Valentini Puffer Emaciated and Lethargic

[Amateur Reefer]

Lately, my Valentini has just been lying on the rocks and refusing to eat. His swimming is slow. I was able to get him out of the display and into the hospital tank but not sure what to treat him with. Any suggestions? All other fish and inverts in display are healthy.

 

[Big G]

Have you seen any white & stringy poop from the puffer?

 

[Amateur Reefer]

Have you seen any white & stringy poop from the puffer?

Not yet but haven't been watching that closely. If I do, what's that a sign of?

 

[Amateur Reefer]

Just got home and he's swimming upside down but still clearly alive. Anything I can do?

 

[Terri Caton]

@4FordFamily

Maybe swim bladder?

 

[4FordFamily]

@4FordFamily

Maybe swim bladder?

Sounds more like a weak fish to me, on its last leg. Op, any change in behavior leading up to this? Spots? Dusting? Flashing or scratching? White stringy poo? Redness or marks? Discoloring? Heavy breathing?

Has it been eating well? How long have you had it?

 

[Amateur Reefer]

I've had for about 4 months. the past two weeks it hasn't been eating and just resting on the rocks. Can't find it in hospital tank today so I assume it died and the damsels ate it.

 

[Big G]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[Amateur Reefer]

So today, I cought my wrasse swimming vertically . . . I got him the QT tank but how do I treat this? I am worried now that two fish in one week have swimming issues...

 

[Big G]

Very difficult to treat wrasses which display this behavior. Sometimes fish develop constipation and or an internal bacterial infections which can effect their eating and swimming. Treating with plain USP epsom salts (1 tablespoon per 5 gallon of tank water) and antibiotic like kanaplex can help the fish's immune system while it does battle with the infection/constipation.

 

[Amateur Reefer]

Very difficult to treat wrasses which display this behavior. Sometimes fish develop constipation and or an internal bacterial infections which can effect their eating and swimming. Treating with plain USP epsom salts (1 tablespoon per 5 gallon of tank water) and antibiotic like kanaplex can help the fish's immune system while it does battle with the infection/constipation.

Thanks! Should I be concerned that there is something in the display tank? Or is it a coincidence that I lost two fish in a week?

 

[Big G]

I'm not a big believer of coincidence. This may help you as you go forward:

Internal Issues

Internal Issues For simplicity’s sake, there are 6 basic problems a marine fish may experience on the inside: 1. Intestinal worms Symptoms: White stringy feces, pinched stomach, loss of color, fish eats voraciously but still seems to be losing weight. Treatment of choice: Praziquantel...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Amateur Reefer]

Thanks @Big G! Great article. I didn't realize I can make meds reef safe with focus. So I guess the safest thing for now, even though the other fish are not yet showing symptoms, is to soak foods with prazi and metroplex along with focus and feed that food twice a day. Fingers crossed for no adverse side effects.

 

[Big G]

Thanks @Big G! Great article. I didn't realize I can make meds reef safe with focus. So I guess the safest thing for now, even though the other fish are not yet showing symptoms, is to soak foods with prazi and metroplex along with focus and feed that food twice a day. Fingers crossed for no adverse side effects.

General Cure is Prazi + Metro in a powder form without the oxybispropanol that is in the liquid Prazipro which can cause bacterial blooms and consume O2. Easy to mix with food + Focus.
Keep a turkey baster handy to remove as much of the uneaten mix as possible. Feed small quantities.