Puffer eye problem, and teeth trimming?

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TheGrabulator

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 11, 2010
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Hey, having a few issues with a figure eight puffer.

Tank parameters:
SG 1.008
ammonia, nitrates all in spec
all other inhabitants perfectly healthy

I've had this fish for a year and a half in a well established tank. I noticed one of the puffer's eyes is "popping out" and there is some discoloration around the eye. The puffer seems to be a bit more lethargic than usual, but is still eating voraciously. (blood worms, mysis shrimp, live glass shrimp occasionally)

puffereye.jpg


Is this pop eye? do I use antibiotics in the water to solve this?

Also as I'm sure you have noticed his teeth are overgrown because I cant keep a colony of snails going in my other tank. I have read you sedate the fish using clove oil to trim. I have seen people use nail clippers since this is a smaller fish. Has anyone had good luck with trimming a figure eight's teeth?

Thanks for any adice you may have.
 
When you say your ammonia and nitrate are all in spec, what exactly does that mean? What are your nitrAtes, my first suspicion (since it's a well-established tank) would be high nitrAtes over a prolonged period of time. Don't add any antibiotics to the tank, you would want to pin-point the cause, and isolate the fish for treatment. Diagnosing is much better than shotgunning the problem, which would probably cause more harm than good.

I can't speak to trimming the fish's teeth, but I do know an article on sedating with clove oil. http://thegab.org/Illness-and-Treatment/how-to-sedate-a-fish-with-finquel-or-clove-oil.html
 
Laticauda;4797847; said:
When you say your ammonia and nitrate are all in spec, what exactly does that mean? What are your nitrAtes, my first suspicion (since it's a well-established tank) would be high nitrAtes over a prolonged period of time. Don't add any antibiotics to the tank, you would want to pin-point the cause, and isolate the fish for treatment. Diagnosing is much better than shotgunning the problem, which would probably cause more harm than good.

I can't speak to trimming the fish's teeth, but I do know an article on sedating with clove oil. http://thegab.org/Illness-and-Treatment/how-to-sedate-a-fish-with-finquel-or-clove-oil.html
Click to expand...

Ammonia, nitrites and nitrates are all at zero with the test kit. Also I did a 25% water change on the tank about a week and a half ago. I changed the water again yesterday, no change for the puffer. Also I noticed he has a much lighter color than usual. He's not happy about something.

Thanks for the clove oil link.
 
You test kit is wrong if you get all zero readings.

Light color of the fish is on par for a fish not feeling 100%. As for the eye, you'll want to pull the fish into a small quarantine tank. I'd run a small mechanical filter on it and an airstone... no carbon though. Use a combination of nitrofurazone and kanamycin. (2/1 ratio as per the dose recommended on the bottle. Different companies will offer different purities and dose levels.) It won't take much, but keep him in a light bath for 7 days. It should clear up.
 
What test kits are you using? I agree--an established tank will show some nitrAte. A swollen eye can be a sign of poor water conditions but you could try adding Epsom salt (1 tbsp/5g) to reducer swelling if it's not bacteria. You can also add Melafix to the water without danger to the biological bacteria.

If at all possible, do not use clove oil to sedate a fish. We have discovered it causes brain damage when used repetitively, as it stops the fish's breathing. Do your best to use MS222 (Finquel). I've purchased that from Drs Foster & Smith.
http://www.**************.com/forum/library/hospital/dentistry/

There are many other crunchy foods to keep their teeth trimmed. I rarely feed snails to my puffers.
http://www.**************.com/forum/library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
You can also start a small snail breeding system, even in a bucket.
http://www.**************.com/forum/library/feeding/basic-snail-breeding/
 
Pufferpunk;4802154; said:
What test kits are you using? I agree--an established tank will show some nitrAte. A swollen eye can be a sign of poor water conditions but you could try adding Epsom salt (1 tbsp/5g) to reducer swelling if it's not bacteria. You can also add Melafix to the water without danger to the biological bacteria.

If at all possible, do not use clove oil to sedate a fish. We have discovered it causes brain damage when used repetitively, as it stops the fish's breathing. Do your best to use MS222 (Finquel). I've purchased that from Drs Foster & Smith.
http://www.**************.com/forum/library/hospital/dentistry/

There are many other crunchy foods to keep their teeth trimmed. I rarely feed snails to my puffers.
http://www.**************.com/forum/library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
You can also start a small snail breeding system, even in a bucket.
http://www.**************.com/forum/library/feeding/basic-snail-breeding/
Click to expand...

The test kit is an "API freshwater master test kit". I tested nitrates twice... it was zero. Wonder if the kit "went bad". I will test my other tank and see if I get anything.

As far as crunchy foods, I am attempting a snail colony in the other tank. They are laying eggs. I have a cray in that tank and I think its eating the eggs or baby snails. I might take your advice and get a bucket or a 10gal or something. Also I have tried to feed this puffer crabs and crays, he wont touch them. He does like snails when I have them and ghost shrimp.

Good advice on the clove oil. I might wait and order some of that MS222 stuff. The puffer is still eating so I think he'll be OK for a bit.

Thanks for the advice everyone.
 
Are you shaking the nitrate test as long as per instructions?

Yes, crays will eat snail eggs. Read that feeding article for other ideas.
 
Yeah, you have to test bottle #2 vigorously for at least 30 seconds. You have to then shake the water+bottle#1+bottle#2 solution for 60 seconds, then wait 5 minutes to read the directions.

How often do you change your water? It's very likely prolonged high nitrAtes is what is causing these problems, and can be resolved with water changes. I would try to see if clean water fixes the problems, before throwing antibiotics into the water.

He should be in a hospital tank, though, that I do agree.
 
Water is changed once a month. Tested both tanks (yes I followed the instructions and shook everything like a polaroid picture). Both tanks showed zero readings for everything. Makes me think my kit is bad.

Also as I said earlier, I changed the water very recently to see if it would make a difference, it did not.

the only other thing I can think that would cause a problem in this tank, I redecorated with granite pieces a few months ago (I let them soak a week before I put them in the tank) They might be leaching something into the water.

The puffer is alive and eating, but still cranky.
 
Water changes need to be done weekly!
http://www.**************.com/forum/library/water-filtration/waterfiltration/
 
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