...he's got direction tho...

I'm sad to say that i just found schnitz resting in peace. He is dead. Neither the epsom salts or the Octozin worked. Maybe it was too late for any treatment. I suggest to anyone if bloatedness or swelling occurs in your puffer, treat ASAP! Do not wait to see if he gets better on his own. Thanx for all the advice ppl.

Rest in Peace Schnitzel.

Sorry for you loss...you tried..