Help me save my puffer

[Gagstr]

:sad1:
So I posted this in the fish illness and treatment section but it seems nobody could help me out there... someone suggested I try posting it here so here goes:

"I think he has an air bubble and I have been trying to massage it out of him for the past few days... he has since stopped eating and is looking skinny... the massages have helped a little but I do still see a bulge on his side and he is having a bit of trouble swimming still... I love him and I can say he is my favorite fish and I want to know if there is anything I can do to save my friend . My fstupd gf wanted to see him puffed up so she took him up to the top and shook him around a bit which is why all this is happening... When I found out, I beat the **** out of her verbally..

Anyone know what I can do? so far im just holding him vertically and massaging his bulge up towards his mouth in the hopes of getting him to burp it out"

anyone have any ideas?

 

[rayn]

Bump for help.

I've been told to do exactly what you are doing in this situation. Good luck.

Mine will sometimes burp themselves too.

 

[namxas]

You're doing the right thing. The best way I can describe the proper motion is to think of a tube of toothpaste and use a kind of upward "rolling motion", being careful not to rub the fish, as this will irritate its skin.

You can do a search for Kelly Jedlicki, and find out where she hangs these days...she's the bomb when it comes to puffers. They don't call her "puffer queen" for nothing.

 

[Gagstr]

Thanks guys, I read a bunch of the writing that Kelly has done and thats what ive been following, i was hoping there might be more i can do for my puffy. As of last night i was able to get more than half of the air out (i actually saw him spit a bubble out), and he looks like he can swim normally... i also turned off my powerheads which were blowing him arround... I also set up my 20 gallon qt tank and will moove him there to be able to isolate him during feeding because his tankmates eat hogg everything. He has developed black circles on his face tail and body, i think this is from strees so im hoping being in a tank alone should help....

 

[reefergeorge]

A pic would really help. It may be a bacterial infection if it's just on one side. Without a pic it"s hard to say, but try to limit stress, and if he can swim I wouldn't massage him anymore. He probably doesn't enjoy being grabbed.

 

[reefergeorge]

Just to add if you end up with meds... Do NOT use copper on puffers.

 

[Gagstr]

rgr that, the qt tank is pure ro/di saltwater mix and i matched paramaters to the dt exactly so he should be fine in there. Im hoping he will eat something, whats the best food to encourage his apetite?

 

[reefergeorge]

What kind is he? My porc loves clam meat from the grocery store.
For meds, pick up some prazi-pro or something with Praziquantel in it for any IPs. Puffers are known to carry some bad stuff. I treat all my fish with prazi as a preventative measure. No harm even if they are clean.

Also there is a med in a blue 3" tube with a brown cap, and a little spoon on the inside. That will take care of him if it is an infection.

Good luck, and I know the feeling. I love my puffer like my dog.

 

[reefergeorge]

http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Metronidazole.html

metronidazole Thanks google!