Hi All,
I have a Fahaka Puffer, it is about six months old currently living in a 450 litre tank. It is currently living with 6 Ansitris (Bristle Nose Plecos) 1 Thai flying fox, and a current brood of Ansistris fry. He (an assumed gender) has been happy and grown from a 6 cm baby to about 15cm over this period.
I know he will grow kill and eat everything in the tank but currently there is no sign of aggression and the Ansitris/flying fox are a great clean up crew. The current issue is that he living happily with six 1-3cm Apple Snails. The lack of feeding began about three weeks ago, I think it was triggered by a faulty heater that let the water temp drop to about 19 degrees Celsius for a few days.
Any ideas how to get him feeding again? He has declined live worm, snail, and frozen prawn (his regular diet).
Current water perimeters ph 8.2, dh 7, ammonia 0, nitrates, 0 nitrites 0. Temp 25-26 C Tank is heavily planted with open swimming area in through the middle, air stone, 1 internal and 1external cannister filer. Fresh carbon filter added.
I did notice on testing a week ago that the dh had fallen to 4, (I checked and tap water has lowered dh there has been a lot of upgrading of water treatment)
Fish looks well - some weight loss but not much, swimming clear of the bottom of the tank but remaining in his 'spot' .
Fahaka not eating and hiding
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.
-
pokeystar
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2016 4:41 am
- My Puffers: Fahaka aka Mr Big Puff
2 GSP Pickle and Noodle
My children name the fish - Location (country): Ireland
Re: Fahaka not eating and hiding
After three weeks with no feeding tonight he has munched two snails and is on the hunt. No idea what the trigger for the change maybe it just needed time maybe he follows the forum?
Anyway alls well that ends well.
For future reference what I did following the initial temperature drop; raised temperature to 24C as soon as possible, then later to 26 (feeding occurred three days later)
Regular water changes - clean water helps everything with water conditioner.
Raised the water hardness from 4dh to 8dh - some forums say 10-12 for fahaka and I was heading there but gradually.
I offered a range of foods, live (snail, earthworm), usual (frozen prawn), and small (bloodworm).
I covered the front of the tank with a sheet for a few days (reducing movement in case he was hiding)
Hopefully now he is feeding again it it will keep going, he's still hiding a lot but feeding was the critical thing.
Anyway alls well that ends well.
For future reference what I did following the initial temperature drop; raised temperature to 24C as soon as possible, then later to 26 (feeding occurred three days later)
Regular water changes - clean water helps everything with water conditioner.
Raised the water hardness from 4dh to 8dh - some forums say 10-12 for fahaka and I was heading there but gradually.
I offered a range of foods, live (snail, earthworm), usual (frozen prawn), and small (bloodworm).
I covered the front of the tank with a sheet for a few days (reducing movement in case he was hiding)
Hopefully now he is feeding again it it will keep going, he's still hiding a lot but feeding was the critical thing.
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
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Re: Fahaka not eating and hiding
Yay!
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!"
-
pokeystar
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2016 4:41 am
- My Puffers: Fahaka aka Mr Big Puff
2 GSP Pickle and Noodle
My children name the fish - Location (country): Ireland
Re: Fahaka not eating and hiding
Update after the initial eating this fahaka has stopped eating again and is now loosing weight. I am attempting worming but having to use the bath technique. Fingers crossed for the little guy.
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32773
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- 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, Greenville, SC
- Location: Chicago
- Contact:
Re: Fahaka not eating and hiding
Unfortunately, since FW fish do not drink water, very little of the med will make it into the fish,
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!"
-
pokeystar
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2016 4:41 am
- My Puffers: Fahaka aka Mr Big Puff
2 GSP Pickle and Noodle
My children name the fish - Location (country): Ireland
Re: Fahaka not eating and hiding
Five days after treatment with Praziquantel following the guidelines on this forums internal parasite info and we are eating again. Not quite as aggressively as before the initial change but hunting and free swimming.
I placed the puffer in a bath for 24 hours (ikea tray floated in large tank with a cannister filter attached).
I selected Praziquantel as it was available as a dog wormer. I need to source some more and add a food treatment not he is eating I guess. Still game on here.
I placed the puffer in a bath for 24 hours (ikea tray floated in large tank with a cannister filter attached).
I selected Praziquantel as it was available as a dog wormer. I need to source some more and add a food treatment not he is eating I guess. Still game on here.
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32773
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- 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, Greenville, SC
- Location: Chicago
- Contact:
Re: Fahaka not eating and hiding
I'm so happy he's eating again. How's his poop?
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!"
-
pokeystar
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2016 4:41 am
- My Puffers: Fahaka aka Mr Big Puff
2 GSP Pickle and Noodle
My children name the fish - Location (country): Ireland
Re: Fahaka not eating and hiding
Not much poop as yet. Guess his gut was completely empty. What tiny amount has been seen was mixed white and black. Dead worms (?) Mixed with poop.
Am working on finding wormer. Typically not availible without vets prescription but there's a few possible sources.
Am working on finding wormer. Typically not availible without vets prescription but there's a few possible sources.
-
pokeystar
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2016 4:41 am
- My Puffers: Fahaka aka Mr Big Puff
2 GSP Pickle and Noodle
My children name the fish - Location (country): Ireland
Re: Fahaka not eating and hiding
Rate of feeding is picking up, he's eaten a few apple snails, an earthworm, and bloodworm.
