Dogface puffer

[Mathew0]

We brought this guy home on Sunday. His mouth had a strange bit missing that looked almost like someone tried to clip is teeth and missed. Since then it has been receding, showing more and more tooth and maybe jawbone.
He was very active when I first put him in, chasing everyone and establishing dominance, but last night and all today he’s just sitting between some rocks on the floor of the tank.
I also noticed a strange dark spot when we got him, but thought that might just be his coloration. The spot seems to be sticking out now, like a lump, tho.
He did eat when we put him in, but he isn’t looking very good right now. Breathing is a bit shallow and not moving at all.

 

[Mathew0]

Here are some decent pics

 

[Mathew0]

#fishmedic

 

[vetteguy53081]

Here are some decent pics

Looks like either an impact injury or injury from netting. Normally, I recommend to watch it for healing and not becoming infected but this damage is beyond normal and I would recommend treating with either ruby rally Pro - in tank or more effective in Quarantine using seachem Neoplex or Kanaplex

 

[Jay Hemdal]

What was the history of this fish before you got it? From a pet store or a person’s house? How long has it been in captivity?

Looks like it has some serious damage to its upper jaw. Any idea how that could have happened? Could it have gotten banged up during the transfer?

Jay

 

[Mathew0]

I’m not really sure what its history is. We got him from the same fish store we’ve gotten all our other fish from. They ordered him special for me. He was put thru their qt process with copper and whatever else. He said they put the puffers thru the same qt process as their wrasses

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I’m not really sure what its history is. We got him from the same fish store we’ve gotten all our other fish from. They ordered him special for me. He was put thru their qt process with copper and whatever else. He said they put the puffers thru the same qt process as their wrasses

Can you post a video? I want to see its breathing rate.

Do you have a treatment tank available?


Jay

 

[Mathew0]

He just started waving his fins rapidly and breathing fast

 

[Mathew0]

I do have a 20 gal tank for qt. I don’t want to stress him worse by moving him, tho.

 

[Mathew0]

Uploaded to youtube

 

[Mathew0]

@Jay Hemdal

 

[Mathew0]

Ok, so I’ve moved him into qt and got a treatment for bacterial infection called API Melafix that contains

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Ok, so I’ve moved him into qt and got a treatment for bacterial infection called API Melafix that contains

Sorry - I was offline for a couple of hours.

In the video I can see the mouth damage, but also erosion at the end of the pectoral fins, plus scrapes on the body. It also has a bulge in its body where it may have ingested air. For me, this all points to the fish having been severely damaged - probably when it was caught up.
Melafix is just a tonic, not a true antibiotic - do you have access to anything better like neomycin, kanamycin or even Maracyn 2?
Jay

 

[Mathew0]

Unfortunately, the puffer stopped breathing about 30 mins ago. I do enormously, appreciate the help. I only wish I knew what these things looked like before I brought him home.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Unfortunately, the puffer stopped breathing about 30 mins ago. I do enormously, appreciate the help. I only wish I knew what these things looked like before I brought him home.

So sorry to hear!

Jay

 

[Sleeping Giant]

so sorry, it looked like a beautiful fish