Hi, I'm a new dwarf puffer owner and wanted to share this scary story, hopefully it can prevent future accidents. My tank is a 10-gal with 2 checkerboard cichlids (1"), 1 oto, 1 dwarf gourami, 2 algae-eating shrimp, and 2 golfball-sized apple snails. I've added the dwarf puffer about 4 days ago, and have been reading a lot of info on the net... most everything I saw about DPs and apple snails said that there might be some nipping, but that it would be ok if the puffer was well-fed. I did notice some nipping, and have tried feeding frozen krill and brine shrimp, and a small live snail. The DP ate a little bit of each, but continued to bother the apple snails. Then, this morning, I checked on the fish and went to take a shower... when I came back, I couldn't find the puffer. I looked all over the tank and finally figured out that he was stuck inside the apple snail's shell!! He must have gone in for a nip and gotten trapped inside! I quickly picked up the snail and, holding it underwater, pried open the trapdoor. The puffer was indeed in there, and he was puffed up like a spiky little football, at least 2X his normal size. He also still seemed to be holding onto the snail meat. I was sure that he was a goner, but when I gave the snail a shake, the puffer suddenly let go, deflated, and shot over to his hiding spot in the plants. Whew!
The aftermath... the puffer is still hiding, and though I can see him breathing, I can't tell if he's injured. His eyes and fins seem to be fine, but I doused the tank with Melafix just in case. The snail was acting strangely for a few hours, acting like he was trying to open his shell but couldn't. Finally he got himself open and climbed onto the glass, where he doesn't seem entirely normal (he's kind of scrunched up) but apparently has no missing parts. I wonder if he was poisoned by the puffer?
Oh, I hope my puffer is ok! If anyone has any advice I'd appreciate it. For now, I think all I can do is wait for him to come out.
kanile
The aftermath... the puffer is still hiding, and though I can see him breathing, I can't tell if he's injured. His eyes and fins seem to be fine, but I doused the tank with Melafix just in case. The snail was acting strangely for a few hours, acting like he was trying to open his shell but couldn't. Finally he got himself open and climbed onto the glass, where he doesn't seem entirely normal (he's kind of scrunched up) but apparently has no missing parts. I wonder if he was poisoned by the puffer?
Oh, I hope my puffer is ok! If anyone has any advice I'd appreciate it. For now, I think all I can do is wait for him to come out.
kanile
/fish.orbust.net/dwarfpuffer.html
