pinkfloydpuffer

The day before yesterday Fletcher was perfectly fine. Yesterday evening I get home and notice she's sitting on the bottom. I thought that was strange, but maybe she was just sleeping. Eventually she got up and was swimming about. Then I noticed that she looked all.... sunken-in.... I'd think her ribs were poking out if she had any. I tried to feed her, but she'd just nibble on it and then spit it out. Then this morning my mom comes in and says 'why is your fish folded in half?' Fletch had curled her tail around her, clamped her fins, and was sitting on the bottom. She will swim a bit, but often some of her fins are clamped. Her dorsal and anal fins also might look like they've gotten a bit of damage on them. I also noticed that her gills seem red and inflamed. I tested the water last night and this morning. 0/0/<5. I did a 50% water change a few days ago. I wanted to do a small change this morning, but for some reason both of my gravel vacuums have suddenly disappeared. I looked everywhere, but I was late for work already, so I needed to go. So instead I contented myself by dumping in a capful of Prime.
I'm at a loss of what could be wrong here. It was such a fast change. And now I have to sit here at work for 8 more hours until I can see her again. I'm afraid she'll be gone when I get home It's heartbreaking.

Lucy

I'm sorry PFP, hate that you have to worry while you're at work.
I don't know enough about puffers to suggest anything.

pinkfloydpuffer

Since my computer's acting up I am not able to log into The Puffer Forum, it's so frustrating. I think if anyone would know what to do they would...

pinkfloydpuffer

Let's see if this works...
in these pics you should be able to see what I mean by it looking like her 'ribs' are sticking out....

CHoffman

poor baby!!..I hope he pulls through pink!!!..I'm sending my puffer vibes your way. They are smaller but there's two of them so maybe it will work.

pinkfloydpuffer

Thanks Cesch. DPs have lots of puffer power to make up for their small size

I called home, my mom says her gills aren't red anymore. Which means either she didn't look in the right place, or that she's feeling a bit better. Maybe there is ammonia that the tests aren't picking up for some reason? But I don't know why ammonia would cause her to look so sunken in, or for it to onset so suddenly when I didn't do anything that could affect the cycle....

jgon_

Really sorry to hear that, Pink. As with the first Capt., I know how hard it is to be stuck somewhere and not knowing if you're going to come back to a dead puff when you get home.
I'm sure you've done all you could with him. I've heard from other F8 owners, and sure its true with other puffs...they've lived a very stressfull life by the time they get to you. Caught in the wild..shipped over seas...shipped to a store..shipped to customer and so on. Though yours is still quie young so that may not be the case.
It could very well be his immune system was a bit weakened and things are finally starting to catch up with him, despite his new warm home.

Though with Frump, he looked really bad for about a week after I dewormed him, and I was sure I was going to loose him. Your puff too might make a full recovery from whatever it is thats ailling him. Just be patient (easier said than done).

Hoping for the best...

pinkfloydpuffer

Thanks jgon. I'm counting down the time.... 4 hours left......

agabr123

i'm sorry to hear about her, pink

do you want me to post over there and see if they know what's wrong with her? i'm leaving my house at 5 and won't be back until late but it's better than nothing

pinkfloydpuffer

Thanks for offering Alex, but Lucy already did for me No replies yet though.

agabr123

how long ago did you de-worm her? is it possible that she has worms again or that the meds didn't get everything?

pinkfloydpuffer

It was right after I got her.... that was like 2 weeks ago I think.....
She does eat snails, so IPs are always a possibility. But these seem odd symptoms for a worm problem. Well, some of them do...

agabr123

the sunken in belly sounds like IPs to me, but that could be from experience with other animals, also her not eating.

pinkfloydpuffer

She had a snail the day before yesterday. Yesterday she wouldn't eat, just bit and spit. Today I'm not even going to try, it's obvious she's not going to. She probably does have IPs again. *sigh* She does still have bite marks all over her from when she was in the store and before.... poor thing. Maybe something added more stress to her and made all this happen.

shih-tzu mom

Pink- first i am sorry for your baby-but is it possible she is still purging the worms lol and has a few more inside of her? From what i understand they have to purge them out and it's hard on them lol-so not eating would be the result. Hope this helps anbd try not to worry-i know easier said then done, i am still reseaching and learning alot bella

agabr123

poor thing maybe you can soak it in some garlic?

pinkfloydpuffer

I saw her purging worms on day 2 of treatment, which was like 2 weeks ago, so I don't think that's it.

I don't think she has any appetite at all. But really, puffers can easily handle a week or two without eating just fine. Probably even a bit more. I can try to get her to eat though.

shih-tzu mom

Yeah, Pink the garlic might work and some of her fav; stuff lol Hope all works out for her-too bad the other forum is so slow lol. It's a big worry when your not home. bella

pinkfloydpuffer

Thanks bella

2 hours left.....

MaddieLynn

It sounds to me alot like someone's description that I read of what their puff look like after expelling a bunch of worms...

Foor Fletcher! I hope she gets better!

pinkfloydpuffer

I can't figure out why she'd be purging them now though.

I hope that's all it is though.... and that she gets better quick.

shih-tzu mom

Pink- some of the reading iv'e been doing they can purge worms up and out until a month lol it has something to do with the digestion system lol and i know when i wormed my other fish they purged for quite a long time and i thought that there was reinfestation but it was the same batch of worms. i did a lot of research on worms because i had some bad cases and lost a lot of fish from it. But they can take a long time to get rid of. i just went to the forum and no reply as yet lol Hope they answer Lucy soon bella

pinkfloydpuffer

I hope that's the only problem...

shih-tzu mom

Yeah, it would be fairly easy then lol, all my puff's are sending good thought's to Fletcher bella

hkirchen

How's Fletcher Pink? Is she any better?

pinkfloydpuffer

I wish I knew..... I'm still at work for another hour

MaddieLynn

Any news?

pinkfloydpuffer

She's just the same.... red gills, clamped fins, swimming around a bit, but not alot. I still have no idea what's wrong.

MissMTS

Awww Pink I am so sorry to hear about Fletcher I really hope that she gets better. At least you got home to check on her finally. I know yesterday was the longest day at work for me knowing that my fishies were sick at home and I'm sure today was absolute torture for you. Keep us posted. I hope she feels better soon!

pinkfloydpuffer

Thanks Kate

I just can't think of anything to do. It's driving me nuts not knowing what's wrong, and feeling like I can't do anything to fix it. Maybe I could try melafix and pimafix?