Puffer fish possible needing burped?

[swanedog]

We have been battling flukes and now a bacterial bloom after dosing prazi-pro a second time. See that thread here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/1...ossible-bacteria-bloom.1165472/#post-14456940

Now we have a secondary issue with our puffer. He’s not maintaining buoyancy and is face down vertically wedging himself face down in the rocks near the sand. We already have two air stones running, lids off, and skimmer with no collection cup running full blast. My wife has sent me some pictures and read a krill only diet can cause these issues and likely needs to be burped by holding his tail down in the water and pushing his head upward. Has anyone had experience with this? See attached picture for puffers current status. Also attached a picture of Spintouch FF parameters from about 45 min ago.

 

[Paul B]

Yes that is what you should do.; It happens if they inflate above water or suck in air from the surface. Hold him underwater, head up and gently squeeze. Be careful as they have a strong bite.

You can hold him in a net. I have done this many times.

 

[swanedog]

Yes that is what you should do.; It happens if they inflate above water or suck in air from the surface. Hold him underwater, head up and gently squeeze. Be careful as they have a strong bite.

Thank you! Will gave that a try and keep the thread updated.

 

[vetteguy53081]

We have been battling flukes and now a bacterial bloom after dosing prazi-pro a second time. See that thread here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/1...ossible-bacteria-bloom.1165472/#post-14456940

Now we have a secondary issue with our puffer. He’s not maintaining buoyancy and is face down vertically wedging himself face down in the rocks near the sand. We already have two air stones running, lids off, and skimmer with no collection cup running full blast. My wife has sent me some pictures and read a krill only diet can cause these issues and likely needs to be burped by holding his tail down in the water and pushing his head upward. Has anyone had experience with this? See attached picture for puffers current status. Also attached a picture of Spintouch FF parameters from about 45 min ago.

You cant really force a puffer to dislodge air and it has to do it on its own. Stress is usually the cause of inflation and the spin test , a product of API is often false or unreliable. Take a water sample to an LFS that does not use anything API and see what results they come up with or acquire Hanna or Saifert brand kits for more reliability

 

[swanedog]

We have been battling flukes and now a bacterial bloom after dosing prazi-pro a second time. See that thread here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/1...ossible-bacteria-bloom.1165472/#post-14456940

Now we have a secondary issue with our puffer. He’s not maintaining buoyancy and is face down vertically wedging himself face down in the rocks near the sand. We already have two air stones running, lids off, and skimmer with no collection cup running full blast. My wife has sent me some pictures and read a krill only diet can cause these issues and likely needs to be burped by holding his tail down in the water and pushing his head upward. Has anyone had experience with this? See attached picture for puffers current status. Also attached a picture of Spintouch FF parameters from about 45 min ago.

You cant really force a puffer to dislodge air and it has to do it on its own. Stress is usually the cause of inflation and the spin test , a product of API is often false or unreliable. Take a water sample to an LFS that does not use anything API and see what results they come up with or acquire Hanna or Saifert brand kits for more reliability

This is the Spintouch FF not the aquaspin. I have multiple Hanna’s. Which parameters would you recommend testing? This just works in a pinch and is somewhat close.

 

[vetteguy53081]

This is the Spintouch FF not the aquaspin. I have multiple Hanna’s. Which parameters would you recommend testing? This just works in a pinch and is somewhat close.

Ammonia and Nitrate. The Spintouch is by LaMotte as I used these at my LFS and discovered less than reliable and has been sold to API

 

[swanedog]

This is the Spintouch FF not the aquaspin. I have multiple Hanna’s. Which parameters would you recommend testing? This just works in a pinch and is somewhat close.

Ammonia and Nitrate. The Spintouch is by LaMotte as I used these at my LFS and discovered less than reliable and has been sold to API

Perfect thank you for letting me know that! Tried to do some research on it but couldn’t get a clear picture.

 

[Ks4726]

Ive been going through this as well and usually takes 2 to 3 days for the bubble to pass for me. When you feed your puffer the krill does it pick it from top of the water?

Thanks to a fellow reefer he pointed out that could be the cause. I started watching and confirmed it.

 

[swanedog]

Ive been going through this as well and usually takes 2 to 3 days for the bubble to pass for me. When you feed your puffer the krill does it pick it from top of the water?

Thanks to a fellow reefer he pointed out that could be the cause. I started watching and confirmed it.

Sometimes. We’ve tried to start feeding him down further in the water. That makes a good point. He’s never inflated (while he’s been home with us) since we’ve had him until this.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

We have been battling flukes and now a bacterial bloom after dosing prazi-pro a second time. See that thread here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/1...ossible-bacteria-bloom.1165472/#post-14456940

Now we have a secondary issue with our puffer. He’s not maintaining buoyancy and is face down vertically wedging himself face down in the rocks near the sand. We already have two air stones running, lids off, and skimmer with no collection cup running full blast. My wife has sent me some pictures and read a krill only diet can cause these issues and likely needs to be burped by holding his tail down in the water and pushing his head upward. Has anyone had experience with this? See attached picture for puffers current status. Also attached a picture of Spintouch FF parameters from about 45 min ago.

