Attn: MANY_A_MOLLY

[dixaisy930]

Today I broke down and got another dwarf puffer. I felt so bad for it...last one left, and the tiniest thing I've ever seen. I have gravel that's bigger than her. She hasn't eaten today though But she has nice fish manner so far (If she doens't die of starvation, I'm sure it'll take atleast a week to see her true colors). She has two favorite spots picked out...in the middle of one of the plants, and next to the panda cory. I thought she was harassing her for sure since she was next to the cory all the time, but not one mean gesture or chunk taken out of the cory.

 

[MAM]

i knew you wouldn't last long before you found another
sounds like you found a passive one like mine. mine didn't eat for the first few days either. took some live food to get them going (now i'm working on gettingthem to eat the frozen stuff instead, but they really prefer food to be moving, so i had to add a bubble stone to increase current to make the frozen shrimp move more )
you'll have to post some picutres one of these days. congrats on the newest arrival

 

[dixaisy930]

The poor little girl...I don't think she's eaten in a really long time because her belly is pretty sunk in. She doesn't move hardly at all during the day. I thought she had been eaten by someone else because I couldn't find her...turns out she was in the middle of her favorite plant. I wish she would eat...I had to get baby brine shrimp, since the regular was as big as she was....

 

[MAM]

she probably hasn't eaten in a while, most lfs don't know what to feed the little buggers. mine love live tubifex (just have to sure its going to be clean stuff), they like food that moves.
keep an eye on her though, she could have an internal parasite causing the sunkenness (lfs might not have given her proper care....)
hope she starts recovering soon

 

[Lithril]

If her belly is shrunken and shes not eating she could have some sort of internal parasite, normally pufferpack recommends discomed if they are eating, I'll try and hook out the med he recommends for the ones that dont.

 

[Lithril]

Maracyn-2 if they're not eating.

 

[Lithril]

Just going to hi-jack the link slightly but heres a link to a problem PP had that I think you two will quite enjoy incase you missed it when it originally came out...similar probs with the not eating side so maybe its not QUITE hi-jacked

Yay for PP

btw pp how are they getting on?

 

[dixaisy930]

Thanks...I going in to town tonight so I'll make sure to pick some up. The little one moves around a little, but she definately isn't feeling well.

 

[Pufferpack]

Hi dixaisy930

Poor little thing may have internal parasites as Lithril says, another sign is clear stringy poop. I would pick up the Maracyn 2 as well as Discomed (IMO they work very well together) if you can find it, also to try and entice her to eat you can try melting some frozen brine shrimp in a small glass of conditioned water and then use an eye dropper to squirt small amounts into the water near her to try and peak her appitite. You could also try taking a small pond snail and smushing it against the glass near where she is in the tank, the smell/taste in the water may perk up her appitite a bit (be sure to give a couple snails to her tankmate so he doesn't get jealous).
Good luck, hope she perks up soon.

btw pp how are they getting on?

Thanks for asking Lithril, they are doing great their tails have filled back in beautifully and the red fringing stands out real nice, I was all set to move them into the 35 gal this week, but have to put it off for another mission of mercy , a fella I work with has sold his tank and has no place to put a 6in Jaguar Cichlid, so I will be keeping it in the 35 for a couple weeks until I'm sure it is healthy and I can find him a home....my poor little puffers will have to be patient for a little longer

Here is one of my latest pics, you can see the marked difference between Male (top) and female (bottom)....hope they breed

 

[Pufferpack]

Hi Lithril

My stupid computer double posted again, so I'll use this one to respond to your post below

Ya, I have one Dwarf and one South American that always look like they just ate. I was worried that they were constipated for a while, but after watching them for a while, saw that they were just as regular as always. I suspect they each have a hidden stash they munch on all day ...couple of little water pigs

 

[Lithril]

They're looking really good mate, unbelievable difference compared to how you bought them. Cute lil things aren't they

You ever had a problem with one of your puffers looking continuously fat??? Not sure if he's finding twice as many snails as the others or has a problem, he's eating and coloration etc is ok but is always fat.

 

[dixaisy930]

I think it's probably too late for the little one...she no longer hanges out in the plant, but instead just lays in the bottom. I'll keep trying the Maracyn-2 (I couldn't find the other med you suggested). If I do loose her, I'll definately try to find another.

(be sure to give a couple snails to her tankmate so he doesn't get jealous).
Good luck, hope she perks up soon.

I assume you mean my other dwarf puffer.... Sad to say I lost her a few weeks ago to mysterious circumstances. I lost her and two BBG over night...

 

[Pufferpack]

Sorry to hear about your losses, I hope it doesn't discourage you from trying puffers again I'll keep my fingers crossed for your little girl

 

[dixaisy930]

I lost the little puffer...literally. I can't find her in the tank. I'm guessing, since she was so small, she probably died, and between the ghost shrimp and snails, they took care of enough of the body. I'll keep looking though...maybe she just found a new, better, hiding spot. Maybe I'll try yet another dawrf puffer....I seem to have luck finding fairly well mannered ones.

 

[MAM]

i hope she didn't die on you.
well, good to hear this hasn't turned you off the cutelittle buggers at least. next one you get, make sure its fat and round