My puffer deworming experience log :Challenging wild caught puffer

[mountaintoppufferkeeper]

In order to get better experience on the deworming I intentionally grabbed a less than healthy puffer from a seller who is more of a flow through than a QT and deworm online shop. Not only that I got this individual around Christmas during a colder spell with one more who appeared to be in better condition on arrival. This thread will be focused on the one puffer and how it progresses through deworming.  

The sale price back then was too good ( a gift from a family member ) and I took the jump knowing the risks. This could still end poorly for this puffer but so fsr so good. 

The goal was to get real world practice in deworming and conditioning as rough of a puffer as possible to prepare for a potential purchase of wild caught species without QT or deworming in the future. The condition of this one was as bad as I was personally comfortable trying with my current ability. 

Day of arrival

Treatment with prazi pro (praziquantel) begins (I lost my scoop for my paracleanse and didnt want to guess). At some point this spotted congo lost the bottom fin to the muscle. Seems like possibly bitten off before arrival here.  

Day 9 - Progress made with praziquantel. Still a little more work to do before Expel-P (Levamisole Hydrochloride)

 

Day 14 first day of Expel-P (Levamisole Hydrochloride). Id say we definately had some "expel of a P" in this gif. 

 

Day 16 

2 days post 1st round of Expel-P (Levamisole Hydrochloride).

 

We are one more round of Expel-P (Levamisole Hydrochloride) and then a round or two of fenbendazole to finish up the QT treatment here. Eating well and with that personality now. I expect this puffer will thrive and achieve the condition where the normal source send their fish to me by the end of the process.  For comparison, this is the condition I recieved a pair from my normal source:

 

 

More to follow as we progress 

Edited January 11, 2023 by mountaintoppufferkeeper

[nabokovfan87]

How many treatments would you normally do for this case and how far apart? 

Generally I think the "go to" is 3 treatments minimum, with a break of 7-14 days between each round of treatment.  I would say 4 is the minimum when you see the fish actively expelling them like yours.  I've seen recommendations from very qualified professionals stating minimum is 6. 

What is your ritual with internal parasites?

[mountaintoppufferkeeper]

On 1/10/2023 at 8:02 PM, nabokovfan87 said:

How many treatments would you normally do for this case and how far apart? 

Generally I think the "go to" is 3 treatments minimum, with a break of 7-14 days between each round of treatment.  I would say 4 is the minimum when you see the fish actively expelling them like yours.  I've seen recommendations from very qualified professionals stating minimum is 6. 

What is your ritual with internal parasites?

Full disclaimer if they are eating and seem healthy i do the med trio and move on. Because of that this was a good opportunity with some decent comparisons between this puffer an the other pair.  I am learning what works best for me as I go using the references on the website for @Preston John as my guide. In addition I am using my general understanding of how each med is working in my tanks and behavioral observations of the puffers.

I plan on doing one treatment of expel-p a week for 4 cycles total then move to fenbendazole for 4 cycles as needed after that. levamisole seems to be really helping but id expect some worms are a given due to the foods involved.

Seems to be feeling better after round 1 of expel-p though. Maybe a little too good :). A little bit aggressive in the QT ward tonight not really living the peaceful journey puffer life tonight.  The right side is the puffer of this thread looking way better thsn day 1. The left puffer came same time and is just as fiesty. Considering the lack of a flinch left seems aware of the lighting diffuser abilities and no long tests it. 

 

Edited January 11, 2023 by mountaintoppufferkeeper

[mountaintoppufferkeeper]

Day 24 - Expel-p dose 2 plus 2 days

To my eye this puffer is now looking better than arrival day. Body shape is a little more smooth and filled out and the bottom fin is growing back a bit. Ive been using vitachem and garlic guard as a soak on gut loaded ramshorns and pond snails regularly. This is to hopefully get a little more vitamins and garlic benefits into the puffer. 

Edited January 16, 2023 by mountaintoppufferkeeper

[AllFishNoBrakes]

I’m no expert, but the puffer is looking great! Honestly, I’ve seen puffers at LFS’s that look like this one the day it arrived to you. Pretty cool to see you take them from what they were to where they are today. 

[eatyourpeas]

They came to the right place to have a happy life! 😍

[mountaintoppufferkeeper]

So deworming worked i dont have egg collection down just yet but a cool update anyway .... 

 

[nabokovfan87]

On 3/24/2023 at 1:40 PM, mountaintoppufferkeeper said:

@Coryhhas to see this! Ballerina puffers.

That's amazing.

Nice work getting them healthy MTPK!

[Cory]

Nice work. It's hard to watch them bite each other while mating.

[mountaintoppufferkeeper]

@Cory thanks kindly. That whole process is quite intense. They went back to normal coloration and feeding earlier tonight. Its intesting how much of a dance it is with them. Looking forward to working on raising fry at some point in the coming months. 

I also did not realize males changed pattern similar to, but not quite as drastic as, the mekong puffers with lighter spots and a darker body. 

[nabokovfan87]

Reminds me of sharks mating.....  I do believe tonic immobility with sharks plays a role on their side though.
 

 

I didn't realize they were biting one another at first. 😞

[mountaintoppufferkeeper]

More of a firm hold only option they have without hands I suppose 

[mountaintoppufferkeeper]

@nabokovfan87 This is the mark after. heals pretty quick. seems superficial and they go right back to standard puffering up here eating food and interacting. 

 

[nabokovfan87]

On 3/26/2023 at 10:15 AM, mountaintoppufferkeeper said:

@nabokovfan87 This is the mark after. heals pretty quick. seems superficial and they go right back to standard puffering up here eating food and interacting. 

Definitely not a bite intended for harm. Very cool to see! 

[mountaintoppufferkeeper]

On 3/26/2023 at 1:44 PM, nabokovfan87 said:

Definitely not a bite intended for harm. Very cool to see! 

That whole process was pretty cool to see. I took a bit of video that round and got a much better understanding of how they work in my setups and how to adjust my tanks for them moving forward: plants more localized, sponges on the one side of the tank to grab some eggs for a tumbler, and probably will move the sand to one side or remove it completely to better spot and collect the eggs.