Emergency - Instant Help Needed On Dwarf Puffer

[lilacamy931]

Just feed the puffs as usual, they were extremely hungry. Princess lept the water and now I think she has air trapped as her tail end keeps pointing up and she cant break away from the surface, please help!

 

[lilacamy931]

I have been trying to burp her for 20 mins and she still is not right..any help appreciated she is either going to die from the air or exhaustion soon..

 

[Davo86]

Generally all fish species (excluding hybrids) are able to pass air, sometimes it just takes time,

 

[lilacamy931]

she is completely upside down and have been trying for half an hour.. i dont know whether to keep trying..what is the best and human way I can put her down

 

[Forestpisces]

Dont give up yet lila!

Keep trying with her but if it does come to it there are alot of methods:

Clove oil

Cut off head

smack her against a hard surface

They all sound awful i know but i've heard of all sorts being used and as far as i can tell these are the most humane ways as they tend to be quick.

 

[lilacamy931]

her fins are still moving and me and my partner keep trying..she may die of shock soon

 

[jennybugs]

Have you tried pm'ing i-snail hun?

I haven't come across this with my puffers so can't advise, but I'd deffo not give up yet.

 

[lilacamy931]

thanks jennybugs, pm;d before you did to me..checked everyone can think knows puffers but no one on.. I will keep trying

 

[jennybugs]

Try rubbing the belly not the spine. I am sure that's more effective.

Just read that if you hold the puff tail down in the water and shake it it may burp on it's own, or push the chest gently.

A Dr Ebert writes...
Hold the puffer gently in your hand, not squeezing tightly and with the fish aimed upward - head up tail down. Making a sort of circle with your thumb and first finger to sort of necklace the mouth and eyes helps avoid being bitten. Then gently rub the belly with any available finger, or with the other hand, stroking the belly very gently.

 

[lilacamy931]

Sorry sohuld have written clearer, that is the techinqiue pretty much used.. Her eyes have stopped moving and only one fin is working.. I am still trying to dispel it.

 

[lilacamy931]

Coming up for two hours..no difference. She is still upside down, occasional twitch says she is alive. I have left her in the net..

I cant quite tell if she is gone, there is no movement now that I can tell. If by any chance she is with us in the morning my partner has said he will euthanise her. We have no clove oil and couldnt bare to cut her, but he can decide otherwise. Thanks again everyone for the help. I cant believe how upset I am, cant stop crying, it upsets me more my sweetie is suffering..

 

[lilacamy931]

One last reply guys she passed away during the night. Me and my partner are going to send her on her way on the great river to the sea (we have a river very near us). Thanks for all the advice and help. The other two seem a little sombre this morning too, so will be keeping an eye on them.

 

[jennybugs]

I am so sorry to hear that hun! RIP little puff!

I'd bury her in the garden tbh rather than putting anything 'foreign bodied' into a waterway, no matter how small. I do that with my fish when they pass away...they have a little spot in the garden just for that purpose.

I am still surprised about the fact that she jumped out of the water at feeding time anyway. I've never had mine do that before. Hope it doesn't happen again to you.

 

[lilacamy931]

Thanks Jennybugs, you really have been so helpful. Thanks everyone

She has always nipped at the water and always been a bit concerned but didnt think anything of it. She has also always been a very aggressive eater which didnt help her this time. I will probably bury her in the public gardens when my partner gets home When she did jump I was shocked as she never has been that hungry or aggressive before, they normally all cluster near the surface at feeding time awaiting for the "hand that brings bloodworm" to appear. The others have never nipped at the surface or done anything like this but this has definately made me more wary. Just have to keep an eye on the singular puff who is being really moody.

Im having a time arent I? One knocked itself out (luckily recovered), one got very moody and wouldnt eat (recovered after moving him away from the others), one has now died to trapped air, the same has gone moody again. I am a frantic mother with them at times, I wouldnt change them for the world though, very much love my babies.

 

[divegirl]

Sorry to hear about your little one I lost one of my DP's the other week and was absolutley gutted.....I sat up nearly all night with him....but it wasn't enough! Well done for trying your best.

Lisa x