sick dogface

[FishyMel]

My yellow belly dogface has been acting pretty funny. I got him 2 weeks ago from a fish store in town. They got him about a month before I bought him. I didn't buy him then because he was white and didn't look too hot. When I bought him he was starting to get some color and I felt bad for him because he looked way underfed. I decided if I took him home and fattened him up he might get really pretty, happier, and healthier.

Well, I think the fish store might of ruined the little guy by not feeding him. I've been feeding him once a day and it is really hard for him to push the food through. Very constipated. You will see his anus bulge and then the waste hang out of it for 15 minutes. The other fish in the meantime bite at him and try to eat it. For the rest of the day his colors are really dark and he is very lethargic mostly sitting in caves and on rocks, no open swimming around the tank at all; not night, day, or when I come over to the tank. He has no ich and he is eating well.

[Juice It]

Maybe he has worms. I hear its not too uncommon for a puffer to have internal parasites.

[FishyMel]

I've considered that but I think he would already have died from it considering he already has been in home aquaria for 2 months. I had a ray go down with worms and he died fast.

[karaim]

Hmm. I would also guess internal parasites. I don't think a fast death is warranted with them. Might be just slowly wasting away.

[FishyMel]

anything I can do to treat him?

[LisaD]

prazipro, maybe, for a low risk start.

articles:
http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/library/hospital/internal-parasites-prevention-and-treatment/

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/parasiti.htm

I think internal parasites are a definite possibility. good luck.

[FishyMel]

I think internal parasites are a possibility and I'm not going to rule them out but I don't think they are what this guy has. He appears to be getting fatter when I am feeding him and he is eating very well. He started swimming around a little today and he swam a lot the week I got him. The store had him since 12/9/08 then I got him about 1/9, which once again is a very long time for a parasite, I'd think he would be a lot more gaunt if that were the case. He does have a purple tang pestering him a lot and he is a tiny dude rolling with the big guys. I think he may just still be in some acclimation shock as well as weak because underfed. What do you think? Should I just treat for parasites for safe measures? My gut says to give him a couple more days before any decisions. I will start dipping his food in garlic as that is sometimes good for parasite removal.

Recap
-Dark colors and slightly lethargic although gaining a little energy today and good energy his first couple days
-eating well once a day and getting fatter with food
-hard to push out food, food looks well processed, no signs of worms coming out
-at store for a very long time (1 month) in a store I know doesn't feed much, now after qt and transfer almost 2 mothes in captivity
-pesky large purple tang bothering him
-only 3.5 inches, very juvie
-other fish not bothering him but much larger and intimidating

[LisaD]

Why don't you think it has IPs? They are very common in puffers. Some puffer keepers make a practice of prophylactically deworming all new puffers.

I've found dogface puffers get extremely stressed from harassment. Remember the pics of Recty's golden puffer (OK, not a dogface, I know) right around the time he removed the Sohal. It should be taken out of the DT asap and put into a peaceful tank without any harassers or competitors.

Puffers can maintain IPs for a long time, especially if the LFS never wormed. It can get worse/dangerously weakened with stress. Over time, IPs can create intestinal blockages.

Worms probably aren't going to be coming in out visibly until you worm it.

Garlic is not proven to deworm, so don't assume it will work. I'd try Prazi, although I don't think it's effective on all IPs.

If it is constipated, there are foods you can offer to loosen things up. Try green peas.

[Snausy]

I've heard that feeding puffers everyday is a bad idea because of constipation. I feed mine every third day.

Food day
Fat lazy day
Poop day
-repeat-

I know this doesn't help with your issue but it's just a thought...

[FishyMel]

I've considered that too. Today I didn't feed him and he has been active and not sitting around more than usual for a shy
puffer.