Urgent pls: Fish caught in power head

[paultaylor]

Hey guys be gentle with me, I'm the type thats nearly balling about this.

I've got a Canthigaster bennetti (Bennett's Puffer) which is the oldest inhabitant of my tank (and my favourite). I came home today and found his back half stuck to a power head input

I was hoping that he would get better but his top fin is shredded and his tail fin isn't working AT ALL. He is breathing heavily and looks in a very bad way I need to do something but don't know what, do I go for euthanasia ? or see if he improves.

I have been reading the forums and get the feeling I should put him into a cup with his own water and into the freezer with him is maybe the best way. The thought of 'wacking' him is not on the agenda, I couldn't bring myself to do it

Thanks anyone,
Paul

 

[Len]

Sorry to hear that Paul

I'd wait it out a bit as fish really don't feel pain the way you and I do. Let's hope it survives. Puffers are relatively resistent, so hopefully it's just in a shock-induced state right now. Make sure it is comfortable, and I'd dim the lights a bit. If there are open wounds, it is advisable you move him to a QT tank (that is, if you can do so without stressing him too badly) and administor some antibiotics. Shredded fins will heal if it's not cut off at the peduncle.

I hope it works out for him.

 

[paultaylor]

Thanks for the info Len.

He is hiding in the back of the tank now.

I am realy worried that he can't seem to move his back fin. I'll leave him for tonight and see how he looks tomorrow.

Cheers,
Paul

PS. Nobody told me I would get attached to these little guys :?

 

[Len]

Let us know. I get a feeling he's just stressed and exhausted from trying to free himself from the powerhead.

Puffers have a lot of personality. I can see why you got attached.

 

[Anonymous]

I think you should give him a chance to come around before thinking of putting him down.

My clownfish had such a bad injury that I could see her insides and she recovered! I was certain she would die from it.

Let us know how he does.

 

[Anonymous]

We're all thinking good thoughts, paultaylor!

 

[danmhippo]

I had puffer sucked tight by powerheads before. I end up giving him a hospital tank of his own with very gentle water flow, and hand feed him for a couple of weeks before placing him back into the display tank.

IMO, as long as you gets him to start gobble down food like a pig, he should be OK.

If you find him really swimming erratic, they you should really think about putting him away for good. But since you mentioned he is hiding in the back, then that's a good sign that he is still be able to manuever himself around.

 

[Anonymous]

I hope your little guy is okay! 8O I would be in tears as well! I am new and don't even have any water in my tank yet and I am already looking at my powerhead as a predator, how do I keep something like this from happening?

 

[danmhippo]

Make sure your powerhead has strainer at the inlet, or sponge even better. However if you use sponge, you need to clean it every couple of days.

Or you can also hide the inlet between rockwork crevices.

 

[Expos Forever]

I had some Hagen powerheads with a big gaping inlet hole.

I used a bio-ball which made a pretty good stariner. Good luck with your fish.

 

[paultaylor]

He has been hiding all day in the rocks but came out tonight. I hand fed him some food which he took a bit of and then dissapeared off back into the rocks.

This "attachment" doesn't happen with fresh water fish. There should be a health warning on keeping puffer fish "Be warned, you will quickly become attached to these critters like you would do a dog."

I'll keep you posted !

Cheers,
Paul

 

[Anonymous]

Well, he ate, and that's obviously a good sign!

 

[paultaylor]

Thats y'all for the replies.

He has spend the last few days sitting on the rocks hidden during the day and near the front of the tank on the sand at night. Today seems to be the first full day that he has been 'swimming' and not perched on a rock. Good news on that front I hope.

Now the problem is, when he was on the rock or sand I managed to coax him into eating a bit of mussel from my hand. For two days now since he is a bit more mobile he simply refuses to eat. When I go near the tank he swims off and hides which is totaly the opposite of what he would do in the past. I think he is realy pissed at me.

How can I get him to eat, I know as every day goes by and he doesn't eat its a realy serious problem.

Thanks in advance for your replies,
Paul

 

[Joew]

I just had a blue chromis get stuck to a MJ 1200 input cover, dumb bastard. Musy have been there a few hours. Dead as a door nail.


JoeW
_________________
BMW 6 Series

 

[Len]

Paul, good to hear it's swimming again. It's just spoked and probably associates you with the powerhead incident. It's just gonna take time for it to get accustomed to you again, but in the meanwhile, I'd put in food and step away from the tank so it isn't frightened from eating.

 

[K9coral]

Go with Expos forever's idea - a bio ball makes a very good strainer.

 

[Anonymous]

Well, he ate, and that's obviously a good sign!

Absolutely a great sign!

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear that, good deal he seems to be making a recovery.. - I started putting sponges on all my intakes after losing a shrimp the same way.. :?

You might try some live food if you can too.. - Might help distract him from you a little and help "warm" him back up to you.



JoeW: :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

Good point, GD. If he has to hunt a little to eat it might keep him limbered up. A little P/T is good after an accident. Crayfish, Grass shrimp, Fiddler crabe, etc.. The shells of crayfish and crabs are good as they help keep the fishes teeth worn a little.
Andy

 

[Tackett]

I had a porcupine puffer get bitten in half by a red flag grouper that was the size of my foot. (and I wear 17's). I cried, actually no I didnt, but came close.