My saddleback puffer (who is young, still very small) has a bloated look to him, his belly is very distended and has been for three days now and is only getting bigger, and he looks uncomfortable, usually just resting on top of the rocks or sitting on the bottom. Any ideas what I could do for him? Is he just going to croak?
It may have ingested air when it was transferred, in which case it could have a large air bubble in it's stomach. I guess you should just keep an eye on it and hope for the best. Good luck, hope it is OK.
this is usually done by slowly massaging the area where the bubble is untill it works its way out...the fish usually dont cooperate though...have u noticed a bubble in it?
i have asl heard if using a fine needle to "relieve" the gas...but yea...popping a fish is a bit of a risk...lol
this is usually done by slowly massaging the area where the bubble is untill it works its way out...the fish usually dont cooperate though...have u noticed a bubble in it?
i have asl heard if using a fine needle to "relieve" the gas...but yea...popping a fish is a bit of a risk...lol
When fish like grouper are caught they are usually reeled up from great depths and thus their bladders swell. Many anglers do pierce the bladder with a needle to let out the excess air, allowing the fish to swim back to the bottom. i am not aware of any studies that confirm the survival rate for such fish. I would think it is a last course of action for an aquarium fish.
When fish like grouper are caught they are usually reeled up from great depths and thus their bladders swell. Many anglers do pierce the bladder with a needle to let out the excess air, allowing the fish to swim back to the bottom. i am not aware of any studies that confirm the survival rate for such fish. I would think it is a last course of action for an aquarium fish.
The survival rate is actually a lot better than most ppl think. I fish all the time and catching deep fish causes them to bloat up like a balloon and usually the air bladder is sticking out of the mouth. I usually just pop it with a hook and send them back down. The bladder heals up after a couple of days. 95% of the time they swim back down. sumtimes they are just way too bloated. thats when they make great fish tacos
Now to the original poster, I am not suggesting this. This will prolly be your last choice to do on an aquarium fish. messaging would be the best choice.
Ok, so its not air and its not water i don't think. If it were air, he'd be floating, and he's not. If it was water, he'd have no trouble letting it out. Since it's neither of these things I think he's got a bacterial infection due to maybe less than perfect water quality. I am running two Whisper 60's. Do we think that is sufficient? My LFS told me they were insufficient, but I'm also running a protien skimmer that keeps the water CRYSTAL clear. all my other fish are happy as clams. HELP!! I love my puffer he's so cute I don't want him to croak!!
My saddleback puffer (who is young, still very small) has a bloated look to him, his belly is very distended and has been for three days now and is only getting bigger, and he looks uncomfortable, usually just resting on top of the rocks or sitting on the bottom. Any ideas what I could do for him? Is he just going to croak? 
