New puffer not doing well

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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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Sgrace
Puffer Fry
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New puffer not doing well

Post by Sgrace »

I have had two pea puffers for 5 days and one of them is really not doing well. She seems dull and thin (almost sunken in) and mostly just hangs out in the corner by the glass or, once or twice, lays on the substrate. I saw her eat two days ago but she wasn't interested last night and has been getting less and less active. A few times I habe thought she looked like she is breathing hard. By contrast, the other puffer is very active, constantly exploring and poking around, is very vibrant and has a nice round belly. I have been leaving the lights mostly off while they settle in, and, while I am hoping to add more plants, there are a few smaĺl plants and rock and driftwood for hiding. Please help! I read a lot about these guys before bringing them home and it kills me that I might be missing something because I am somewhat new to the hobby.

My tank:
They are in a 15 gallon tank by themselves, save one or two ramshorn snails they havent eaten (I was going to add another pair in a few weeks) When I tested the water two days ago it was: PH 7.5, Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 0.2. I did a 50% water change Monday morning after noticing that the one seemed a little dull and listless, and another 20% change last night. I cycled the tank for a little over a month. They are in a fluval flex, and, since there is a lot of extra space in the filter area, i added some extra bio media from my other tank.

I am worried that, because I am not super experienced I have either completely missed something or don't know what to look for, any advice would be much appreciated!!!
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Pufferpunk
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Re: New puffer not doing well

Post by Pufferpunk »

Was he skinny when you purchased him? Most likely internal parasites but he has to eat medicated food. So if he's not eating, it may be too late for him. What food are you offering him?
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!"
Bleedingheartmommy
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Re: New puffer not doing well

Post by Bleedingheartmommy »

PPs right, other than that- it’s Pipette force feeding meds. And to be very honest, unless the DP is full grown, and even then... it’s a gamble and is hard with mouths and feedings that small. Not impossible, just hard work.
"Genetics loads the gun, and environment pulls the trigger."-Brené Brown
Sgrace
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Re: New puffer not doing well

Post by Sgrace »

Thanks for the replies!! I have been feeding frozen bloodworms and I have offered a few tiny snails which they were interested in, but didnt eat. Should I seperate the other puffer?
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Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
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: New puffer not doing well

Post by Pufferpunk »

IPs are passes from 1 fish to their tank mates, through feces, so even the "healthy" ones need treatment.
library/feeding/problems-feeding-your-puffer/
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!"
Sgrace
Puffer Fry
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2018 2:30 pm
Location (country): United States

Re: New puffer not doing well

Post by Sgrace »

Thanks!!! Very helpful articles. I also offered them brine shrimp last night and they both ate very well, so maybe I will be able to treat them. I have ordered a bunch of plants that should arrive soon to help make a homier tank for them.
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