Nala not eating (fahaka puffer)
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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L!$A
- Former Staff Member
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Milly - Fangs Puffer - Location (country): CANADA
- Location: Pitt Meadows, BC
Nala not eating (fahaka puffer)
She hasn't been eating for about a week, she is still swimming around, and has great colour. Just wondering if maybe she is being picky, or going through a bit of a growth spirt or anything. All tank parameters are great, so I'm puzzled, she just doesn't seem to be too interested in food right now.
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FADE2BLACK_1973
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Re: Nala not eating (fahaka puffer)
I know that my WC Blue Zaire male goes through a hunger strike time to time. I also have seen larger more mature fish do this. But I don't know if larger puffers do this.
Chris,
He who knows best knows how little he knows - Thomas Jefferson
He who knows best knows how little he knows - Thomas Jefferson
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J-P
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Re: Nala not eating (fahaka puffer)
not even earthworms?
if you follow me, you avoid stepping in the crap that I just did...
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZR55G ... pqlgec1A2Q
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZR55G ... pqlgec1A2Q
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Dadof4
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Re: Nala not eating (fahaka puffer)
It could be the time of year too, some of the fish I keep that come from that area slow down their feeding habits over this time of year. Other thing to check is all your electrical equip (Thermometer cords especially) for cracks or possible areas of stray voltage. Rare occurance but I've see Fahakas get bored and "Taste" cords to see what they are. Have you seen him poop lately, could be constipated with no appetite.
Please answer all the Q's in red though.
Please answer all the Q's in red though.
"Darwin swings...annnnnnd a miss. Boy Jim, Chuck's suffered at the plate tonight. He's 0 for 3 and I'm not sure he's recovered from that shoulder pull a few weeks ago. I'll bet the front office is re-thinking that contract."
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xrayjeeper83
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Re: Nala not eating (fahaka puffer)
answer the questions above hahaha
RTR wrote:Fahakas do not have tank mates, they may have swimming food reserves.
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L!$A
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- Location: Pitt Meadows, BC
Re: Nala not eating (fahaka puffer)
Dadof4 wrote:It could be the time of year too, some of the fish I keep that come from that area slow down their feeding habits over this time of year. Other thing to check is all your electrical equip (Thermometer cords especially) for cracks or possible areas of stray voltage. Rare occurance but I've see Fahakas get bored and "Taste" cords to see what they are. Have you seen him poop lately, could be constipated with no appetite.
Please answer all the Q's in red though.
lol I knew someone would ask!
pH, consistant 7.2
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite 0.0
Nitrate .5 lowest you can have
tank mates - geos .. been in there for about 2 months now
1 water change, weekly 50%
No changes, other then moved around decor, which I do everytime I do a water change
Aquarium has been set-up for at least 1 yr, had fish in it before Nala, and Nala has been in there for about 6 months?
& No I haven't seen any poo lately, the geo's seem to eat everything up so I don't know if they're eating her poo or what. Very well may be consitpated, which was my first thought as well.
& No JP she's never been too much of a fan of earthworms, used to, but doesn't care much for them now.
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jtbadco
Re: Nala not eating (fahaka puffer)
I know my puffer does not like changes to his/her tank. When I moved him to my house originally he didn't eat for 2 weeks. When I transferred him to a larger tank,...again stopped for 2 weeks.
Never had a problem since.
Never had a problem since.
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L!$A
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Milly - Fangs Puffer - Location (country): CANADA
- Location: Pitt Meadows, BC
Re: Nala not eating (fahaka puffer)
I have spoken with two local fahaka keepers here, and theirs went on a strike for 2 weeks as well. I just don't want to take any chances, of course. lol She's coming up to the 2 week point, so hopefully she'll come around, in the meantime we'll try tempting her with different options, watching for poo & any change in behavior
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PolishPuff
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Re: Nala not eating (fahaka puffer)
When do a decor change I never move driftwood or caves. Only plants ( fake silk plants )No changes, other then moved around decor, which I do everytime I do a water change
One time I did a complete decor change in my Modestus tank and he stop eating for a week + he was hiding in one spot for a while.
"Lost time is never found again" Benjamin Franklin
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geronimo69
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Re: Nala not eating (fahaka puffer)
When I first bought mine, he was tiny, like the size of a nickel. It took almost 3 weeks for him to eat! Everytime I've moved him (from a 55, to a 75 to his current 150) he has stopped eating everytime. It took a few days to a week each move.
"Don't tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish."
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"Fish recognize a bad leader."
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"Fish recognize a bad leader."
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L!$A
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Milly - Fangs Puffer - Location (country): CANADA
- Location: Pitt Meadows, BC
Re: Nala not eating (fahaka puffer)
temp is 80, I've always changed around her decor since she was a wee one.. havent had any problems, until now, but fish can be very strange lol so I wouldn't doubt it if it has anything to do with it. 
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Hilly
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Re: Nala not eating (fahaka puffer)
Try dropping the temp down to around 75. Leave for a few days and then try again. I noticed an increase in appetite when I dropped the temp. Worth a try.
Hilly
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Nala not eating (fahaka puffer)
Lower temps lower metabolism.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
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geronimo69
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Re: Nala not eating (fahaka puffer)
Pufferpunk wrote:Lower temps lower metabolism.
Correct. This is why fry should be raised (albeit depending on species) in warmer waters. Of course, with a higher meta, they have to be fed more often. Hence feeding fry 3-4 times a day...
Leave the temp in Nalas tank the way it is. She'll come around, I'm sure. Keep an eye on her poop.
"Don't tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish."
Mark Twain
"Fish recognize a bad leader."
Conan O'Brien
Mark Twain
"Fish recognize a bad leader."
Conan O'Brien