The Puffer Forum

I have 3 GSP in a 50 gallon tank. Plan upgrade soon. I have 3 molly fish and 4 nerite snails as cleaners. I have a corner power filter, UV filter and air stone. Salinity is 1.014, PH is 7.8, Ammonia is 0, Nitrite is 0 and nitrate are at 60. Did a 30% water change last night for nitrate and added a nitro zorb filter. Tank has been set up for 6 months and I let it cycle for a week before adding any fish. I used a biofilter and small amount of water from another established tank. I usually do water changes every 2 weeks. They get fed a variety of food, clams, snails, bloodworms, brine shrimp, ghost shrimp. Snails are from my own snail tank that I set up just for them, I am working on a ghost shrimp tank now. I also have a brime shrimp hatchery.

I have 1 puffer that has been dark in color and just laying on the bottom of the tank for a few days, which is why I did tank parameters early. She, I think, is stressed out. But she will come to eat, then go back to hiding. I am not sure why nitrates spiked, but I am doing what I can to get rid of them.

My other 1 puffs starting acting strange today also. Not very active. And are gray around their spots.

My question is, can I use tetra lifeguard all in one treatment on them? Being scaleless, I am not sure what is ok for them. Please help, I do not want my babies unhappy or to lose them...

[welcome]
Nitrate needs to be <20. Lots more WC, try 50% daily for a week.

I did a 30% water change 2 days ago and a 30% last night. They seem more sick now that I have done water changes. I am very worried about them. I know they are very sensitive fish. If I have had them for 6 months, would I have known if they had parasites or could they have gotten them from the ghost shrimp I got from the feed store recently? How do you tell if they have parasites?

Also, the mollies and snails seem perfectly fine.

Is there any salt in there?

Yes. Salinity is 1.014.

Update: I lost 1 puffer, the smallest, and all but 1 snail. Mollies are acting like nothing is wrong. I have been doing daily water changes and nitrates are down to about 30, will keep doing them.

What substrate are you using? Are you stirring it thoroughly, before each WC? Even under rocks & other decors?

I am using aquarium gravel. I don't stir it all up, but I clean around around and under decor.

I just lost a Molly. I have no idea what else to do. My puffers are hiding and not wanting to eat. And they are sunken in around their front fins. I am afraid I am going to lose them all...

I have my last puffer and 2 mollies in a quarantine tank. Hoping to do a clean and fresh cycle on their tank to see if I can save them. So far, I lost 2 puffers, 1 molly and all my nerite snails. I am changing substrate to natures ocean sand. Hoping that helps.

library/hospital/internal-parasites-pre ... treatment/

Substrate should be aragonite sand. ALWAYS stir substrate thoroughly! That's where your nitrate is hiding.

library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/

My puff and molly are in quarantine, I have started treating them with seachem metroplex and focus. I have taken out the gravel substrate in their normal tank and added bio-active nature's ocean argonite sand. Will be using the method in the link to cycle it and hopefully all will be well for me to add my fishies back. Fingers crossed I have saved them, my Scardy Cat is starting to interact with me again. I call him scardy because he does not like to be pointed at, silly fishie.

Why are you treating internal parasites with antibacterial meds?

I read that it treats parasites as well.

Quarantine and the metroplex/focus seem to be working. My GSP and 2 mollies seem to be almost back to normal. Once their tank has cycled, they should be at full strength. Scardy, my GSP, has even started coming out to say hi every time we go near him.

Good news! Scardy and his 2 molly buddies are doing great! Seem to be 100% back to normal. Just waiting for their normal tank to finish cycling then I can put them back.

For plants and having the aragonite sand, do I just get some of the little plastic pots to plant them? Or will they root into the sand? I have a couple moss balls then some grass types and leafy types.