Starry Puffer "coughing"?

[Forscythe]

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

I added a large air pump with 2 air lines pumping into the tank.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I added a large air pump with 2 air lines pumping into the tank.

You reacted well and this fish should pull through

 

[Forscythe]

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.

My LFS guy insisted that I couldn't freshwater dip a trigger. So I was hesitant.

 

[fishguy242]

sorry but going to agree with experts here over LFS,
freshwater dip 3-5 min, expert advice above.

 

[Forscythe]

sorry but going to agree with experts here over LFS,
freshwater dip 3-5 min, expert advice above.

I understand, I hope I don't regret it

 

[ReefHog]

Completely understand trusting LFS guy over guys on forum you never met but unfortunately many (most) LFS guys are just guys that work in the LFS and don;t have the experience or knowledge that dedicated hobbyists have. Or credentials as in Jay's case. I've FW dipped many triggers with no issues. The FW dip will knock many flukes off the fish giving him some immediate relief and better equiped to handle meds. That being said, triggers are more resilient than most fish so there's a good chance hell pull through.

 

[Forscythe]

Completely understand trusting LFS guy over guys on forum you never met but unfortunately many (most) LFS guys are just guys that work in the LFS and don;t have the experience or knowledge that dedicated hobbyists have. Or credentials as in Jay's case. I've FW dipped many triggers with no issues. The FW dip will knock many flukes off the fish giving him some immediate relief and better equiped to handle meds. That being said, triggers are more resilient than most fish so there's a good chance hell pull through.

I trust everyone's expertise on the forum, I just know my LFS guy pretty well. He's an avid marine hobbyist that had never steered me wrong before.
Trust me, I greatly appreciate everyone's knowledge and expertise in helping me with this unfortunate situation I'm going through.
This forum is one of the reasons I love this hobby.
If I don't see any signs of improvement, I will give the trigger the freshwater dip.

 

[Forscythe]

*Update*

He made it through the night. He's leaning up against a wall at the moment, but he does try to move around a bit. Hopefully we're on the right track

 

[Hermie]

sounds like gill flukes based on the first page of posts but I have not yet read the page 2 and 3

 

[Hermie]

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?

This happened to many of my freshwater fish as they died from gill flukes, the flukes damage the gills which reduces the oxygen in the fish's system and they kind of go delirious like a person in the high mountains; they just gradually lose consciousness and their cells break down at the same time. I'd be surprised if your fish had flukes and they were not "scratching" themselves on rocks and other things to try to remove the flukes because they are otherwise helpless. Are they flashing or scratching themselves on anything?

 

[Forscythe]

This happened to many of my freshwater fish as they died from gill flukes, the flukes damage the gills which reduces the oxygen in the fish's system and they kind of go delirious like a person in the high mountains; they just gradually lose consciousness and their cells break down at the same time. I'd be surprised if your fish had flukes and they were not "scratching" themselves on rocks and other things to try to remove the flukes because they are otherwise helpless. Are they flashing or scratching themselves on anything?

Every so often he appears to “scratch” on the sand bed, but not very often. He’s trying desperately to swim so I will continue to watch him

 

[Forscythe]

So he was looking better up until today.

 

[Forscythe]

Hes still breathing but he doesn't appear to be making much progress. I added a second dose of prazipro today per the directions.

Hopefully he pulls through

 

[Hermie]

I'm sorry you and your fish have to go through this. It's definitely painful for both.

 

[ReefHog]

Sorry to hear that. The sooner the FW dip the better as it provides some immediate relief by reducing the amount of flukes as they drop off. It’s astonishing how many of those things fall off. Triggers are very tough fish so hopefully your guy battles back.

 

[Forscythe]

Sorry to hear that. The sooner the FW dip the better as it provides some immediate relief by reducing the amount of flukes as they drop off. It’s astonishing how many of those things fall off. Triggers are very tough fish so hopefully your guy battles back.

I'm gonna do a FW dip first thing tomorrow morning. Unfortunately I'm working nights or else I'd do it now. I feel so bad for the poor thing.

 

[Forscythe]

I'm sorry you and your fish have to go through this. It's definitely painful for both.

Thanks, I'm hoping he pulls through.

 

[Forscythe]

Im sad to say that the trigger did not make it.

I thought we were making progress, but unfortunately he passed overnight.

I'm wondering if the problem was something else, and now I'm afraid to restock the tank.

Should I do a complete teardown, bleach the live rock, and replace the substrate?

 

[ReefHog]

Maybe try a freshwater dip anyway and see if flukes fall off.

 

[Forscythe]

Maybe try a freshwater dip anyway and see if flukes fall off.

Good point, at least I can verify flukes maybe.