Have had a new figure 8 puffer in a brackish tank for about a month now. Within the past week he seems to be deteriorating in looks but not necessarily activity or hunger. His belly has greyed, and what started out looking like ich on his fins kind of transformed into larger flakes on his back. His fins have also begun to deteriorate and I'm feeling horrible. Thinking it was ich, I raised the heater from its normal 78 degree temp to ~84-86 tonight to see if it would help.
1) Do not have any testing kits at the moment (I know, shame on me), but every week I go into my LFS, I have them test it for my free, and as of about 5-6 days ago, all levels read normal. The SG of the tank is approximately 1.006
2) 10g tank, I know it's small, but he/she is still juvenile and will be getting an upgrade later in life. No more inhabitants other than the puffer. The tank does have about 6 pounds of assorted live rock purchased at a LFS. They informed me that the live rock would not be harmful for the tank.
3) Feeding is skipped every third day. He receives live ghost shrimp 1-2x per week and on other normal days he's given thawed blood worms and shrimp pellets. Also, snails when the LFS has them (but as of late they haven't had an outbreak).
4) Zero changes to the tank. Completed normal scheduled water change with added marine salt.
5) The aquarium has been set up for approximately 2 months. The water was cycled for 2 1/2 weeks before adding the puffer.
A few pics are attached
Sick Figure 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.
Sick Figure Puffer
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Sick Figure Puffer
Live rock will DIE at SG that low. I wouldn't believe anything your LFS is telling you after that one... 
I'd get yourself an API test kit from Amazon & have them send it to you overnight or try Walmart or another LFS. My guess is the bacteria from they dying rock has caused your parameters to go haywire, infecting the fish. Take that rock out & buy some FW décor for him. Do a 50% WC & another daily for a week. Use Melafix & Pimafix to heal this fungus on the fish.
I'd get yourself an API test kit from Amazon & have them send it to you overnight or try Walmart or another LFS. My guess is the bacteria from they dying rock has caused your parameters to go haywire, infecting the fish. Take that rock out & buy some FW décor for him. Do a 50% WC & another daily for a week. Use Melafix & Pimafix to heal this fungus on 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!"
Re: Sick Figure Puffer
Is the pimafix/melafix safe to use with these puffers? And should I treat and then replace the filter and carbon? What's the best type of natural decor for brackish? Not a big fan of the fake decor and plasticky type stuff
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bertie 83
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Re: Sick Figure Puffer
It's amazing that there is a fish shop on earth stupid enough to sell you live rock for a brackish tank! Get that rock out of there. Looking at that pic it doesn't look like a f8 to me. Take the carbon out while you treat
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
Re: Sick Figure Puffer
Thank you for the responses. Update: came home and still looking worse, he's now going up to the top for air. Since I jacked the temp up thinking it was ich it may be this or whatever infection he has. Per the advice, I pulled all of the live rock out and did about a 50% water change. I wasn't able to run to the store today but will tomorrow to get the Mila and primafix and start treating him, I will update in the coming days. Thanks guys!
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32773
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
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- 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
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Re: Sick Figure Puffer
Did you get test kits? I'd really like to know the results of that.
Do another WC. You're replacing the salt you've removed, right? Be sure to condition with Prime.
Just remove the carbon. Really not necessary, anyway. Get the temp back to normal.
Do another WC. You're replacing the salt you've removed, right? Be sure to condition with Prime.
Just remove the carbon. Really not necessary, anyway. Get the temp back to normal.
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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G S P Freak
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 421
- Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2012 6:58 pm
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Dwarf puffers, named "He-Puffer" (male) and She-puffer (female) (10g)
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1 Red-eared slider, Tortuga (female)(100g)
1 rubber lip pleco - Location (country): USA, Indiana
Re: Sick Figure Puffer
Keep up the water changes and ich treatment and he should pull through, a bubble system might help for air because of temp increase.
@bertie, it is indeed a f8, not as coloful as some I've seen, but it has the telltale ocellus spots.
@bertie, it is indeed a f8, not as coloful as some I've seen, but it has the telltale ocellus spots.
No human being, however great, or powerful, was ever so free as a fish.
