What’s wrong with the trigger?

[Puffer Lover]

Can anyone give me any insight on how to treat this guy? He’s been like this for a week now and won’t eat. Looks swollen and there’s a bubble protruding out of his side. Only water parameter issue is high nitrates but over half of the tank has undergone a water change in one week. He can’t really keep himself straight and won’t eat peas either. I’m debating epsom. Thank you

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Can anyone give me any insight on how to treat this guy? He’s been like this for a week now and won’t eat. Looks swollen and there’s a bubble protruding out of his side. Only water parameter issue is high nitrates but over half of the tank has undergone a water change in one week. He can’t really keep himself straight and won’t eat peas either. I’m debating epsom. Thank you

There seems to be a few things going on here. The water is foamy, have you added medication or something? If not, you'll need to figure out where that is coming from, and probably do some water changes if it is organic in origin.

Feeding peas is an old fancy goldfish treatment for constipation, it won't help here. Likewise, Epsom salts is a freshwater treatment, it won't help in marine tanks. Think about it - magnesium sulfate is the fourth most common salt in seawater, adding a bit more won't change much at all.

Unfortunately, I think this fish has edema, fluid in its tissue. The two primary causes for this are liver or kidney failure. Like in humans, there is no cure for this. The reason I think this is that the swelling seems throughout the belly. If it were constipation, the swelling would be more localized.

Sorry I couldn't offer a treatment.....


Jay

 

[Puffer Lover]

There seems to be a few things going on here. The water is foamy, have you added medication or something? If not, you'll need to figure out where that is coming from, and probably do some water changes if it is organic in origin.

Feeding peas is an old fancy goldfish treatment for constipation, it won't help here. Likewise, Epsom salts is a freshwater treatment, it won't help in marine tanks. Think about it - magnesium sulfate is the fourth most common salt in seawater, adding a bit more won't change much at all.

Unfortunately, I think this fish has edema, fluid in its tissue. The two primary causes for this are liver or kidney failure. Like in humans, there is no cure for this. The reason I think this is that the swelling seems throughout the belly. If it were constipation, the swelling would be more localized.

Sorry I couldn't offer a treatment.....


Jay

I appreciate your thoughts…I didn’t think the epsom would work for the same reason.