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I stopped into an lfs today to buy some feeder crayfish for my arrowhead puffer and some fiddler crabs for my Fig 8 and GSP. While waiting to be helped, I noticed a Congo puffer (T. miurus) and another one I couldn't quite make out because he was hiding in a slightly brackish tank. The lady helping me moved the decoration the unknown puffer was hiding behind and low and behold it was a Fahaka puffer....first time I've ever seen a Fahaka in an lfs. I asked how much, and she had to ask the mgr. who told her $9.99. The cheapest I've ever seen a Fahaka was $25 and that was online. Needless to say, I snatched up the Fahaka and warned them that the Miurus was freshwater only (not that they'll move it but hey I tried). This little guy will need some TLC...he's kinda skinny and has one cloudy eye but I'm going to see what I can do to get him back in to tip-top shape. He seemed to be kinda spunky in the lfs tank though...he was hiding in a cubby hole and as mollies swam by he kept trying to eat them. The lady at the lfs said he kept biting off the faces of their mollies which makes me think he has a good appetite. Well, he's getting used to his 30 gallon (36" x 12" x 17" tank but I'll update as to his condition and when he improves I'll get some pics up.

ps. the 30 gallon is only temporary...he's only 2" right now and once he gets to around 6-8" I will move him into a much larger tank.

Probably internal parasites, common to wild-caught puffers. Try to find some Discomed, by Aquatronics.

Thanks Pufferpunk. I actually do have some Discomed. The puffer just ate his first meal...some bloodworms. So tonight I'm going to start soaking his bloodworms in the Discomed and giving them to him. Just one question, is it better to thaw out the bloodworms first and then soak them, or just drop the frozen cube into the water containing the Discomed? Or does it even matter? Thanks.

He's still staying pretty hidden, but once he starts coming out more I'll try to get a few pictures.

Since I usually soak the food overnight, the food would be thawed. I keep it in the fridge to stay fresh though. since Discomed is so hard to find, you might want to mix up a weeks worth (or as much as will not go bad) with 1 pill.

just to update...he's eaten 2 days worth of soaked bloodworms and in a few hours he'll get some more which will make 3 days of treatment. he seems to be getting used to the tank and is starting to explore more and more which also means he's been more active. he doesn't look skinny anymore either. I don't know if it was internal parasites to begin with. it could have easily been that the lfs just wasn't feeding them. I've got 4 more days worth of bloodworms soaking in discomed and once they're gone I'll be done.

On another sad note...I came home from work last night and found my Arrowhead puffer dead. Heater must have malfunctioned cause the temp was up near 90F.

So sorry...