Dogface Puffer Emergency - we have No experience, need help
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
41 posts
• Page 3 of 3 • 1, 2, 3
Re: Dogface Puffer Emergency - we have No experience, need help
by FADE2BLACK_1973 on Mon May 14, 2012 1:25 am
Oh ok. Some people use you use pure RO water for the whole tank and had problems with ph. And they had to use extra buffers to keep it stable. Well just using it for top off then it should not be a problem.
Chris,
He who knows best knows how little he knows - Thomas Jefferson
He who knows best knows how little he knows - Thomas Jefferson
-
FADE2BLACK_1973 - Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 1192
- Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2010 5:09 pm
- Location: Kentucky
- TPF Gallery: Visit Gallery
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Fahaka (Tetraodon lineatus)
Once owned:
Congo (Tetraodon miurus) R.I.P
GSP's
Figure 8's
SAP
DP's
Stars and Stripes
Porcupine puffers
Yellow long horn Cowfish
Striped Burrfish - Location (country): United States of America
Re: Dogface Puffer Emergency - we have No experience, need help
by Nuclear_Glitter on Mon May 14, 2012 1:33 am
FADE2BLACK_1973 wrote:Oh ok. Some people use you use pure RO water for the whole tank and had problems with ph. And they had to use extra buffers to keep it stable. Well just using it for top off then it should not be a problem.
RO for the entire tank is recommended, as far as I know. Using tap water causes algae and other problems.
However, when it's used for the entire tank the properties of the salt generally bring the pH back up, and some have to add puffers to begin with. However, once established, you don't generally need buffers when just doing top offs.
Sorry if I misunderstood anything you said.
"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." -- Henry Ford
- Nuclear_Glitter
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 986
- Joined: Sun May 29, 2011 1:03 am
- Location: North Carolina, USA
- Gender: Female
- Location (country): North Carolina, USA
Re: Dogface Puffer Emergency - we have No experience, need help
by FADE2BLACK_1973 on Mon May 14, 2012 1:42 am
Nuclear_Glitter wrote:FADE2BLACK_1973 wrote:Oh ok. Some people use you use pure RO water for the whole tank and had problems with ph. And they had to use extra buffers to keep it stable. Well just using it for top off then it should not be a problem.
RO for the entire tank is recommended, as far as I know. Using tap water causes algae and other problems.
However, when it's used for the entire tank the properties of the salt generally bring the pH back up, and some have to add puffers to begin with. However, once established, you don't generally need buffers when just doing top offs.
Sorry if I misunderstood anything you said.
Glitter you are right about people using pure RO water for the sake of algae problems. But the op mention that their ph stayin around 7.9 and I was just tryin to figure out why the ph is a bit low. Could be effecting the dogface other then what looks like IP's.
Chris,
He who knows best knows how little he knows - Thomas Jefferson
He who knows best knows how little he knows - Thomas Jefferson
-
FADE2BLACK_1973 - Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 1192
- Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2010 5:09 pm
- Location: Kentucky
- TPF Gallery: Visit Gallery
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Fahaka (Tetraodon lineatus)
Once owned:
Congo (Tetraodon miurus) R.I.P
GSP's
Figure 8's
SAP
DP's
Stars and Stripes
Porcupine puffers
Yellow long horn Cowfish
Striped Burrfish - Location (country): United States of America
Re: Dogface Puffer Emergency - we have No experience, need help
by Nuclear_Glitter on Mon May 14, 2012 1:47 am
FADE2BLACK_1973 wrote: Glitter you are right about people using pure RO water for the sake of algae problems. But the op mention that their ph stayin around 7.9 and I was just tryin to figure out why the ph is a bit low. Could be effecting the dogface other then what looks like IP's.
I am thinking the pH may be low due them having just transferred everything. I also wanted to mention IPs (internal parasite) but they said the lady before them had this puffer for 4 years, and I am sure he would have died before then. He may just got the IPs recently though, so it's possible that the puffer has them.
"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." -- Henry Ford
- Nuclear_Glitter
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 986
- Joined: Sun May 29, 2011 1:03 am
- Location: North Carolina, USA
- Gender: Female
- Location (country): North Carolina, USA
Re: Dogface Puffer Emergency - we have No experience, need help
by FADE2BLACK_1973 on Mon May 14, 2012 2:09 am
Nuclear_Glitter wrote:FADE2BLACK_1973 wrote: Glitter you are right about people using pure RO water for the sake of algae problems. But the op mention that their ph stayin around 7.9 and I was just tryin to figure out why the ph is a bit low. Could be effecting the dogface other then what looks like IP's.
I am thinking the pH may be low due them having just transferred everything. I also wanted to mention IPs (internal parasite) but they said the lady before them had this puffer for 4 years, and I am sure he would have died before then. He may just got the IPs recently though, so it's possible that the puffer has them.
Could be but from the pic, that dogface looked skinny. Should alot fuller then that. So the IP's could had came back or just started up effecting the puffer because of stress.
