jpmunoz
Community Member
I have had my golden arothron puffer for around 5 years. In this time he has always eaten very well. I liken him to a Labrador Retriever in personality and hunger. By far my favorite fish.
He is in a ~220 gallon tank at my office. He usually eats head on whole shrimps and mussels. On Fridays before I leave for the weekend, I usually toss in a whole, previously frozen and raw blue crab. When I come back to work on Monday, it is mostly just small pieces of shell left.
A few weeks ago he stopped eating. I didn't notice right away, but he didn't shred the crab from over the weekend. It probably sat until around Wednesday. Cue a few large water changes and extra vinegar dosing. Nitrate was maxed out on the test, over 160 ppm. Ammonia was not detected and Nitrite was around 0.25 ppm. This tank always has tested Nitrite around that level. Nitrate is usually around 40 ppm.
He wouldn't eat or open his mouth for around two weeks. He mostly laid on top of the power heads or sand with his tail curled in.
Last week he finally started swimming normally again. He showed a little interest in food, but was still not eating.
Today he finally opened his mouth, and it does not look great. He did eat half a medium scallop after I broke it into bite sized pieces.
Of course the pictures don't show it as well as in person. The only way that I can describe it would be that it looks like he bit his tongue and it got infected and a little necrotic. His left side of his mouth seems a little swollen.
His beak could use a trim I think, but I am hesitant to anesthetize him until he has a chance to recover some strength.
Has anyone seen this before? Any suggestions?
He is in a ~220 gallon tank at my office. He usually eats head on whole shrimps and mussels. On Fridays before I leave for the weekend, I usually toss in a whole, previously frozen and raw blue crab. When I come back to work on Monday, it is mostly just small pieces of shell left.
A few weeks ago he stopped eating. I didn't notice right away, but he didn't shred the crab from over the weekend. It probably sat until around Wednesday. Cue a few large water changes and extra vinegar dosing. Nitrate was maxed out on the test, over 160 ppm. Ammonia was not detected and Nitrite was around 0.25 ppm. This tank always has tested Nitrite around that level. Nitrate is usually around 40 ppm.
He wouldn't eat or open his mouth for around two weeks. He mostly laid on top of the power heads or sand with his tail curled in.
Last week he finally started swimming normally again. He showed a little interest in food, but was still not eating.
Today he finally opened his mouth, and it does not look great. He did eat half a medium scallop after I broke it into bite sized pieces.
Of course the pictures don't show it as well as in person. The only way that I can describe it would be that it looks like he bit his tongue and it got infected and a little necrotic. His left side of his mouth seems a little swollen.
His beak could use a trim I think, but I am hesitant to anesthetize him until he has a chance to recover some strength.
Has anyone seen this before? Any suggestions?
