do i have a midget fahaka or is it stunted from being in a bag for over 5 hours because it was being transported?

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chrisgriffin

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 17, 2024
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i've tried everything for him, the only thing left is to dose with prazipro, but he's plump, and not skinny at all. i refuse to believe it's parasites, he has no ich, if there were parasites it would be internal. he is a FIGHTER! he's definitely my prize fish, he was stuck in a little bag for over 5 hours being transported by car from a city with MULTIPLE stops in the way. (it wasn't my fault, my parents really don't care for this hobby as much as i do and only know the basics.) i believe that is the problem. you may be asking, why didn't i get him last? there are no fahaka sellers near me.

i've heard of a "midget" or "dwarf" fahaka existing, but i'll only know when the prazipro arrives. he's currently in a 29 gallon, and will be upgraded to a 150 gallon with one of those canister filters, i think fluval. he's very active, and swims up to me like i was told fahaka puffers would do, never stops eating. please help me in finding out. also, if you can't really help that much, please tell me how i should dose with prazipro, i've heard soaking it with his food, or dosing the entire tank, i also need an airstone according to cory from aquarium co-op, i don't know.

he 's 0'5 inches, but will measure again later. he's only grown VERY LITTLE since the last 40 days.
 
You should never treat a fish without at least some idea what is the illness you are treating for. Each treatment has side effects! You may cause harm to your fish.
What you desribe sounds like a healthy fish.

Is it really only 0.5"? I have have never heard of fahakas sold so small. Which doesn't mean it is impossible.
Do you have pictures? They maybe helpfull to diagnose your fishs problem, if it even has one.
 
A picture of the fish would help a lot. You posted about the same fish a few months ago, at this point it’s possible you may actually have a dwarf puffer (carinotetraodon species).
5 hours in a bag won’t stunt a fish - plenty of fish will be in shipping bags for days and grow fine. Stunting generally requires months in poor conditions to really affect a fish.
 
You should never treat a fish without at least some idea what is the illness you are treating for. Each treatment has side effects! You may cause harm to your fish.
What you desribe sounds like a healthy fish.

Is it really only 0.5"? I have have never heard of fahakas sold so small. Which doesn't mean it is impossible.
Do you have pictures? They maybe helpfull to diagnose your fishs problem, if it even has one.
A picture of the fish would help a lot. You posted about the same fish a few months ago, at this point it’s possible you may actually have a dwarf puffer (carinotetraodon species).
5 hours in a bag won’t stunt a fish - plenty of fish will be in shipping bags for days and grow fine. Stunting generally requires months in poor conditions to really affect a fish.
sorry for taking so long, here’s a picture of the fahaka:

IMG_0347.jpeg

i feel like he’s bigger now, let me measure him, also, i could post the entire tank if you guys would like, it’s kind of green due to im assuming an algae bloom or because i was super busy and hadn’t cleaned it for like 4-6 days.
 
He doesn't look malnourished, but the eyes are bit big compared to the body which can be a sign that he went through some time without enough food. If that's the case you can not do much besides providing good conditions for him.
Make sure to keep the water clean (=low nitrate) and the tank cycled.

That portion of food in the picture looks way to big for him. Too much food could explain the algea bloom.
 
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so should i be expecting him to be the same size forever? will he grow a little bit? is there anything i can do? i dont believe he has any any internal parasites, do i just wait? sorry for taking so long to respond.
 
so should i be expecting him to be the same size forever? will he grow a little bit? is there anything i can do? i dont believe he has any any internal parasites, do i just wait? sorry for taking so long to respond.
You mean it still hasn’t grown? Maybe you’re not noticing it since you’re watching it all the time. Can’t stay 0.5” forever
 
update: he’s in an 125 gallon now, and tank has been cycled for 1 month now, and since placed there, he’s grown by 1.2 inches. i was incorrect when i first made this thread, he wasn’t 0.5 inches, he was 1.3 inches. right now he is 2.5 inches.

thank you for all of your help and support with these threads that i’ve made!

IMG_0641.jpeg
 
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