hey everyone, I have a Valentini puffer that has been sick for the last few days but is still hanging on. I've been scouring the internet, but of course there is quite a bit of conflicting information. I wish I had posted sooner on this forum, it might be too late by the time anyone responds. Mainly because I've just stressed him to death while trying to help, but I would just like to get an expert opinion on what I did wrong, so that I can correct it in the future, as well as help someone in the same situation. thanks in advance for your comments.
Tank: 90g Surfline, 80-90# live, rock 75# live sand, Fishless cycled in 4 weeks, I waited and tested water for another month or so before adding fish.
no sump or skimmer yet ( I know! I'm getting there) HOB Canister. Instant Ocean 10-20% water change bi-weekly or as close to it as I get.
Stock list: 1"Yellow Watchman Goby, Pair 1" Ocelliris clowns, 1.25" Valentini Puffer, whatever is left of the cleanup crew, Emerald Crab*(he comes into the story later.) all are about 3-4 months in the tank and until this week thriving.
I alternate "Fish Frenzy" and Mysis Shrimp cubes every other day or so and throw in a clam on the half shell a few times a month.
Current water conditions,
PH: 7.8-8
Ammonia: 0-0.25ppm
Nitrite-0ppm
Nitrate-0-5ppm
Salinity 1.023
Temp: 77
I believe this started with me overfeeding them one day because the clowns started bullying each other after I fed them, so thinking they were just still super hungry, and not being very intelligent, I fed them again. at the time my MaxiJet powerhead that came with the tank's suction cup mount had busted off and was not able to be run in the tank. I think all that extra food may have found its way into cracks and crevises to decay? I have no idea, we noticed the Puffer was sleeping more than usual, but didn't really think too much of it till I saw that the Emerald Crab had gone tits up. so I quickly did a water test and noticed that the ammonia level was up between .5 and 1, not insane, but it was the only thing I could attribute anything to. I also noticed that the water temp had dipped down to about 71. everyone else in the tank was and still is acting completely normal.
Here is where I messed up.
My instincts told me I needed to get him out of the tank and into QT, and who was I to question them I don't know what the hell I'm doing. So I referred to the internet on the best way to go about that. (HA) I ended up going the route of using clean fresh seawater in a little 5g and constant water changes to avoid the cycle and ammonia spike. Too small would have had to change water every hour or two. Meanwhile, I had done a 50% water change in the DT and water conditions were sweet, so I decided the best thing for him was good water and put him back in DT. He seemed to be doing a little better until last night when my wife called to tell me he died. As usual, I disagreed without any supporting information, and was right, he wasn't, but getting there, laying on his side kinda breathing heavy. Instincts kicked in again and said,"ok, ok we messed up before, but now you should definitely get him in QT" sounds reasonable, put him in a 20g tote with est tank water and his filter, when i woke up this morning he was getting pushed around by the current, but still breathing and fins moving. Went to the LFS and they said stop effing with him, get him back in DT with some stress coat and "Vibrant Reef" where he is comfortable and you can better control the water. and that's where he is now, Hanging on for dear life.
Valentini Puffer hanging on for dear life.
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.
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jdraschella
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Valentini Puffer hanging on for dear life.
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Valentini Puffer hanging on for dear life.
How's he doing?
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!"
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jdraschella
- Puffer Fry
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- Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2017 2:44 pm
- Location (country): Raleigh, NC
Re: Valentini Puffer hanging on for dear life.
He ended up passing away soon after the post, in his last moments he was kinda wiggling a bunch, almost looked like a mini seizure? really strange that nothing else in the tank other than the emerald was affected. I'd like to get another, but If they are that sensitive to water conditions i'm going to hold off until i can figure out a sump and keep the water conditions as stable as possible. pretty bummed out.