Puffer poop not falling off? Staying on the fish?

[Jjiang00]

Hi, so my baby fahaka puffer (1-2 in) has stopped eating a few days ago and i just chocked it up to ich, which has been clearing up with salt.

He is very active and interested but just spits out the food.

I suspected it may also be ips and after treating with Api general cure, the next morning I see he finally has pooped, but it has just been hanging on his body and not falling off? He still is not eating anything even when soaked in garlic.

Does this confirm parasites or constipation? Here’s some photos:

 

[kno4te]

Fat Homer

 

[Jjiang00]

Heres a better picture, it’s two balls of poop connected by a white clear string

 

[Fat Homer]

Bit hard to say with 100% certainty but looks like it could be...

if you want to be safe you can try and deworm your puffer now while it is still potentially in the early stages before you puffer completely gives up eating all together and monitor as you go...

you’ll probably need something better than API cure though as im not sure thats any good with dealing with IP’s?

 

[Jjiang00]

Update: Got him eating again (maybe a little too much)! The ich is cleared and he passed a ton of internal worms. For anyone with the same situation I had, just mix some Api general cure or other ip med into its food along with garlic and he’ll pass a buncha worms. Thanks again Fat Homer with the expert advice on puffers, really helped me with my first fahaka!

 

[tlindsey]

Great to hear the Fahaka is healthy again.

 

[Fat Homer]

Yup! Great to hear hes nice and healthy again, hopefully now he’ll reamain IP’s free ??