Hello MFK Community,
My hardest lesson learned was with my first GSP I ever owned. I thought I had done a good amount of research to set up his home. I picked out a fat bellied one and he looked happy. He lived about 6 months when all of a sudden he was always gray and at the bottom. He still loved to eat until his last days, but lost a lot of weight.
My poor Ralph.
The thing is, puffers don't breed in captivity and are exposed to high amounts of internal parasites. It doesn't matter if it is a dwarf puffer or a true monster, like an MBU or Fahaka, treat them with Praziquantel! They can often live seemingly healthy lives, even into adulthood before the parasites are too extreme to live any further.
I acquired a 5"-6" Fahaka that had been in the care of 2 idiots who though he was just a skinny fish. He was a year old... and should have been much larger. After back to back rounds of PraziPro and then some time off and another round (of course with a lot of water changes), 6 months and a protein rich diet (live food, snails, blood worms -- he was only eating krill which is like feeding your kid McDonald's 365 days a year), he finally started to balloon up and gain length.
People, please, if they always look dull, have indents by their tail, start to get glazed over eyes,dark bellies, light splotchy skin, please use PraziPro or Parasite Guard containing Praziquantel. It is sickening how many puffers do not make it into adulthood because of internal parasites. It doesn't even hurt to do it right away with your new puffer, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Much respect.
My hardest lesson learned was with my first GSP I ever owned. I thought I had done a good amount of research to set up his home. I picked out a fat bellied one and he looked happy. He lived about 6 months when all of a sudden he was always gray and at the bottom. He still loved to eat until his last days, but lost a lot of weight.
My poor Ralph.
The thing is, puffers don't breed in captivity and are exposed to high amounts of internal parasites. It doesn't matter if it is a dwarf puffer or a true monster, like an MBU or Fahaka, treat them with Praziquantel! They can often live seemingly healthy lives, even into adulthood before the parasites are too extreme to live any further.
I acquired a 5"-6" Fahaka that had been in the care of 2 idiots who though he was just a skinny fish. He was a year old... and should have been much larger. After back to back rounds of PraziPro and then some time off and another round (of course with a lot of water changes), 6 months and a protein rich diet (live food, snails, blood worms -- he was only eating krill which is like feeding your kid McDonald's 365 days a year), he finally started to balloon up and gain length.
People, please, if they always look dull, have indents by their tail, start to get glazed over eyes,dark bellies, light splotchy skin, please use PraziPro or Parasite Guard containing Praziquantel. It is sickening how many puffers do not make it into adulthood because of internal parasites. It doesn't even hurt to do it right away with your new puffer, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Much respect.
