The Puffer Forum

My puffer has been "hyperventilating" of a sort. He is in a 20 gallon long, with SG 1.004, ammonia is 0 ppm, nitrite is 0ppm, and nitrate is 1 ppm. He seems to be skittish..... He doesn't have the same relationship with me as before. He used to swim right up to me every day,and now hes more cautious towards everything, even his food! Im getting worried!

I just put him through a large water change as the water was very cold, and i am yet to get a heater. Now the water is around 74°.


I have recorded a video of him "hyperventilating", as lo
Linked below.

https://youtu.be/forDCwAWfJ0


Will someone please help?

You really need a heater in there. How was this tank cycled?

Has he been treated for parasites? If so, what did you use, for how long, and how was it administered? Also, how long have you had this poor sweet boy? Knowing how cycled his tank was when he was introduced, and knowing how it was cycled will help narrow it down.... as well as the SG of the water he came from it the store.

I agree on the heater, even if in the summer your ambient temp meets their needs, the temp drop at night gsurely causes stress. Two degrees over the course of a day i4s the most they should be exposed to, so regardless of the actual temperatures being hit- the swing up or down is the issue.

I have had a puffer of mine act similar to this, and behaved unhappily for 2 days after. I had unknowingly fed him a bad clam, and it did not pass unnoticed. He hid, and when he wasn't kidding he was skiddish and jumpy, wearing either dark colors or his pajamas (sleeping coloration) the entire 3 days. He would not greet me or play peekaboo like we a lot lways do, and would not eat unless the food was dropped in front of him while in his pouting spot... all the while breathing heavily like that (almost like when they overeat).

Have any medicines or other chemicals been added to the water (ferts, algaecide, copper based meds, residue on hands when they went into the tank etc)? What is your raw water source, tap? I know the chlorine and chloramine levels change all the time with local tap water, and often levels rise in the summer (meaning you will have to use more dechlorinator on the same amount of water, to make it safe for the fish again).

I feel bad.... Ive had this guy most of the summer, and we have fought through thick and thin together. I bought him out of impulse. I just wasnt leaving the store without him. I put him in a cycling tank, thinking ammonia was about as mild as nitrate (i was a newbie). He has fought battles and won against both fungus and ich. We have been through 8 ppm ammonia to an accidental salt spill, bringing the sg to near marine. But we pushed on.... And i honestly dont know. I know the tank is now cycled, finally. I keep doing daily %50 changes to keep the water warm. Im trying..... I really am.....

8ppm ammonia is certainly toxic enough to cause permanent gill damage. Heck--so is 1ppm.

How is he doing? Any changes? I know what that feels like, to have waged so many seemingly unwinable battles...and when you come out the other end, the bond you have formed during such hard times is usually stronger than with the rest of the fish! We know you're trying, and we know you love him! As soon as possible grab a heater, until then try to insulate his tank the best you can at night. Keeping the tank out of direct sunlight and drafts will help. Watch for signs of columnaris, as it's very opportunistic and if the fish is stressed he ^could^ catch it or something else.

I never got if you treated for parasites or not? Also, is he still eating?

My eyes aren't as good as they were but i couldn't see any hyperventilating. Over eating can make fish breathe a lot heavier than usual so that could have been the cause....

I may be anthropomorphising but he looked a bit uncomfortable to me - does he poo regularly? If not then adding a little Epsom salt will aid his bowel movements.