Is Metronidazole + Furan 2 + Kanaplex a safe treatment for Fahaka Puffers

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Boboslunch

Boboslunch

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 10, 2019
19
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Central Oregon
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0
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My LFS has recommended this possibly as a triple treatment at once in the water for my 4 year old sick puffer. I have a long post that no one has answered that I will not get into. Regardless I am starting to think that it may be some kind of mouth infection, I just don't know. he has a large lump up top in his mouth I thought possibly had a shell in it, but now comparing old photos I can see his mouth just does not look right in other places as well, not to mention he will no longer eat so he has lost weight. I am waiting for a vet to call me back on Monday but am unsure if they will be able to help at all. The LFS sent me with these, but unsure if they were actually safe for him. He has has a round of Kanaplex last week, 3 doses. But he looks terrible and I am afraid I am going to loose him. Photos below for anyone interested. IMG_5496.PNGIMG_5496.PNGIMG_5495.JPG
 
Usually for puffers it’s half the dose. But that’s whats been recommended by a non vet. I’d try half the dose for the meds. See how it responds. Wait for a response from the vet whether he/she thinks full dose is the way to go.
 
Not sure about furan but you could full dose Metro and Kanaplex at the same time with a puffer. The issue is, you don’t wanna keep adding meds without a reason as you will harm their liver and kidneys.

Not sure if your puffer has a tumor or an infection but if it’s the latter, maybe the antibiotics will help.
 
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crap so full or half dose? yes furan 2 or no? he is only getting worse. i am loosing him. The vet got back to me saying they actually do not have the equipment to see him so I am on my own. This is all I have. What do yall think of the photos? What does that look like to you? See the difference? What is happening?
I want to dose tonight but I don't want to do it wrong. Half and its not enough and I kill off the weak stuff leaving the strong. But if it isnt good for him then I hurt him....
 
Boboslunch said:
crap so full or half dose? yes furan 2 or no? he is only getting worse. i am loosing him. The vet got back to me saying they actually do not have the equipment to see him so I am on my own. This is all I have. What do yall think of the photos? What does that look like to you? See the difference? What is happening?
I want to dose tonight but I don't want to do it wrong. Half and its not enough and I kill off the weak stuff leaving the strong. But if it isnt good for him then I hurt him....
Click to expand...

The question is, what disease do you think the puffer has? You have to make an educated guess at least before blasting it with meds that can further weaken it.

The treatments are different if you think its mouth fungus, an injury, or a tumor.

Personally, my guess would be that your puffer has columnaris on his mouth but I can’t be too sure going off of a couple posts. If that were the case, I’d treat with Furan2 and Kanaplex. Read about columnaris below to see if your puffer’s symptoms match.

fishlab.com

Columnaris Disease in Fish: How to Treat and Prevent It

Learn how to treat and prevent columnaris disease in your fish. Follow our guide for effective treatments and tips on maintaining a healthy tank!
fishlab.com fishlab.com
 
It is not columnaris. There is no cotton, nor spots on his body. I have had small fish with it before. Unless this is some slow moving different symptom columnaris I haven’t seen or not described in your linked article.
Are my photos visible to you? They are very large on my end. It started with a snail not finished and then that lump up top on the right a month ago. But he is now not eating and his mouth now doesnt look right on the bottom left side either.
I dosed kanaplex thinking maybe an infection from a shell puncture. Nothing.
my LFS guided me to try this.
A gram positive and gram negative antibiotic and Furan-2. He is starving to death. Something is wrong with his mouth. No Vet in town will see him no site can give me answers. I can try to sedate him and poke around to see if there is possibly a shell stuck and/or treat him for infection. What else do I do. I have been searching for answers for weeks. I have tempted him with every food there is. I have a 15” pufferfish, he is dying and it is heartbreaking.
I just stopped bothering telling the whole story.
 
Metro doesn't work that well in the water since it's not soluble and readily absorbed through the skin. I wouldn't do another round of Kanaplex since you saw no improvement.

I would just stick to Furan-2, at half dose on day 1, see how it does, then go to full dose on day 2.
 
duanes duanes have you seen any mouth issues in your experience?
 
I have not seen any treatable mouth diseases like this.
When I saw the pics, my first impression was a tumor or similar growth,.
Fish....just like dogs.... and humans....get cancers, and invasive tumors that are without a cure, so throwing random meds, and chemicals at them (unless I know what I'm treating for) doesn't fit into my normal box of tricks.
If there is a municipal zoo, with an aquatic exhibit nearby, it might be worth a call
DrownedFishonFire said:
duanes duanes have you seen any mouth issues in your experience?
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
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Sorry to hear about this guy. But to be honest, you're not getting answers about it because people have no clue what's wrong with him. My opinion is that it's some kind of tumor, cancer, etc. Who really knows. As Duanes just mentioned, fish get cancer just like people, dogs and almost every other living creature. if it were me (ONLY IF IT WERE ME) I would throw every medication in the book at him, since I was going to lose him anyway. I've never seen this in my 20+ years of fishkeeping or my 12 years with my Fahaka.
 
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