Pufferfish Lethargic and gasping

Rozier123 · Jun 23, 2017

My dogfish puffer has been not eating and sitting on a rock for the past two days. His mouth is open and appears to be gasping. All other fish in the tank are eating and swimming fine. I had him for about a month and was eating and swimming fine until a couple of days ago. Any suggestions on the cause?

150 Gallon
Dog Face Puffer
Thin Line Puffer
Niger Trigger
Huma Picasso Trigger
Yellow Wrasse
Lantern Bass
Yellow tang
Sailfin tang
Speckled Hawkfish
2 oceleras clowns

Water parameters tested good

aykwm · Jun 23, 2017

Puffers are known to suddenly stop eating. Are you offering different types of food? Try feeding variety of food.
Also do you notice any symptoms? Rapidly breathing, scratching or any odd behavior?
Gasping and lethargic highly suggest flukes which will cause the fish to stop eating.
You can dose prazipro to treat it from flukes.

GHsaltie · Jun 23, 2017

If you can catch the puffer for a freshwater dip then that will confirm/rule out flukes, here's a video to help you out with that. https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/video-how-to-do-a-freshwater-dip.214/
When and what was the last wet thing you added to the tank?

Poseidon84 · Jun 23, 2017

i agree with saltie, if you can catch it, do a freshwater dip. then if flukes are confirmed place him back into dt and dose prazipro in the proper dose. he will liven up from bieng ticked off by the detaching flukes, so watch him after a few minutes when he chills out try and feed him. as long as he eats he has a good chance. since hes quit eating already, time is of the essence. i hope this helps!

melypr1985 · Jun 23, 2017

I would also be curious if anybody is picking on him? You might not be able to see any aggression unless you watch from a distance since fish rarely act out right in front of you. lol

GHsaltie · Jun 24, 2017

melypr1985 said:
I would also be curious if anybody is picking on him? You might not be able to see any aggression unless you watch from a distance since fish rarely act out right in front of you. lol

Just like toddlers.... they are always watching and waiting

.