Odd Duck Posted July 14, 2021 Share Posted July 14, 2021 I think I would risk another dose of levamisole if he doesn’t start eating tomorrow. It looks like there’s still way too much stringiness to that poop. Then move his next dosing date to a week from tomorrow (if he doesn’t eat and you decide to dose again). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Silver Posted July 14, 2021 Author Share Posted July 14, 2021 @Odd Duck thanks for the advice. If he doesn't eat today I will probably dose again. Should I do levamisole over the prozi/metro combo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancing Matt Posted July 14, 2021 Share Posted July 14, 2021 I remember in previous livestream Cory talking about puffers being known to have internal parasites and having to de worm them multiple times (over time). That may be something to keep in mind going forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odd Duck Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 On 7/14/2021 at 6:13 AM, Duke Silver said: @Odd Duck thanks for the advice. If he doesn't eat today I will probably dose again. Should I do levamisole over the prozi/metro combo? I would dose the levamisole again. It’s fast acting and also clears quickly so less risk of side effects. Don’t forget your before and after water changes. If he still doesn’t eat for another 24 hours or so, then do a round of the prazi/metro combo. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Silver Posted July 15, 2021 Author Share Posted July 15, 2021 @Odd DuckI did a water change yesterday and dosed Levamisole again , so soon as I get off work today I'm going to do another water change. 🤞 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Silver Posted July 16, 2021 Author Share Posted July 16, 2021 (edited) Well after doing a water change and gravel vacuuming he did eat some for me, but its still the same of he will only eat the tiniest of snails. the top photo he will eat (dont have many that size since most fahakas I've seen are ferocious eaters so in my breeding tank they are mostly larger) the bottom photo is the size of snail he will chase, try to bite it once, then just swims off. He will do the same with the cherry shrimp that are in his tank. He will see one, do the typical puffer stare down, bite at it once and usually miss, then swims off and goes what looks like hunting for more food? Im at a loss with this guy. He will even try to bite my finger if I put it up to the tank Edited July 16, 2021 by Duke Silver 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 I hope he starts eating for you. I bet I’m not the only one getting invested in his development. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Silver Posted July 16, 2021 Author Share Posted July 16, 2021 Thanks @Patrick_G I'm hoping tomorrow he eats better. At this point if I could find live blackworm I would get them since that's what PetZoneSD said they were feeding when he was in their care. Unfortunately my LFS is a PetSmart and I don't have anywhere locally to get them. I'm starting to wonder if his teeth are an issue and that's why he is only eating the small snails. I have no idea how fast their teeth grow, he is only about 1.5 - 2 inches so not sure if his teeth could be an issue this soon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Silver Posted July 16, 2021 Author Share Posted July 16, 2021 Went down to check on Bender this morning after tank lights came on and he was already swimming around hunting so I dropped in a tiny snail and he went after it and ate it. I decided to try a slights bigger one, same as always. cut off a chunk of raw shrimp and thawed it for him. he went after it and actually bit it and shook it a couple times then decided to leave it alone. Decided to just leave it in the tank while I went to work (there is enough snails and cherry shrimp in the tank they will take care of it). Happily to my surprise when I checked on him after work, his stomach looks to be fuller and rounded like he was eating something. there is still the shrimp left, but idk if hot a piece off or if he has just finally been getting the snails that have been in his tank. Either way I'm super excited and hope this is the road to him getting better! 🤞 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odd Duck Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 @Duke Silver Yay! Nice work! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXInkedPhoenixX Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 Oh my gosh that's great!!! He is so beautiful. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Silver Posted July 17, 2021 Author Share Posted July 17, 2021 Welp.. discovered what he ate yesterday. found a bright red poo in the tank today, so it must have been a cherry shrimp. He ate a couple tiny snails for me today like we usually does so I decided to try a larger snail, still no luck with the larger snails. decided to catch out a juvenile cherry shrimp from one of my colonies and decided to try to feed that since most the cherry shrimp that are left in his tank are larger. Boy was I shocked when I saw how interested he was in it, he pretty much swallowed the first one whole! I did a slightly larger one after that and he took his time with this one and I was able to grab a pic. I'm super excited if this is something I can actually get him to eat since I have plenty on hand and can breed more. