Sunken belly porcupine pufferfish!

[AydenLincoln]

Do you think his little belly is sunken? And he may have internal parasites? It’s been a few days and he still hasn’t eaten. He’s in quarantine right now.

 

[vetteguy53081]

These guys are susceptible to changes in water quality which they make the mess themselves and one should be prepared to change water frequently testing often as they produce enough waste to pollute water and raise nitrate quickly. Weekly changes of 20% to keep up with trace elements and water quality is noy unusual.
While some looked filled in body contour, pic below is typical. Again, NEVER buy a fish in a shipping bag as poisoning and gas exchanges are the biggest risk. Most stores will not offer a warranty in shipping bag for this reason.
Some foods to entice it to eat are live ghost shrimp or a couple of guppies. Signs of internal issues are hard to distinguish in many cases.
Assure both Salinity and nitrate are not elevated. If this is a brand new tank, may be a contributor.

 

[AydenLincoln]

These guys are susceptible to changes in water quality which they make the mess themselves and one should be prepared to change water frequently testing often as they produce enough waste to pollute water and raise nitrate quickly. Weekly changes of 20% to keep up with trace elements and water quality is noy unusual.
While some looked filled in body contour, pic below is typical. Again, NEVER buy a fish in a shipping bag as poisoning and gas exchanges are the biggest risk. Most stores will not offer a warranty in shipping bag for this reason.
Some foods to entice it to eat are live ghost shrimp or a couple of guppies. Signs of internal issues are hard to distinguish in many cases.
Assure both Salinity and nitrate are not elevated. If this is a brand new tank, may be a contributor.

I will test and monitor him! Yes but I did transfer my media and some rock. I got him to eat some krill after chasing him around with it for a few minutes. He’s used to eating live foods so that’s why I also added a snail.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Do you think his little belly is sunken? And he may have internal parasites? It’s been a few days and he still hasn’t eaten. He’s in quarantine right now.

A little sunken, but I've seen worse.

It may have tapeworms, but remember, internal parasites won't kill their host as long as the fish's energy intake is greater than the loss to the parasite....in the wild, fish reach a homeostasis with their hosts.

Side note - that coarse substrate is going to allow uneaten food to sift down out of reach of the fish. The fish may also have difficulty telling a bit of shrimp from a piece of shell.

Jay

 

[JC1977]

Just curious what all have you tried to feed the porc besides krill?

 

[AydenLincoln]

Just curious what all have you tried to feed the porc besides krill?

Clams

 

[JC1977]

Try raw shrimp from the grocery store. It’s the only thing my porc will eat all the time and keep his weight up. I usually peel the shells but once a week I’ll leave it on to work his beak.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Try raw shrimp from the grocery store. It’s the only thing my porc will eat all the time and keep his weight up. I usually peel the shells but once a week I’ll leave it on to work his beak.

Thanks.

 

[AydenLincoln]

A little sunken, but I've seen worse.

It may have tapeworms, but remember, internal parasites won't kill their host as long as the fish's energy intake is greater than the loss to the parasite....in the wild, fish reach a homeostasis with their hosts.

Side note - that coarse substrate is going to allow uneaten food to sift down out of reach of the fish. The fish may also have difficulty telling a bit of shrimp from a piece of shell.

Jay

And is cooper just for external parasites? As in if he has internal parasites it won’t help?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

And is cooper just for external parasites? As in if he has internal parasites it won’t help?

Correct, copper has no affect on internal parasites. General Cure can help with both internal protozoans as well as tapeworms.
Jay

 

[AydenLincoln]

Correct, copper has no affect on internal parasites. General Cure can help with both internal protozoans as well as tapeworms.
Jay

Just ordered some.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Correct, copper has no affect on internal parasites. General Cure can help with both internal protozoans as well as tapeworms.
Jay

The tank is 5 gallons and the directions say to do one packet for 10 gallons. Should I just do half a packet or does the entire packet work? Is it something easily overdosed with negative affects? And is it reef-safe? So like can the media I have in quarantine back in my main display or do I have to get new sponges?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

The tank is 5 gallons and the directions say to do one packet for 10 gallons. Should I just do half a packet or does the entire packet work? Is it something easily overdosed with negative affects? And is it reef-safe? So like can the media I have in quarantine back in my main display or do I have to get new sponges?

You need to dose accurately as possible - so try to accurately measure 1/2 packet per dose. I don’t consider this product reef safe, but it does not contaminate material like copper does - material dosed with it can be rinsed and used in reef tanks. Follow the label dosing instructions. For external flukes I give an alternate dosing schedule, but the one on the package is good for what you are doing.
Is the fish eating well?
Jay

 

[AydenLincoln]

You need to dose accurately as possible - so try to accurately measure 1/2 packet per dose. I don’t consider this product reef safe, but it does not contaminate material like copper does - material dosed with it can be rinsed and used in reef tanks. Follow the label dosing instructions. For external flukes I give an alternate dosing schedule, but the one on the package is good for what you are doing.
Is the fish eating well?
Jay

No not yet only like a one or two little small bites when I shove it in his face and that’s it. But I will note he was probably eating live foods before. I want to try live mysis. I’ve tried Masstick, clams, krill, shrimp, mysis, and scallops with some soaked in garlic. I just end up removing the uneaten food. I know he’s most likely stressed in quarantine but no longer chasing his reflection.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Well now I feel bad he puffed up on me and I could feel his little heart race in my hands. I was trying to put some food in his mouth. He has to start eating I’m worried. I’ll try again another day. I’ve been trying everyday and I know he needs a break from me and from me staring at him. But it’s so hard not to stare at him and have my hands in the tank. I saw him nibble at the hermit crabs I added too.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hand feeding it while holding it isn't likely to work. I've tube-fed this species, and that is pretty straightforward, but you really should have a fish anesthetic to do that. Here is a link to an article that I wrote on the topic:

Tube / Force Feeding Fish

This article describes methods of tube-feeding and force-feeding fish

www.reef2reef.com

Jay

 

[AydenLincoln]

Hand feeding it while holding it isn't likely to work. I've tube-fed this species, and that is pretty straightforward, but you really should have a fish anesthetic to do that. Here is a link to an article that I wrote on the topic:

Tube / Force Feeding Fish

This article describes methods of tube-feeding and force-feeding fish

www.reef2reef.com

Jay

Thanks. I’m going to replace the substrate to sand and get some live ghost shrimp and then keep my hands out of the tank.

 

[AydenLincoln]

@Jay Hemdal I got this little mithrax crab too for him.

 

[AydenLincoln]

This is so entertaining to watch and Mr. Crab pinched him and he puffed up but Hewbie approves!

 

[lion king]

Porc puffers many times come in with internal parasites and not eating is an indicator. When healthy these guys are good eaters but also frequently need live food to initially elicit a feeding response. If after offering live food, ghost shrimp or a small fiddler crab or other crab or shrimp, and they don't take; it is important to immediately treat with general cure. Please do not wait continuing to throw every variety of food at them hoping for the best