My dwarf puffer is sick...HELP!!!

[PufferPuffer]

:laluot_10:
i have seven dwarf puffers in my 5G tank...
they r about 3 months old now...
one of them get sick today...the rest r fine...
he was still fine this morning when i feed them...
but now...
he doesnt eat...swim...but just stay at the bottom...
and i have separated them for 3 hrs already...
Plz help!!!
http://j9zimw.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pgxHWgwU2bZka5LjTp73-8bAB-bJM3ABGLa7dC-LjMlf7Qz1PzJzxw9Pn1MDe7GRyW691myyaa-mRQIhoNGLtEFxpQsckSh91/DSC00979.jpg
http://j9zimw.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pI0t5KOIlvb9ETeA7UWTEeC4dKv-4ATBOCbfPyBl3GBimJVoBUlyb5-Yj4vgQ7rg_5DP53Lf5oiyAK4ERL8WozDQil2zwusxQ/DSC00980.jpg
http://j9zimw.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pZ_8jzgcTE1gHZ29TrKqMALX1JJSf9yFZciNidHc5JlfJ4gK PgYtwMjIyLnYTKOlyLSIRJxn8r8HPcsPHlt_4gulYn1KkNiEu/DSC00983.jpg
http://cid-24b9743e312e29ba.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Puffer/DSC00984.jpg

[PuffLuv]

Have you tested for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate? What are you feeding them? In my opinion, you have too many puffers for that size of tank. I had a hard time trying to get mine to eat anything other than meaty foods(ie. bloodworms). Your biofilter probably can't keep up with this kind of bioload. Also, these little guys are prone to internal parasites, have a short lifespan, and can be quite vicious to each other and other fish.

[PufferPuffer]

er....so...what should i do now...???????????????????
i actually have a 10G tank...
but i think they r fine for now...cuz they dont fight......
so...for my sick little one...how can i save him?
how how how how how?
thank you

[sharuq1]

Because his tummy is so sunken in you need him to start eating. You could try putting in some live baby brine shrimp and some small freshwater snails for him to eat. Sadly once these guys get a sunken belly it is not likely they will live. Often they come into the pet store and refuse to eat what they offer and are starved before you even get them. :sad: Sorry that isn't what you wanted to hear.

[365seasons]

+1 on what everyone's saying. Once his tummy is sunken, theres not too much you can do if he won't eat.


Dwarf puffers are very aggressive, and need much more room than less than 1G each. They are territorial and will fight when not given sufficient room and lots of places to hide. I learned this the hard way when I was younger. I would get a bigger tank if you want to keep that many in it.

Sorry about your puffer. Hopefully he starts eating and pulls through!!

[PufferPuffer]

thank you everyone...
he is doing a bit better now...
hopefully he will be fine...
& im going to move the rest to the 10G tank soon...

[fatpuffer]

dwarf puffers needs at least 3 gallon per puffer as they are very territorial. They eat snails and frozen foods such as bloodworms, shell on shrimps, etc. Please move them into a bigger tank.

Js

[Kronk]

A sunken stomach usually means internal parasites which are very common for DPs. I had couple batches of DPs all of them all had internal parasites when I got them and lived for a little over a year.

As was mentioned they are small but need a lot of room and a LOT OF PLANTS if they dont have enough plants they get stressed and exhibit symptoms similar to yours.

I used to visit this site a lot good info http://www.dwarfpuffers.com/

Here is a pic of my old setup http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k266/Kronk_01/pufftankMar1017.jpg

Good Luck to you they are definately my favorite freshwater fish.

Ken

[DCDN]

You can also try www.thepufferforum.com
Very helpful people there who know their puffers and a lot of great information too

[PufferPuffer]

Thank you all...end up...i cant save it...>< sry...fishy