How often to deworm puffers?

[Suzanne]

Hello, 

I've had my pea puffers for about a year. I treated them with Expel P when I first got them during their quarantine. I transferred them into their new tank. 

They eat baby snails occasionally, bloodwork and brine shrimp regularly. 

I've noticed 2 puffers getting thinner than they were. My question is, how often do y'all treat your puffers for parasites? Is it a matter of course based on the foods they eat or is it on a needs must basis? 

 

Thank you.

[nabokovfan87]

I believe it's going to be something where you do it as needed. If you see them eating but with sunken bellies, then you'd want to treat accordingly.  Whether it was done a year ago, or 2 weeks ago.

Welcome to the forum!

@mountaintoppufferkeeper What is your regime like for internal parasites?

[mountaintoppufferkeeper]

Welcome @Suzanne  Thanks@nabokovfan87 

I do the med trio on new arrivals and then observe. If it is a fish I keep in an outdoor pond for summer they get the trio on return inside and are observed again like a new purchase.

I'm a big believer in any of the vitamin liquids like vitachem to potentially limiting  deficiencies in nutrition. I buy this one personally and add it in repashy or soak frozen foods in it prior to feeding. Ill even add a little to the food I give my ramshorns and trumpet snails prior to feeding them to my puffers.  At a minimum its giving a bit more nutrition to the puffers.  https://www.aquariumcoop.com/products/vita-chem.

The garlic extracts are also something I use. The below reference is a study on garlic vs parasites in guppies published in Veterinary Parasitology, Volume 203, Issues 1–2, 16 June 2014, Pages 51-58. It is one peer reviewed study on garlic as a treatment vs parasites in ornamental fish. 

I have no clue how settled it is but at least anecdotally parasites  including aquatic ones, are not a huge fan of garlic. And it does seem to help encourage picky eaters when I add a little in my repashy mix or to my frozen food soaks.

 

Reference 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304401714000752

[Suzanne]

On 7/7/2022 at 12:31 AM, mountaintoppufferkeeper said:

Welcome @Suzanne  Thanks@nabokovfan87 

I do the med trio on new arrivals and then observe. If it is a fish I keep in an outdoor pond for summer they get the trio on return inside and are observed again like a new purchase.

I'm a big believer in any of the vitamin liquids like vitachem to potentially limiting  deficiencies in nutrition. I buy this one personally and add it in repashy or soak frozen foods in it prior to feeding. Ill even add a little to the food I give my ramshorns and trumpet snails prior to feeding them to my puffers.  At a minimum its giving a bit more nutrition to the puffers.  https://www.aquariumcoop.com/products/vita-chem.

The garlic extracts are also something I use. The below reference is a study on garlic vs parasites in guppies published in Veterinary Parasitology, Volume 203, Issues 1–2, 16 June 2014, Pages 51-58. It is one peer reviewed study on garlic as a treatment vs parasites in ornamental fish. 

I have no clue how settled it is but at least anecdotally parasites  including aquatic ones, are not a huge fan of garlic. And it does seem to help encourage picky eaters when I add a little in my repashy mix or to my frozen food soaks.

 

Reference 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304401714000752

Thank you!!! This is exactly what I needed to hear to get my butt in gear.

I've have been hesitating for no valid reason on buying vitamins and trying repashy.

Thanks for your thpughtful reply,  I appreciate it. 

[Suzanne]

I ordered some repashy soilent green and vita chem. 

 

[Jennifer V]

Love vita chem for my peas! We even add some directly to the water for them. We've had them for a year and a half and they're still doing great. 🐡

[Suzanne]

Another pea puffer question...has anyone had a blind pea puffer? I got a group of 8 last time, 2 died. They were all very thin and didn't make quarantine.  One of them that I thought might not make it, has made it, but he's always been rather pale with black eyes. He's feisty enough, but, watching him feed, I think he may be blind. He is not good at directly grabbing his food, I have to dangle it right at him. He has no yellow or green coloration, and as I said, his eyes are solid black. Thanks.