The Puffer Forum

A friend of mine just bought a small stars and stripes puffer that he is planning on putting in his 150g. He already has a small dogface about the same size (about 3") in the same tank. I don't know anything about marine puffers but are these guys going to be alright together? I'd like to help ...

Thanks. I havent had this issue with other fish before so it is new to me. I will give him some time before i panic.

thanks for the replies guys. 1. puffer is in a 29 tall. will transition to his very own 120g as soon as he's eating regularly 2. his activity level is low. he moves around a bit but not that much. 3. water: ammonia: 0, nitrite: 0, temp about 80-82. He ate 2 earthworms this afternoon but still shows ...

I got a new Mbu (5") on Sunday and decided to let him acclimate until Tuesday before feeding him. He is not interested in shrimp or a goldfish. He did chase a small crayfish but when it escaped, he gave up. Any suggestions?

Water conditions are great

That's what I thought, but I just want to nail down a cause. I'm pretty sure, at this point, that he ingested some air when I was feeding him. As I lifted the lid on the tank, he stuck his nose out of the water and made a sucking noise. He may have gotten some air stuck that I couldn't burp out of h...

That's what I thought as well.

I was reading in another forum that feeding every 3 days or so is better than more frequently. I inadvertently fed him two days in a row. Might this have precipitated his downfall?

actually, since goldfish are used to cycle tanks a lot of the time, I doubt that they're the best canary. They are, however, cheaper! Mine were 40 cents.

Sorry to see Honey, died, Creampuff.

I think he was using the goldfish as canaries to see if there were indeed toxins in the water.

Speaking of which, I've purchased 4 goldfish and they're happily digging through the sand. I'll give them a few days and assume that the water is clear.

Did your miurus have a swollen abdomen? I think the goldfish test is interesting. Maybe I'll try it and see what happens.

All my tanks have sand. I haven't seen this before but there is always the first time. I wonder if there is a test for the water itself. Besides the canary/goldfish test

Thanks for the advice, and information Bred. You've given the most solid and wothwhile info so far. I didn't see any flukes on his gills when I necropsied him though they may have been long gone without a host. I'll take your advice and tear down the tank before placing new fish in it, regardless of...

Thanks, Bred.

I haven't noticed any strange smells though I'm not familiar with the smell of H2S.

Tank has been up for about a year, and yeah, I treated for chlorine. I did a water change after his symptoms started.

Everyone is so indirect! ;) I stir it up occassionally. I don't think I do it every week, no. That's an interesting theory, though. What are the symptoms of anaerobic bacterial infection? I just necropsied him and there as a large air pocket in his mid-chest. Not knowing puffer anatomy well, I can't...

Yes......Again, why does that matter?

He didn't make it. I just found him dead.

Why would I move him if the substrate is sand?

I think he has a swim bladder problem. He's puffed up twice and deflated and now he's sitting on the bottom with his face buried in the sand on his side with his tail in the air.

What should I do to treat this in case it really is a swim bladder problem? Is there anything I can do?