Chris,
He who knows best knows how little he knows - Thomas Jefferson
He who knows best knows how little he knows - Thomas Jefferson
-
FADE2BLACK_1973 - Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 1192
- Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2010 5:09 pm
- Location: Kentucky
- TPF Gallery: Visit Gallery
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Fahaka (Tetraodon lineatus)
Once owned:
Congo (Tetraodon miurus) R.I.P
GSP's
Figure 8's
SAP
DP's
Stars and Stripes
Porcupine puffers
Yellow long horn Cowfish
Striped Burrfish - Location (country): United States of America
Re: Dogface Puffer Emergency - we have No experience, need help
by Nuclear_Glitter on Mon May 14, 2012 2:11 am
Yeah, I definitely think an IP treatment would be a good idea.
"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." -- Henry Ford
- Nuclear_Glitter
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 986
- Joined: Sun May 29, 2011 1:03 am
- Location: North Carolina, USA
- Gender: Female
- Location (country): North Carolina, USA
Re: Dogface Puffer Emergency - we have No experience, need help
by Nuclear_Glitter on Wed May 16, 2012 8:10 pm
How is Reef doing?
"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." -- Henry Ford
- Nuclear_Glitter
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 986
- Joined: Sun May 29, 2011 1:03 am
- Location: North Carolina, USA
- Gender: Female
- Location (country): North Carolina, USA
Re: Dogface Puffer Emergency - we have No experience, need help
by Cool Reef on Sat May 19, 2012 8:52 pm
Sorry we have not done any mid-week posts, with 4 kids and work, we hardly have time to stumble into bed at night.
Reef was doing great, we thought, he was swimming around a lot. Mostly when the tank light is off, or before we feed him. He spends most of his time under his rock when the light is on (like we showed in the picture)
We talked in lenght about his behavior and attitude with his former owner of 4 years, and she confirmed that he was behaving like he usually does.
We are so hooked on this, that we went out and bought another tank today. This time it is a 29 gal bio-cube, and we are going to make it a reef tank for our bedroom.
Back to Reef.
His eyes are cloudy and seem to bug out more than they should (please see the photos of him we already posted. The LFS mentioned he might have an infection? We bought "API FURAN-2 Anit-bacterial Fish Medication" but don't want to dive into playing fish Dr. until I hear from the experts (you guys)
What do you guys think?
And what do we do?
Reef was doing great, we thought, he was swimming around a lot. Mostly when the tank light is off, or before we feed him. He spends most of his time under his rock when the light is on (like we showed in the picture)
We talked in lenght about his behavior and attitude with his former owner of 4 years, and she confirmed that he was behaving like he usually does.
We are so hooked on this, that we went out and bought another tank today. This time it is a 29 gal bio-cube, and we are going to make it a reef tank for our bedroom.
Back to Reef.
His eyes are cloudy and seem to bug out more than they should (please see the photos of him we already posted. The LFS mentioned he might have an infection? We bought "API FURAN-2 Anit-bacterial Fish Medication" but don't want to dive into playing fish Dr. until I hear from the experts (you guys)
What do you guys think?
And what do we do?
- Cool Reef
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Fri May 11, 2012 10:55 pm
- Location: Charleston, SC
- My Puffers: Reef - Dogface Puffer aka-Reefy, Reefer, Reefster
- Location (country): Charleston, SC, USA
Re: Dogface Puffer Emergency - we have No experience, need help
by Pufferpunk on Sun May 20, 2012 12:47 am
I think you should post a pic. Leave it to the LFS to tell you to add a med that would crash your entire system & wipe everything out overnight... 
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
Pufferpunk - Queen Admin
- Posts: 25420
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Location: Chicago
- TPF Gallery: Visit Gallery
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Chicago
Re: Dogface Puffer Emergency - we have No experience, need help
by FADE2BLACK_1973 on Sun May 20, 2012 12:51 am
Well, Im no expert but I do believe your dogface is sick but with IP's and that needs to be treated. Some of the other members can help you out with what kind of IP med to get. Now is he even eating or eating much? He looks really skinny from the pic and that is why we mentioned he more likely have IP's. Getting that taking care of 1st should get his immune system up and going. Weak immune systems can cause alot of problems, which is usually caused by stress. This is what I believe. Someone else might agree or disagree with me.
Last edited by FADE2BLACK_1973 on Sun May 20, 2012 1:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
Chris,
He who knows best knows how little he knows - Thomas Jefferson
He who knows best knows how little he knows - Thomas Jefferson
-
FADE2BLACK_1973 - Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 1192
- Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2010 5:09 pm
- Location: Kentucky
- TPF Gallery: Visit Gallery
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Fahaka (Tetraodon lineatus)
Once owned:
Congo (Tetraodon miurus) R.I.P
GSP's
Figure 8's
SAP
DP's
Stars and Stripes
Porcupine puffers
Yellow long horn Cowfish
Striped Burrfish - Location (country): United States of America
Re: Dogface Puffer Emergency - we have No experience, need help
by Nuclear_Glitter on Sun May 20, 2012 12:55 am
I think we definitely need more pictures before we can completely say what you need to be doing.
"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." -- Henry Ford
- Nuclear_Glitter
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 986
- Joined: Sun May 29, 2011 1:03 am
- Location: North Carolina, USA
- Gender: Female
- Location (country): North Carolina, USA
41 posts
• Page 3 of 3 • 1, 2, 3
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests
Powered by phpBB, WordPress and Gallery2. © The Puffer Forum 2006-2009.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.