I doubt that this is a water quality issue.

Could the puffer have gulped air? That's the most common reason that I've seen this caused be. The two common ways that can happen is during capture and moving, or if the fish gets frightened by something and swells up, but is too close to the surface and gulps air instead. I've tried burping them (head up, while under water) and even a syringe extraction, but neither method works all of the time. Another, rarer cause is gas build up in the gut due to fermentation of food.

Another thought is that this isn't actually air entrapment, but some other issue. Can you provide a clear video of the fish as it tries to swim or hold itself in position?

 

[swanedog]

We have been battling flukes and now a bacterial bloom after dosing prazi-pro a second time. See that thread here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/1...ossible-bacteria-bloom.1165472/#post-14456940

Now we have a secondary issue with our puffer. He’s not maintaining buoyancy and is face down vertically wedging himself face down in the rocks near the sand. We already have two air stones running, lids off, and skimmer with no collection cup running full blast. My wife has sent me some pictures and read a krill only diet can cause these issues and likely needs to be burped by holding his tail down in the water and pushing his head upward. Has anyone had experience with this? See attached picture for puffers current status. Also attached a picture of Spintouch FF parameters from about 45 min ago.

I doubt that this is a water quality issue.

Could the puffer have gulped air? That's the most common reason that I've seen this caused be. The two common ways that can happen is during capture and moving, or if the fish gets frightened by something and swells up, but is too close to the surface and gulps air instead. I've tried burping them (head up, while under water) and even a syringe extraction, but neither method works all of the time. Another, rarer cause is gas build up in the gut due to fermentation of food.

Another thought is that this isn't actually air entrapment, but some other issue. Can you provide a clear video of the fish as it tries to swim or hold itself in position?

This is the best I can get right now. This is after two attempts of burping. One was successful. If he comes out and starts swimming again I’ll try and get another. But this is how he was this morning:

 

[swanedog]

The video isn’t showing up for me so let me try it again:

 

[Ks4726]

Sometimes. We’ve tried to start feeding him down further in the water. That makes a good point. He’s never inflated (while he’s been home with us) since we’ve had him until this.

I kinda did it as an experiment and after it was going after the floating krill while sucking in air, the next morning it had an air bulge. I try to make it more of a point to feed deeper and not let it chase food up top

Unfortunately you cant watch it all the time and sometimes fish just gulp air. Its distressing to watch because the fish struggles to swim and stay verticle

 

[Ks4726]

My air bubble is always in the rear of the puffer on the side below the top fin. Yours seems to be on the bottom.or am I just seeing it wrong?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I kinda did it as an experiment and after it was going after the floating krill while sucking in air, the next morning it had an air bulge. I try to make it more of a point to feed deeper and not let it chase food up top

Unfortunately you cant watch it all the time and sometimes fish just gulp air. Its distressing to watch because the fish struggles to swim and stay verticle

Yes - the video seems to indicate a bulge consistent with swallowing air......

 

[swanedog]

I kinda did it as an experiment and after it was going after the floating krill while sucking in air, the next morning it had an air bulge. I try to make it more of a point to feed deeper and not let it chase food up top

Unfortunately you cant watch it all the time and sometimes fish just gulp air. Its distressing to watch because the fish struggles to swim and stay verticle

Yes - the video seems to indicate a bulge consistent with swallowing air......

Under his midsection? He has had this spot since I purchased him a couple of days before Mother’s Day this year. Not sure if that’s what you’re talking about or not.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Under his midsection? He has had this spot since I purchased him a couple of days before Mother’s Day this year. Not sure if that’s what you’re talking about or not.

Sorry - I meant the swelling in the belly below the pectoral fin. That's the issue. If that swelling has been there since May, then there is a good chance it isn't going to resolve....

 

[Ks4726]

Under his midsection? He has had this spot since I purchased him a couple of days before Mother’s Day this year. Not sure if that’s what you’re talking about or not.

In your last video it seems the air bulge is underneath.

 

[swanedog]

Under his midsection? He has had this spot since I purchased him a couple of days before Mother’s Day this year. Not sure if that’s what you’re talking about or not.

Sorry - I meant the swelling in the belly below the pectoral fin. That's the issue. If that swelling has been there since May, then there is a good chance it isn't going to resolve....

Gotcha, yeah this is a picture of him from May 30th. I thought that was just a part of his composition. He’s always been very active before the bacterial bloom except for the occasional resting. Hopefully he will get back to that lively personality.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Gotcha, yeah this is a picture of him from May 30th. I thought that was just a part of his composition. He’s always been very active before the bacterial bloom except for the occasional resting. Hopefully he will get back to that lively personality.

Interesting - he’s had that swelling for a long time. I wonder - could it be a tumor and not air at all?