Any Freshwater Puffer Experts

[Davisc1293]

I understand this is saltwater forum but with all the knowledge here I feel someone can help. I have a freshwater arrowhead puffer who is not eating and seems unbalanced laying on the bottom. Hes usually very reactive when offered food but in the past week hes only eaten one bite i had to shove in his mouth and after spitting out several times he finally swallowed a small piece. Ive done several water changes and have added salt since. so testing the water after didnt tell me much.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I understand this is saltwater forum but with all the knowledge here I feel someone can help. I have a freshwater arrowhead puffer who is not eating and seems unbalanced laying on the bottom. Hes usually very reactive when offered food but in the past week hes only eaten one bite i had to shove in his mouth and after spitting out several times he finally swallowed a small piece. Ive done several water changes and have added salt since. so testing the water after didnt tell me much.

Sounds like an internal issue but can you post a couple of pics under white lighting?
Also, they need aquarium salt in their water (not sea salt) or even epsom salt/cooking salt and a little acidic on Ph - Oops, see you added salt- NO TABLE SALT

 

[Davisc1293]

Thanks for the quick reply i will add some photos and Ive added one tbs of aquarium salt each day for the past three days. I dont ant to add any more its roughly 20 gals or just under.

 

[Davisc1293]

 

[Davisc1293]

Thanks for the quick reply i will add some photos and Ive added one tbs of aquarium salt each day for the past three days. I dont ant to add any more its roughly 20 gals or just under.

Dont plan to add any more*

Ive never added salt to his water prior to this however

 

[Sharkbait19]

What are params?
Could you try to get a pic of it from the side? Internal parasites are pretty common in puffers, so that would be my initial guess.

 

[SlugSnorter]

Params? diet? tank age? tank size? how long have you had the puffer? and what species?

 

[Davisc1293]

3 more days without eating, and I've been doing frequent water changes in his roughly 20 gal tank I believe hes a
Pao suvattii who I've had a little over a year.

 

[Michael Price]

3 more days without eating, and I've been doing frequent water changes in his roughly 20 gal tank I believe hes a
Pao suvattii who I've had a little over a year.

Water changes will only stress it out and make it worse. Unless absolutely necessary, avoid water changes while trying to fix a fish

 

[Sharkbait19]

Water changes will only stress it out and make it worse. Unless absolutely necessary, avoid water changes while trying to fix a fish

I’m actually going to have to disagree here.
Especially in freshwater, water changes are your best friend. In most cases, the best medicine is keeping the water as clean as possible. A fish will be stressed for the 20 minutes a water change takes, and then is typically back to normal soon after.

3 more days without eating, and I've been doing frequent water changes in his roughly 20 gal tank I believe hes a
Pao suvattii who I've had a little over a year.

Any white stringy poo? Can you get more pics?
I’m still thinking that it’s due to internal parasites.
What have you tried feeding? Perhaps a change in diet can help.

 

[Davisc1293]

I’m actually going to have to disagree here.
Especially in freshwater, water changes are your best friend. In most cases, the best medicine is keeping the water as clean as possible. A fish will be stressed for the 20 minutes a water change takes, and then is typically back to normal soon after.

Any white stringy poo? Can you get more pics?
I’m still thinking that it’s due to internal parasites.
What have you tried feeding? Perhaps a change in diet can help.

He is not eating or pooping in over a week now. I never recall it being stringy however im sure this is somthing internal at this point but dont know what my options for medicine are as he is not eating.

 

[SlugSnorter]

He is not eating or pooping in over a week now. I never recall it being stringy however im sure this is somthing internal at this point but dont know what my options for medicine are as he is not eating.

potentially impacted

 

[Sharkbait19]

What is the typical diet?
I think
It wouldn’t hurt to treat with a dewormer like levamisole and prazi (both treat for different types).

 

[Davisc1293]

What is the typical diet?
I think
It wouldn’t hurt to treat with a dewormer like levamisole and prazi (both treat for different types).

primarily frozen krill, and I offer clams and snails every now and then. But has refused everything I've offered him for over a week now.

can these be treated together at the same time I'm sure he doesn't have much time left if he doesn't eat but he does seem more responsive the past couple days.

 

[Sharkbait19]

I’ll divert that question to @Jay Hemdal
I think they are okay together but I would personally separate just to be safe.
Another thing I’d do is try feeding mysis or bloodworms. I’ve never seen a freshwater fish not go crazy over them.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I’ll divert that question to @Jay Hemdal
I think they are okay together but I would personally separate just to be safe.
Another thing I’d do is try feeding mysis or bloodworms. I’ve never seen a freshwater fish not go crazy over them.

Sorry - IDK. I've never dosed a FW puffer with levamisole.

Jay

 

[Sharkbait19]

Sorry - IDK. I've never dosed a FW puffer with levamisole.

Jay

Would you recommend dosing separate was a precaution then?

 

[Dbichler]

I’ll divert that question to @Jay Hemdal
I think they are okay together but I would personally separate just to be safe.
Another thing I’d do is try feeding mysis or bloodworms. I’ve never seen a freshwater fish not go crazy over them.

 

[Davisc1293]

I treated the tank with expel-p last night and will treat with prazi next if he makes it any longer. He is looking better then when i first posted but is still not eating.

 

[Davisc1293]