Fingers crossed, I have some flubendazole to treat the tank in the coming few days, has anyone used this? I wanted to give him a good break following the bath. ALthough if he continues to eat shall I just hold this in reserve?
Fingers crossed, I have some flubendazole to treat the tank in the coming few days, has anyone used this? I wanted to give him a good break following the bath. ALthough if he continues to eat shall I just hold this in reserve?
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32773
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- 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, Greenville, SC
- Location: Chicago
- Contact:
Re: Fahaka not eating and hiding
Again I will state--FW fish to not drink water & you're wasting your $$$ on meds you are dosing the tank with. Since he's eating, treat the foods he likes best.
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!"
-
pokeystar
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2016 4:41 am
- My Puffers: Fahaka aka Mr Big Puff
2 GSP Pickle and Noodle
My children name the fish - Location (country): Ireland
Re: Fahaka not eating and hiding
Ok Puffer punk message understood. Treat his food! I have to say a really big thank you to the forum and you for the help. Not sure he would have made it otherwise.
-
pokeystar
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2016 4:41 am
- My Puffers: Fahaka aka Mr Big Puff
2 GSP Pickle and Noodle
My children name the fish - Location (country): Ireland
Re: Fahaka not eating and hiding
At the risk of seriously frustrating puffer punk I have been with out access to meds for the food. I discussed the tank treatment using Flubendazole. The alternative rational for the treatment of the tank is that as this is a comunity tank (Ansitris cleaners) they will most likely also carry worm. Treating the puffer runs the risk of reinfection. I read up on Flubendazole and it apparently will enter the fishes blood stream through the gills. It has the advantage of being the only non prescription medication available to me in Ireland. Balancing this with the great advice from Puffer Punk (I credit her with the fishes survival) that little will (if any) will enter the fish and it will be a waste if money.
Observations: I added 50mg of flubendazole to a 450 litre tank. This was sold as 'Wormer Plus' and is a blend of flubendazole and Calcium Carbonate 50mg/g. I pre mixed it in a jug and added it to the tank. The manufactures instructions reports that this brakes down in 4 days in the tank. After adding this gradually to the tank Mr Puffer went and hid. The anscitris in the tak showned no signs of behaviour change. 24 hours later Mr Puffer is pooing black slime. 48 hours he is more active than prior to treatment and this improvement continued until at 72 hours he is very hungry and chasing down anything in the tank. First continual active hunting. I completed a 50% water change and decided to repeat the treatment after 4 days. No hiding this time and continued hunting and 'begging' for food.
Reflections: There has been a definite improvement in his behaviour. This may be due to the prior bath treatment (see earlier post) with continual gradual improvement and the flubendazole is coincidental. As he is eating dosing the tank may have been effective as he will swallow medication suspended in the water along with food, i.e. continual low dosing rather than one off food treatment. It may be that the treatment does enter the gill and is effective in the bloodstream. If like me you have no easy access to other suggested medications in your jurisdiction then flubendazole may be effective?
My ebay 'grey' order of metronidazole has arrived. I will treat his food also in case the medications have only killed off parasites in the mouth and he is eating as he is pain free (Pufferpunk I am listening).
Observations: I added 50mg of flubendazole to a 450 litre tank. This was sold as 'Wormer Plus' and is a blend of flubendazole and Calcium Carbonate 50mg/g. I pre mixed it in a jug and added it to the tank. The manufactures instructions reports that this brakes down in 4 days in the tank. After adding this gradually to the tank Mr Puffer went and hid. The anscitris in the tak showned no signs of behaviour change. 24 hours later Mr Puffer is pooing black slime. 48 hours he is more active than prior to treatment and this improvement continued until at 72 hours he is very hungry and chasing down anything in the tank. First continual active hunting. I completed a 50% water change and decided to repeat the treatment after 4 days. No hiding this time and continued hunting and 'begging' for food.
Reflections: There has been a definite improvement in his behaviour. This may be due to the prior bath treatment (see earlier post) with continual gradual improvement and the flubendazole is coincidental. As he is eating dosing the tank may have been effective as he will swallow medication suspended in the water along with food, i.e. continual low dosing rather than one off food treatment. It may be that the treatment does enter the gill and is effective in the bloodstream. If like me you have no easy access to other suggested medications in your jurisdiction then flubendazole may be effective?
My ebay 'grey' order of metronidazole has arrived. I will treat his food also in case the medications have only killed off parasites in the mouth and he is eating as he is pain free (Pufferpunk I am listening).
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32773
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- 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, Greenville, SC
- Location: Chicago
- Contact:
Re: Fahaka not eating and hiding
Why can't you add Flubendazole to their food? Happy the Metro has arrived!
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!"
-
pokeystar
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2016 4:41 am
- My Puffers: Fahaka aka Mr Big Puff
2 GSP Pickle and Noodle
My children name the fish - Location (country): Ireland
Re: Fahaka not eating and hiding
Took my advice from an experienced show Discus breeder. He felt it would be unsafe in food. The dosing for a 450lt tank was only 50mg a higher dose could hurt the liver. Dosed with metro soaked ghost shrip tonight. All looking good.
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Yourmomsahoe
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sun Oct 06, 2019 4:26 am
- Location (country): Cda idaho
Re: Fahaka not eating and hiding
Please help my puffer is dark and not swimming he has been acting strage the past three days and he is behaving the exact same way as our Indian dwarf puffer did when he died
