Puffer won't eat, lethargic- help!

D

dewilde2

Illinifish
Aug 8, 2006
253
0
0
43
St Louis
I have had a small dwarf puffer for about 2 months, and the last few days he hasn't been eating.
He is in a well planted 5 gallon tank with two otos. I just did a water change about four days ago and then again yesterday just to make sure it wasn't a water quality issue. After testing again today, all parameters (temp, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates) are in check. I do not salt the tank or add any other supplements.

Three days ago I noticed him being less active, and sort of "resting" on the plant leaves or the driftwood. Lat night I couldn't find him forever, and then saw him resting on the ground. He did swim around when I added a few frozen bloodworms, but I didn't see him eat any. Same thing tonight, although now I'm noticing that he is VERY skinny. I thawed out fresh bloodworms, added them, and he swam up to them, looked at them and appeared to even try to bite at one but did not.

I have only been ever able to get him to eat frozen bloodworms or small pond snails, and he's not going for either of these. I have also tried (earlier on) dried bloodworms, daphnia, flake food and micropellets to no avail. Any suggestions?
 
poor puffer! A five gallon tank isnt much.....AND two otos?
I would get that boy a bigger tank....
 
Dear phoenixn7g-
I was told by a dwarf puffer breeder that one puffer in a 5 gallon planted tank was perfect, and seeing how he is approx. 1/2" long, it seems like enough. I guess I should have mentioned that the otos are in there temporarily to clean up some algae; they normally live in my quite understocked 46 gallon.

I'm sure we could debate stocking matters all day and normally I am quite a fan of understocked tanks; regardless of this current debate I need some actual advice that will help. If my puffer survives I will continue to research and if necessary, upgrade his tank.

Does anyone else have any advice that may help save my puffer?
 
I have spoiled my DP on blackworms, That is the only thing she will ate, along with the occasional ramshorn or bladder snail.
Try the blackworms, if the DP is eating, and still getting thinner, it might be an internal parasite.
 
Ok great- thanks for the responses. I have never seen Blackworms before- where should I look for them? I will call my LFS in the morning and see. Also should I go ahead and treat for parasites just in case? Thanks!
 
I can't find blackworms locally, so this is where I buy mine.
http://www.aquaticfoods.com/freesamples.html
Also, if you email them and tell them you are an ac member, they may give you a discount.

I will not claim to be an expert at treating for IP, I do not think it would hurt to treat, with IP being common in DPs, but I will leave it up to someone else to advise.
 
Yeah, just call around the local fish stores. Someone in the St.Louis area should have blackworms. I don't know about treating for parasites. If he is not eating, that would account for the skinny body. Hate to spend money on meds that probably wont work anyway.
 
I don't know. My puffer died on me today, I saw him for a few days getting skinnier and when I feed him he came up but didn't eat. Same simptoms ur puffer had.
 
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