Something I have never had a puffer do

[JustinReef]

My Burrfish has suddenly stopped swallowing her food and is getting very skinny. She had been eating so well for many months now until a few weeks ago.

She seems SO hungry and goes nuts for food but just chews it and chews it and chews it before spitting it out. Of course I have seen puffers chew and spit some of their food back out and then eat the rest before but this is totally different. Its like she can't swallow???

Although yesterday she did manage to get quite a bit of prawn down.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[predator 1]

If possible, try to have a look in the fishes mouth. I have heard of a Marine Parasite ( I cant remember the name) which attaches itself to the Tongue of the Fish. It actually eats the Tongue, and anchors itself in the mouth, therefore becoming a new Tongue.
The host Fish often has trouble swallowing there food as a result.

 

[WuHT]

http://www.boingboing.net/2005/09/19/another-picture-of-t.html worth a look

 

[megaspoot]

What have you been trying in terms of food Justin, and what has she been refusing lately? Have you tried oysters, clams or oysters?

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13257239#post13257239 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by megaspoot
What have you been trying in terms of food Justin, and what has she been refusing lately? Have you tried oysters, clams or oysters?

She is not refusing anything actually, just doesn't seem to want to do more than "play" with the food. She goes nuts for food still and starts eating it but just keeps chewing and chewing the food until eventually begging for more and leaving what she was chewing..

 

[JustinReef]

My problem with the tongue parasite is that where all of a sudden would that come from? Nothing was added to the tank recently and she was fine.

Its really hard to see in her mouth but it looks normal from what I can see. You never know though.

 

[predator 1]

Parasites are amongst the "Shrewdest" creatures on the Planet Justin!! (They have to be) They are aware of what there hosts are about eat. So if you, as I have, fed the fish with natural fresh food, the parasite will always be a threat!!

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13257954#post13257954 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by predator 1
Parasites are amongst the "Shrewdest" creatures on the Planet Justin!! (They have to be) They are aware of what there hosts are about eat. So if you, as I have, fed the fish with natural fresh food, the parasite will always be a threat!!

No natural fresh food. Only frozen "fresh" foods in which parasites could not live.

I am not saying it couldn't be this parasite and will keep checking for it but I just have a hard time with where it could have come from. Your right though they are shrewd!

 

[megaspoot]

Our's did this at first, and we noticed that she didn't like to eat food in large chunks. So we cut up things really small for her and there was no problem anymore.

 

[LisaD]

Justin, not sure. Any chance of intestinal parasites? Or an obstruction in the gut? I think the tongue-eating isopod is highly unlikely.

see pics in link below.
http://www.tolweb.org/Isopoda

I haven't had time to look through them, on my way out, but how about reviewing WWM FAQ on burrfish nutrition and disease, and/or sending the question to them?

e.g.,
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/burrfishfdgfaqs.htm

 

[JustinReef]

Thanks Lisa.

Why I find this all so strange is that she was eating normally and LOTS for the past 4 months or so since she was in QT. Now all of a sudden she seems to be unable to eat too much. She does have a huge appetite and everytime I go near the tank she wants food and goes nuts. She is going at food more aggressively than ever but just chews it up and spits it out. Then waits for more. She seems to be getting down a bit but its very minimal and her belly is extremely sunken now. I am going to QT her tonight I think and treat for IP again. She very well could have never gotten rid of all of the IP's she had when I first got her.

Oh and I saw her tongue yesterday and its still there

 

[LisaD]

I can't come up with anything besides internal parasites, possibly causing an obstruction. You're sure there are no mouth/beak problems, right?

 

[Pufferpunk]

I have read many posts of Puffer Queen's saying this fish needs to be dewormed often throught it's life. Do a search at Marine Depot for her posts on this.

 

[marine buoy]

ive got a lion that ive had a similar story with. it ate like crazy for the first 4 months (my fault!) was feeding him 3/4 mussels a day-7 days a week.needless to say he was very lazy!.all of a sudden he stopped eating . it lasted 15 days .i started to worry but kept attempting to feed with .scollops,krill and squid.he began to eat again. since then i feed him 3 times a week with a good fresh varied diet .all from a feeding stick (apart from the odd live treats)he is no longer a lazy lion and my tank is all the better for it!!