Help - Sick Spiny Box Puffer

[Cobra Jack]

y spiny box puffer has been sick for about a week.


he has not eaten in about 7-8 days.

my water tests fine, I even had the local fish store verify.

all my other fish are fine


typically, when my puffer hasn't eaten in a day or two his stomach is concave or indented.. during the last week it's be puffed out or looks like it's full

he's also pale and uninterested in anyting including food.


I've done one 5 minute fresh water dip, I don't know what else to do... I've had him for 2.5 years and would really hate to lose him.


any advice is greatly apreciated

I've taken him to the LFS and they can't find anything externally wrong, nor can they offer any real advice.

 

[arizona tech]

have you added anything recently?, are all your fish accounted for?

 

[Puffer Queen]

Freshwater dips should be performed for removal of external parasites and should be at least 15 minutes preferably 30 minutes. Feeding parasites (spots) can easily withstand 5 minutes as they are embedded into the skin/mucous of the fish (protected).

Swollen abdomens in puffers can be intestinal worm infestation/protozoans and potential blockage - has the puffer defecated recently?

Another cause could be infection. (not as likely but still a cause).

I would recommend deworming as well as administering metonidazole for protozoans.
Best of luck.

 

[Cobra Jack]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8780637#post8780637 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by arizona tech
have you added anything recently?, are all your fish accounted for?

nothing added recently, all are accounted for

 

[Cobra Jack]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8783011#post8783011 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Puffer Queen
Freshwater dips should be performed for removal of external parasites and should be at least 15 minutes preferably 30 minutes. Feeding parasites (spots) can easily withstand 5 minutes as they are embedded into the skin/mucous of the fish (protected).

Swollen abdomens in puffers can be intestinal worm infestation/protozoans and potential blockage - has the puffer defecated recently?

Another cause could be infection. (not as likely but still a cause).

I would recommend deworming as well as administering metonidazole for protozoans.
Best of luck.

The fresh water dip was at the recomendation of the LFS

I haven't noticed any defication, but then again I'm out of the house a good part of the day.

can you provide me with info on deworming, I'm clueless.

 

[Puffer Queen]

Praziquantel is my dewormer of choice - there are threads on this site that outline deworming.

It has been reported that almost 80% of all fish brought into the hobby have worms. They can coexist within a fish for prolonged periods before symptoms become apparent.