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Does anyone know what i can do? He has a ring around his back area, and he's swollen. he is breathing very heavy I dont know what to do? any help?

To be honest, I'm not sure there is a lot you can do. Be sure to avoid stressing the pufferfish as much as you can, since it certainly won't be in great shape after being stung. If you haven't done any water changes lately, you may want to go ahead and do a small one to improve water quality. This would give the fish a little boost, and would be beneficial as long as the puffer doesn't get too freaked out about the whole deal. I don't know of any remedy for fish which have been poisoned by lionfish tankmates, so all I can really suggest is to keep an eye on things.

Welcome to the boards!

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Welcome there. This is a dead tricky one.

They key to surviving toxins to which the composition may be uncertain( im sure there isnt a fish useable antivenin for a lionfix toxin) can only be antihistamines. Only by preventing the reaction of the heart, lungs, and brain to such venoms and preventing the swelling from occurring in crucial organs will the fish have a chance to ride out the poison. If the toxin has haemmoragic effects im afraid the fish is as good as dead, but if the toxin is primarily neurotoxic the fish at least has a shot at survival with an antihistamine. Perhaps your vet may be able to recommend one that can be used on fish, but again this is a longshot.

Failing that I would keep water conditions as stable as possible, no hikes or lowerings of temperature that could concievably worsen the onset of systemic shock, and prevent the fish from overacting or becoming excited , and definately ensure it avoids physical exersion, and increasing the distribution of the poison, obviously any handling or netting would be a catastrophically bad idea at this point .Turning the lights out may keep the puffer calm.

If no vet can help , try to ride it through as calmly as possible for the best chance of survival, but in all honesty this fish's days may be numbered. Medications like antibiotics will do nothing except put strain on the liver which will already be maxed out on performance trying to cope with the poison. You could kill the fish with antibiotic meds, and stress cures sometimes use oxygen , and the last thing this fish needs is to be short of breath. Dont consider antibiotics until the poison has oxidised (typically over 48 hours or more) at which point it may be useful in preventing infection from damaged and necrotic tissue.

A lot of marine toxins,fish and jellyfish stings alike can be neutralised quicky with the application of malt vinegar, but this poison has probably been injected subcutaeneously or intramuscularly and there may be no way you can get the vinegar to the poison, and doubtless the puffer might not react well to the vinegar at all, let alone survive the capture before administration.It might be worth a shot if it looks like the puffer is gonna die anyway. A little clove oil administered in a quarantine tank might take the edge of the pain away, a lionfish sting is designed to be bloody painful, but again the risk of handling the fish in any way might not be worth it.


The only card in your deck is that the fish stung was a puffer, a species that will have its own toxins, and as such might concievably have an advantage in processing and breaking down some other toxins too, but I wouldnt put big money on that bet.


Sorry I cant offer more help than that .

Best of luck.