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatyourpeas Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 So happy to see he is eating! If the cherry shrimp get to be expensive, you could try scuds and see if he goes for them. He is adorable! 😍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Silver Posted July 17, 2021 Author Share Posted July 17, 2021 Thanks @eatyourpeas I'll keep them in mind. thankfully I have a colony in a 40b and a second colony in a 20g. hoping these are just an interim food till I can get him on snails better, have a ton of ramshorns going for him if I can get him to just eat them 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatyourpeas Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 On 7/17/2021 at 12:51 PM, Duke Silver said: Thanks @eatyourpeas I'll keep them in mind. thankfully I have a colony in a 40b and a second colony in a 20g. hoping these are just an interim food till I can get him on snails better, have a ton of ramshorns going for him if I can get him to just eat them As he grows his jaw may be less of a hindrance when it comes to eating snails. Hoping he grows to be strong and a fearsome snail eater. 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Silver Posted July 17, 2021 Author Share Posted July 17, 2021 On 7/17/2021 at 3:53 PM, eatyourpeas said: As he grows his jaw may be less of a hindrance when it comes to eating snails. Hoping he grows to be strong and a fearsome snail eater. 🙂 hoping so! going to try to keep feeding the tiny snails he will eat to try to keep his teeth down and then supplement with the shrimp he likes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXInkedPhoenixX Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 You have an expensive little eater (I want lobster!) but he's beautiful and deserves it- obviously he's been through a lot. Love to see him doing better! 🥰 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Silver Posted July 29, 2021 Author Share Posted July 29, 2021 I know its been while so I figured I would post an update. Bender is doing well, I followed up with another treatment of Prozi/Metro on 7/21. He is still eating his small snails and cherry shrimp. Wondering now if I should keep him in his 40B incase I need to treat again or if I should move him into his 125? A lot of stuff I have read says it usually best to move them to their permanent tank soon as possible. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odd Duck Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 No suggestions not having kept that species, but I have a question for you. How is his bendiness doing? Has he straightened any? Is he filling out? I think we need pictures. 😉 😆 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatyourpeas Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 I would move him with a jar so it will not stress him out. The little guy has been through a lot, so you do not want to take a step backwards. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Silver Posted July 30, 2021 Author Share Posted July 30, 2021 @eatyourpeas I had planned on it. I've watched all of Cory's club presentation on puffers that I could find online and I know that is always one of the big things. Also exciting news is I decided to try different food again today since it's been a while. Bloodworms he still has no interest in, but raw shrimp (as long as it was in small bitesize pieces) he was all about! This makes my life so much easier since I can just go buy this! He is a pic of his fat belly after eating 😍. I've also attached full tank shots of both his current 40b QT tank and his 125 he will be moving into. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatyourpeas Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 That is a happy belly! And great news on the shrimp as puffers can get so picky about food. One comment on the new tank, you may want to add more nooks and crannies, as well as plants. Puffers get bored easily so they need lots of places to explore. Beautiful tank! 😍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Silver Posted December 24, 2021 Author Share Posted December 24, 2021 Merry Christmas ⛄🎄 it's been a while, but bender is doing well. Someone made a pig of himself this morning and looked like Santa! 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatyourpeas Posted December 24, 2021 Share Posted December 24, 2021 He looks wonderful! What a great Xmas belly! You have done a great job nourishing him back to health, and he is a handsome boy!!! 😍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbit Posted December 25, 2021 Share Posted December 25, 2021 Wow, he looks amazing! I can just hear him swimming around the tank saying “Ho Ho Ho!” 😆 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now