my puffer needs help!!!

If you have a few pieces of live rock available from the main tank that you can put into the hospital tank that would help with the filtration. Normally I don't recommend rock in hospital tanks but since we're pretty sure this isn't an issue of parasites I think it would be helpful. Puffers also really need places to hide so rock or a good sized tube of PVC will help the fish.
 
I am in San Tan Valley, I am home swing by and grab box. $10.00 will last you anywhere from 6 months to a year depending on how much you feed him
 
so update, took him to the aquarius where someone told me a professional could take a look at him. ill just say he got his mouth open and said his teeth were fine. didnt really help much but i hope hes right and if so i can cross that off the list. upon placing him back in his hospital tank, i noticed his mouth was opening and closing a little (almost normal id say) more than b4 i took him to the guy. so im wondering if his mouth was in fact locked bc of his tooth? or misaligned? idk yet as i wont b able to try to get him to eat till he's destressed (proly tomorrow) if not, i am in need of a way to get his mouth open?????? the "professional" ended up using his knife (didnt hurt him) but theres no way in hell i would every do that to my lil guy... open to any suggestions on how to get his mouth open without hurting him.... def needs to b small, even a popsicle stick was too large.
 
Was told by a reputable source that he was a professional with dealing with them, wasn't the case unfortunately.
 
Well that's too bad. But if you saw the teeth for yourself then you can feel comfortable at least that is not the problem. Which leaves you with the "lock jaw". That should take care of itself with time so your goal is to make sure it gets the nutrition it needs in the mean time. You have the tools. You can save him!
 
tcamos said:
Well that's too bad. But if you saw the teeth for yourself then you can feel comfortable at least that is not the problem. Which leaves you with the "lock jaw". That should take care of itself with time so your goal is to make sure it gets the nutrition it needs in the mean time. You have the tools. You can save him!
Click to expand...


Well put sir.
 
I've done a lot of reading on this condition and in all my readings I've not found a reliable source that explains a single reason for it.

There are some who say it's diet (too many krill) some who say it's parasites, and my own personal thinking is that it's a bacterial infection that causes inflammation.

But no matter the cause the treatment is similar. The only thing that might be added is an antibacterial or anti-parasite medicine.

I'm not an expert on force feeding. I've done it, but only a couple of times. It's pretty much just what you expect. Be careful not to force the jaw. Any opening should be slow and gentle. That's why I recommend a very gentle massage on each side. Massage the jaws, open them enough to get the small tube in, slowly push the food in through the tube.
 
I held mine underwater, inserted the tube and plunged. I had to experiment to make the slurry the right consistency. you want to be careful not to shoot the food down its throat with too much force.
 
I force fed him last night, was not fun. He hated it. Had to pull him out of the water bc there was no way to get his mouth open. I'm thinking it may b a infection, his right eye has a little blood in it and a white circle in the same eye. The others completely fine. As for medicine, is there one particular one I should use? Wanna pick some up today for the hospital tank. Thnks all for the info and help
 
I've used Melafix in the past with good results. The only thing with it is that it only targets certain common bacteria and if your fish doesn't have one of those it won't work. It is NOT a broad spectrum anti-bacterial. For that, as far as I know, you will need a vet to get it for you. Can you try and post a macro photo of the eye?
 
Did you catch him with a net when you moved him to the hospital tank? If so the eye could just be injured from the net.

But like tcamos said a picture would help.
 
I ask because puffer eyes have a natural opalescence to them. That looks similar to what's being described (the white rings part) and changes depending on angle and light.

Wzsw6[1].jpg


post-4526-0-35479100-1393982442.jpg
 
I know it's hard to see I'll get a better pic tomorrow but it's in the back of his eyes pocket. It's circular and milky his other eye is perfectly fine. But that ones got blood and the big white spot in the back

 
Good looking guy. How's the feeding coming? Keep at it. You might just want to treat with antibiotics to be safe once you get the hang of feeding him. Order some amoxicillin or penicillin from petmountain
 
I just worry I'm stressing him out bc I have to pull him out of the water to get his mouth open, and he puffs (with air) so I have to burp him when I put him back. Got some eurythramiacin? Proly spelled that wrong. But it's an antibiotic for bacterial infections... If that's what what he has? Who knows. But doin my best
 
If you get a pair of latex gloves they will help you get the job done in the water without having to take him out.
 
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