The Puffer Forum

Hi all,
I think i have managed to buy a puffer with internal parasites, not sure though. I bought 2 fig 8s and brought them home today - (tank set up for over a year and already has a few inhabitants). Gave them thir first meal of bloodworm tonight, 1 was fine, ate well and had a nice round belly - but the other ate fine, but its belly was more like 2 little hills, instead of 1 nice big round one. Also it has a few grey circles on its belly, prob 4-5 mm diameter which are the normal white colour in the middle.
Im thinking some type of parasite - if so what should i buy / do (live in UK). Both fish are prob about 4cm long, currently in v. light brackish water, temp around 26-27C.
Thanks

I could be wrong but it sounds more like he was bit by his tankmate during feeding. My figure eights often had differnt shapes after differnt meals. The circles and their color are common with bites.

Yep, I'm leaning to bites...they get transported in deplorable cramped conditions from Asia, dumped in a woefully overcrowded tank for ....... how long?
No wonder you see some evidence of fights.
Do's a favour though, and give us the tank parameters, including SG, and his feeding schedule, just to be on the safe side.
I wouldn't jump to medicating for parasites that he might not have..wait and watch a while, but keep us posted as he settles in.
Pami.
Oooh...afterthought...where are you, as I'm in Oxford, and my lfs hasn't had any F8s in since new year.

I am up near leeds, located the puffers at a shop just off the m62. Both puffers seem ok at the mo, parameters are all as they should be, 0 ammonia and nitrite, nitrate between 5 and 10ppm. One question though, what pH should i be looking to get these guys at as they head into brackish? Ive got some coral gravel but dont know how much to add, or if it is even required tbh. the pH at the mo seems to be about 7.4 area, but if it needs to be a bit closer to 8 hopefully the coral gravel will do that?

the coral will raise the ph. I looks like you have an intenal parsite problem.

stephen

I looks like you have an intenal parsite problem.

Why do you say that?

I vote for bite marks as well they will go away over time... a sunken stomach shortly after having a meal would point more towards internal parasites

Are the bite marks fading already? How are they settling in?
Pami.

Yeah i think the circles have just about gone, def not as bad as what they were, and they are suffering no loss of appetite or concave bellies - i think they would eat cockle all day if i supplied them with it! Ive put the coral gravel in now too so hopefully that should help stabilise and buffer etc, and they both seem happy enough with their environment! thanks folks

No worries...any more questions or concerns, get back to us. Sounds like they're getting settled now.
Pami.