Starry Puffer "coughing"?

[Forscythe]

Sorry for your loss.

Thank you

 

[ReefHog]

What are/were the symptoms? I doubt any poison was released. Did you do any water changes after the puffer died? While parasites are a possibility, have you checked the main water parameters and most importantly, Ammonia? Was there any change or anything added recently to the aquarium? Possibly something got accidentally dumped in there. I had a three year old one time that threw a bunch of crayons in my tank. If he is still showing the signs, a video can help with diagnosis.

 

[Forscythe]

What are/were the symptoms? I doubt any poison was released. Did you do any water changes after the puffer died? While parasites are a possibility, have you checked the main water parameters and most importantly, Ammonia? Was there any change or anything added recently to the aquarium? Possibly something got accidentally dumped in there. I had a three year old one time that threw a bunch of crayons in my tank. If he is still showing the signs, a video can help with diagnosis.

He was laying on his side at the bottom and his eyes have a hazy film over them, which wasnt there yesterday. I don't see any visible white spots. I did a 50% water change 3 days ago before the puffer died. Up until this morning, the trigger had shown no signs of distress. I tested ammonia and nitrite and both came back at zero.

Other than that, I haven't made any changes to the system.

 

[Forscythe]

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi, Sorry, I'm just coming in on this a bit late. I wonder: coughing in fish can often be a sign of flukes. In looking at your trigger, I can almost see discrete spots in the cloudy eyes. That also can be a sign of flukes.

One thing that *could* buy you some time is a freshwater dip. Five minutes in dechlorinated tap water the same temperature as the tank. After the dip, search the bottom of the container to see if you can visualize any flukes (like little sesame seeds). Only one species of fluke can be seen without a microscope, but if the fish improves a day or two after the dip, then you can be pretty confident it is flukes and you can start a praziquantel treatment.

Bear in mind though - a FW dip will kill a fish if it is close to death, and sometimes, after the flukes are knocked off, the fish bleeds out through the holes they leave.

Not doing anything will also likely result in the fish dying though.

A short video might tell me more.....

Jay

 

[ReefHog]

Have you done a freshwater dip to check for flukes? Tap water de chlorinated and brought to tank temperature. add a spoon of of your tank water to help with pH and put him in there for 3-5 minutes. If you see clear/white sesame seed looking things dropping off, he has flukes.

 

[Forscythe]

Hi, Sorry, I'm just coming in on this a bit late. I wonder: coughing in fish can often be a sign of flukes. In looking at your trigger, I can almost see discrete spots in the cloudy eyes. That also can be a sign of flukes.

One thing that *could* buy you some time is a freshwater dip. Five minutes in dechlorinated tap water the same temperature as the tank. After the dip, search the bottom of the container to see if you can visualize any flukes (like little sesame seeds). Only one species of fluke can be seen without a microscope, but if the fish improves a day or two after the dip, then you can be pretty confident it is flukes and you can start a praziquantel treatment.

Bear in mind though - a FW dip will kill a fish if it is close to death, and sometimes, after the flukes are knocked off, the fish bleeds out through the holes they leave.

Not doing anything will also likely result in the fish dying though.

A short video might tell me more.....

Jay

I will give that a shot. Thank you, I will keep you posted on the results

 

[Forscythe]

Have you done a freshwater dip to check for flukes? Tap water de chlorinated and brought to tank temperature. add a spoon of of your tank water to help with pH and put him in there for 3-5 minutes. If you see clear/white sesame seed looking things dropping off, he has flukes.

Thank you, I will do exactly that

 

[vetteguy53081]

*Update* I lost him

After trying medications and lots of big water changes, I wasn't able to save him. Rest in peace Gus

Oh no and what a beauty. Coughing and yawning often a sign of flukes

 

[Forscythe]

Oh no and what a beauty. Coughing and yawning often a sign of flukes

Ok thanks. I'm gonna try everything I can to save the trigger

 

[JumboShrimp]

Following this sad saga. Hope your Clown Trigger makes it.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ok thanks. I'm gonna try everything I can to save the trigger

For trigger, you can do a 5 minute freshwater dip in water same temp as display tank, then a 90 ruby Rally Pro bath, then continue with Rally pro.
Orazi Pro works also but increase oxygen via air stone as prazi reduces oxygen and appetite

 

[Forscythe]

Following this sad saga. Hope your Clown Trigger makes it.

Thanks, I hope he does too

 

[Forscythe]

For trigger, you can do a 5 minute freshwater dip in water same temp as display tank, then a 90 ruby Rally Pro bath, then continue with Rally pro.
Orazi Pro works also but increase oxygen via air stone as prazi reduces oxygen and appetite

I picked up some PraziPro from the LFS and when I got home he is swimming around but he seems disoriented. He's bounces off the glass like he can't swim properly. Could this be another symptom of flukes?

 

[fishguy242]

hopefully he just can't see through coating on eyes, best wishes.

 

[Forscythe]

Hs swimming around pretty good now. I put the prazipro in the tank so wish me luck!!!

 

[Forscythe]

I tried uploading a video but doesn't seem to work?

 

[rmorris_14]

I tried uploading a video but doesn't seem to work?

If you have an iPhone. I have to load it to my YouTube channel and then post the link.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I picked up some PraziPro from the LFS and when I got home he is swimming around but he seems disoriented. He's bounces off the glass like he can't swim properly. Could this be another symptom of flukes?

Flukes can often settle on eyes clouding his eyesight. Prazi should do well for flukes. Just assure you increase oxygen as Prazi will lower both oxygen and appetite

 

[ReefHog]

Thank you, I will do exactly that

Did you confirm Flukes with freshwater dip? If they are flukes, I believe it's best to FW dip first before Prazipro. I believe Prazipro causes the flukes to spazam and FW makes them fall off so It's best to get as many out as possible from the eyes first.