The Puffer Forum

Pea puffer has been lethargic for over a week now. It used to be more inquisitive and fatter. It doesn't eat anymore. Tried flakes, dried blood worms, and dried shrimp. It doesn't eat the snails which is why we added them in the first place. We noticed spike in ammonia about six days ago. We've been doing more frequent water changes since.

What should I be focusing on? Keep doing water changes? Is there something else I"m missing? Do I need to break out the clove oil before it starves to death?

Thanks for any input.

Stats:
pH: 6.8
Ammonia: 0.25 to 0.5 ppm
Nitrate and Nitrite: 0 ppm
Tank size 10 gal
Other friends: one zebra danio, one neon tetra, one yoyo loach, ~ten snails (food)
Doing 20% water changes every two weeks. now almost everyday because of the ammonia
Addtives: ph buffer and seachem prime for the new water during changes
Changes in last week: added the snails.
Tank setup about 2.5 months ago. zebra danio and neon tetra were used to cycle the tank. the neon tetra has since past away but danio is still going strong.

Why are yo buffering the pH? You need to stop that. Fish do not "read" pH & by adding buffer it is swinging back & forth, causing stress to the puffer.

50% weekly water changes are always recommended. How was this tank cycled? The fact that you show ammonia & nitrate, means it's not. I'd do another WC & add Tetra Safestart to the filter.