-John Ruskin-
"I have to laugh when people call fish-keeping a hobby, if anything, it's a science... and for some, an obsession." - Me
-John Ruskin-
"I have to laugh when people call fish-keeping a hobby, if anything, it's a science... and for some, an obsession." - Me
Re: Sick Figure Puffer
Bad news guys, he didn't pull through last night. Me and my fiancee are devastated. I did the water change last night , took the rock out, replacing the salt, and kept the water line lower so there was extra flow from the filter since the water was warmer. He was indeed a figure 8, I believe he was a little faded by whatever inflicted him. I took so much time and care with this fish, much more so than my larger freshwater which has always been healthy. I hope to sometime soon get another f8 or maybe switch to a different species.
He was purchased and shipped by doctors foster and smith from California. I'm not sure what peoples overall satisfaction is from fishes purchased there but he came in looking much healthier than those sold locally.
He was purchased and shipped by doctors foster and smith from California. I'm not sure what peoples overall satisfaction is from fishes purchased there but he came in looking much healthier than those sold locally.
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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: Sick Figure Puffer
DFS was recently sold to Petco. My guess is you could do better.
GSP Freak, why'd you tell him to treat for ich? This is NOT ich, it's fungus.
Sorry for your loss... He was doomed, I'm afraid, as soon as you added that LR. Please don't give up. Wash everything with hot water & a light bleach solution & rinse the heck out of it & start over. Please be sure to cycle the tank before buying another fish. Maybe dwarf puffers would be better for that 10g.
GSP Freak, why'd you tell him to treat for ich? This is NOT ich, it's fungus.
Sorry for your loss... He was doomed, I'm afraid, as soon as you added that LR. Please don't give up. Wash everything with hot water & a light bleach solution & rinse the heck out of it & start over. Please be sure to cycle the tank before buying another fish. Maybe dwarf puffers would be better for that 10g.
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!"
Re: Sick Figure Puffer
That's disappointing to hear about DFS. I had no idea....i will likely be washing everything out and starting anew soon. What are your opinions about either dead base rock that's been completely treated, or driftwood/plant setups in brackish tanks? I've read mixed information about both of those setups
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G S P Freak
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 421
- Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2012 6:58 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Figure Eight Puffers, Binks (29G)
Dwarf puffers, named "He-Puffer" (male) and She-puffer (female) (10g)
Non-puffer:
1 Red-eared slider, Tortuga (female)(100g)
1 rubber lip pleco - Location (country): USA, Indiana
Re: Sick Figure Puffer
Ahh yes, my bad, I couldn't tell the diff from the pics,and must have passed over your post.Pufferpunk wrote:DFS was recently sold to Petco. My guess is you could do better.
GSP Freak, why'd you tell him to treat for ich? This is NOT ich, it's fungus.
Sorry for your loss... He was doomed, I'm afraid, as soon as you added that LR. Please don't give up. Wash everything with hot water & a light bleach solution & rinse the heck out of it & start over. Please be sure to cycle the tank before buying another fish. Maybe dwarf puffers would be better for that 10g.
Sorry he didn't pull through op! I agree with PP, that puffer and you were dealt a bad hand and lead astray by your lfs.
As for decor, dead rock is good (make sure it's long dead), driftwood degrades badly in brackish water and may alter your ph, I personally have never had any luck with brackish plants, unless they're plastic.
No human being, however great, or powerful, was ever so free as a fish.
-John Ruskin-
"I have to laugh when people call fish-keeping a hobby, if anything, it's a science... and for some, an obsession." - Me
-John Ruskin-
"I have to laugh when people call fish-keeping a hobby, if anything, it's a science... and for some, an obsession." - Me
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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: Sick Figure Puffer
We do have a lengthy thread about BW plants stickied in the BW forum. 
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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hadla
- Mbu Puffer
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Re: Sick Figure Puffer
if you are willing to pay shipping and get a bigger tank, I know someone who is trying to find a home for a turgidus puff... im also trying to find a good home for my pair.
Never trust big puffers. The fingers you save may be your own. -RTR
Re: Sick Figure Puffer
Those are beautiful fish. I'd love to, but my fiancee would kill me for buying a larger tank and taking up more space, hah! Can anyone suggest any good reputable fish suppliers online besides DFS? All I have locally is petsupermarket (they have no idea what they're doing in their fish department), Petco, Petsmart.
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hadla
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 1626
- Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:33 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 2 gsps and a big Stars and stripes
- Location (country): California
- Location: Sacramento, CA
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Re: Sick Figure Puffer
I've never ordered fish online only cause it's too much for me to worry about... My lfs(s) usually have or can order something for me :/ good luck
Never trust big puffers. The fingers you save may be your own. -RTR