Partially blind dog face puffer trouble eating

[Elevated Ecosystems]

Hello everyone,
We have a dog face puffer in our warehouse who is partially blind he has trouble eating and only eats if you sit there and basically put it in his mouth and even then he has trouble. Does anyone have any ideas on feeding him? He also won’t eat his clams and his teeth are getting pretty long he still wants to eat he just has a really hard time and won’t even try to eat the clams he will eat silver sides

 

[cdemoss01]

@Jay Hemdal might be able to help?

 

[Elevated Ecosystems]

@Jay Hemdal might be able to help?

Open to any suggestions just wanna keep this guy healthy I add garlic to his food so he can smell it better

 

[AydenLincoln]

Do you have photos? Unfortunately if he truly is blind/has a birth defect the solution would be to hand feed him. You can also syringe feed him but if he can’t eat shells then you have to possibly put him to sleep and file down his teeth on the regular/preferably before they grow insanely long. Best done by an aquatic vet.

 

[Fish Fan]

Sorry to hear about this. Maybe the R2R #fishmedic crew can take a look and offer some help?

 

[Elevated Ecosystems]

Do you have photos? Unfortunately if he truly is blind/has a birth defect the solution would be to hand feed him. You can also syringe feed him but if he can’t eat shells then you have to possibly put him to sleep and file down his teeth on the regular/preferably before they grow insanely long. Best done by an aquatic vet.

I can take photos next time I’m in the shop his teeth aren’t too long yet but it’s gonna be rough if he doesn’t start eating shells soon he had to be removed from the tank he was in cuz he was in rough shape he’s an old guy tho he’s only blind in one eye but when he gets up to the food he misses it I hand feed him but it’s hard for him he likes to kind of “hunt” his food and come up on it but when he does he snaps right next to the food and gets kind of thrown on his balance and it takes him quite a few tries with me putting it directly in his mouth

 

[Ziggy17]

Not the answer you’re looking for, but I’d cull it. Its
Likely going to die a slow death or barely survive by the sounds of it.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Not the answer you’re looking for, but I’d cull it. Its
Likely going to die a slow death or barely survive by the sounds of it.

No that’s so sad! He just needs a little more tlc and time than the average puffer.

 

[Fish Fan]

Not the answer you’re looking for, but I’d cull it. Its
Likely going to die a slow death or barely survive by the sounds of it.

I'm not a pufferfish expert, like @AydenLincoln, but I would absolutely give this animal every chance. If it's eating, it's trying to live. I'd give it a chance, many times fish come around when we think they are all too far gone

 

[Elevated Ecosystems]

Not the answer you’re looking for, but I’d cull it. Its
Likely going to die a slow death or barely survive by the sounds of it.

He’s other wise happy and wants to eat I’m not gonna kill a fish that obviously wants to live but just has some special needs

 

[Elevated Ecosystems]

I'm not a pufferfish expert, like @AydenLincoln, but I would absolutely give this animal every chance. If it's eating, it's trying to live. I'd give it a chance, many times fish come around when we think they are all too far gone

Thank you yes I definitely agree

 

[Elevated Ecosystems]

No that’s so sad! He just needs a little more tlc and time than the average puffer.

Exactly! I just wanted to know if anyone has any ideas to make the feedings easier for him so it’s less of a struggle for food I can try syringe feeding but he does like to do his little hunting thing before he eats

 

[Elevated Ecosystems]

No that’s so sad! He just needs a little more tlc and time than the average puffer.

He’s also super friendly and cool lil guy he shakes his tail and gets so excited when he sees me

 

[Fish Fan]

He’s also super friendly and cool lil guy he shakes his tail and gets so excited when he sees me

Because they are literally underwater dogs

 

[Elevated Ecosystems]

Because they are literally underwater dogs

Yes they are adorable and I definitely have grown quite fond of the lil guy I just want to keep him happy and healthy

 

[AydenLincoln]

Exactly! I just wanted to know if anyone has any ideas to make the feedings easier for him so it’s less of a struggle for food I can try syringe feeding but he does like to do his little hunting thing before he eats

Try live ghost shrimp and maybe mix things up and soak his foods in garlic and other fish vitamins. Hewbie my porcupine puffer loves live foods and shrimp are his absolute favorite! I soak his food in a garlic selcon mixture and he goes crazy! My adorably good big boy who I love so much. He loves cockles too! Puffers truly are so personable and intelligent the true saltwater puppy dogs! How big is yours?

 

[MnFish1]

Hello everyone,
We have a dog face puffer in our warehouse who is partially blind he has trouble eating and only eats if you sit there and basically put it in his mouth and even then he has trouble. Does anyone have any ideas on feeding him? He also won’t eat his clams and his teeth are getting pretty long he still wants to eat he just has a really hard time and won’t even try to eat the clams he will eat silver sides

I agree with target feeding. I also think as @AydenLincoln suggested - that his teeth may be part of the problem. What are your thoughts on the reason for the 'blindness' - how long has the fish had it. Usually an antibiotic would be recommended (broad spectrum) - which you could try such as maracyn - I'm assuming it's both eyes - which would be somewhat odd. Could it be a fluke issue? Additionally the fact that he sees you when you come to the tank - suggests that he is seeing more than you think - and there may be another issue?

 

[Paul B]

Blindness is actually pretty common with puffers and boxfish. They live in grassflats and normally not in the open sea so they get a lot of shade. I don't remember where I took this of this boxfish.



You can cure blindness in those fish in a few weeks by keeping the fish in a semi dark tank. I have done that 2 or 3 times in the past. The blindness in those fish comes from too much light. Remember, they can't close their eyes like Lady GaGa.

But you will have to hand feed for a while. Clam and snail is their favorite food but they also love earthworms.

I caught this little half inch guy in the sea. He grew about 6" in a year and I gave him to the New York Aquarium.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I can take photos next time I’m in the shop his teeth aren’t too long yet but it’s gonna be rough if he doesn’t start eating shells soon he had to be removed from the tank he was in cuz he was in rough shape he’s an old guy tho he’s only blind in one eye but when he gets up to the food he misses it I hand feed him but it’s hard for him he likes to kind of “hunt” his food and come up on it but when he does he snaps right next to the food and gets kind of thrown on his balance and it takes him quite a few tries with me putting it directly in his mouth

A clear video will give us more information than just still pics. Posting to YouTube works pretty well.

 

[Elevated Ecosystems]

Try live ghost shrimp and maybe mix things up and soak his foods in garlic and other fish vitamins. Hewbie my porcupine puffer loves live foods and shrimp are his absolute favorite! I soak his food in a garlic selcon mixture and he goes crazy! My adorably good big boy who I love so much. He loves cockles too! Puffers truly are so personable and intelligent the true saltwater puppy dogs! How big is yours?

I also mix his food with selcon and garlic this guys a big boy he definitely wouldn’t be able to catch live foods he’s a really cool lil dude just having some problems I wish he would eat his clams but he doesn’t even seem to want them