Bleedingheartmommy wrote: ↑Sun Jun 24, 2018 6:49 am
I would really like to know who this seller is. Just to be aware, and PP says let it fly..
Have you treated for IPs yet? Even if my own mother promised me she did I wouldn’t even trust her word, I always double treat for parasites, bc these places are SO busy, and to us: this is OUR babies, to them it’s one of nearly 1,000 fish that they really make little revenue off of in the end.
How are they doing today?
I totally agree.
Stores are so busy and undestaffed these days.
Most text and store statements are likely hype with good intent, but lack of proof.
These recent 5 puffers were from Aquatic Clarity in WI, USA. Good reviews, but I got an iffy/really skinny shipment I guess.
Too long of a fasting period before shipping.
I'd personally fast them a short time and place the soaker-upper called PolyFilter in the shipping bags like the WetSpotTropicalFish (Oregon) does for the shipments to soak up those toxins in the bag.
On a side note, I do see that Aquarium Co-op has a great quarantine youtube video on his method. His visit-and-view quarantine tanks of what comes in for you to buy is right there to see during the quarantine period.
They seem like a store that cares. The only thing I noticed about Co-op's MBU and Schoutedeni puffer videos is that he tosses frozen clams and misc food right into the puffer tanks.
He just did a new Schoutedeni follow up video this week (Mid June, 2018).
I would love to see a peacefull debate among PufferPunk and Cory of Aquarium Co-op on the frozen food subject, with sourced or cited claims of where the info is coming from.
The frozen (not thawed) food was said to be related to intestinal issues according to PufferPunk.
Day 9.
- All 5 are still all alive.
From the start, 2 of the 5 look round and soft (like my older order at Wetspottropicalfish in Oregon) and 3 of the 5 look longer/slimmer with 2 symmetrical points on the jawline.
- These 3 are the particular ones that were really skinny.
I have no research completed on males vs females. This is a noob observation.
Other observations etc.
- Parzipro has been in the water in proper ratio to the tank volume.
- Food is also soaked in Prazipro when I get the chance to. Not soaked 100% of the time so far.
- 'Noticed they breath heavier once the Prazipro is in the water, so I cranked up the Ehiem 350 surface skimmer to grab more surface bubbles and squirt the out micro bubbles. May add bubbler for the treatment period.
- 2 thicker round ones are still looking good (full looking and no distorted lumps in the belly region).
- 3 skinnies look better, but the worst one is still equal or less than flat (concave) at times in the belly. They get lumpy in the belly as in "not uniform" or full looking like what I would call normal.
- Most all are pooping bloodworm looking globs (staple food of frozen/thawed bloodworm), and at times the earthworms give their stool a meaty-looking lump out the caboose.
- No stringy looking parasite turds have been noticed. I still would need to see a few photos of what that actually looks like as an example to base things off of.
I have some photos of these recent 5 schoutedeni puffers I took today, the 24th of June (Day 9 with me).
I will upload them here this evening after I get done unloading groceries and normal stuff.
Just in case I'm not chiming in fast enough for a reply here, I do upload my aqaurium journey on Flickr (a photo sharing site).
I use the place to create a log of my fish, puffers and planted tanks.
Thanks for following along with the journey.
This is a great forum for niche specific topics on rare fish.
- and thanks Pufferpunk for the past info on such a specific fish.
I did not know the T. schoutedeni even existed until about 2 months ago. I figured if I could keep Dwarf puffs thriving, and handled giant poop machines like a giant pleco project tank, that I could handle a few Schoutedeni and it's higher filtration requirements.
Edit:
PICS posted.
Photo Notes:
- Notice the Bloodworm thick chunks out the caboose during potty-time.
- Day 8 of 9 days with them, I added the Sword plants until I can get other lower light plants in the tank.
- Some PetSupplyPlus stores have cheap plants that have some good size FYI. Crypt Wendtii, Swords, and more.
- My residence has somewhat bright dual windows (12ft away from the tank) with mini-blinds that seem to let algae grow on the glass, so I turned on the light and started adding plants now.
- Notice the last photo shows the dual symmetrical bumps on the schoutedeni puffer's jawline.
- Lots of filtration. 450 gph hang on filter on far end, 3 Cobalt MJ900 pumps with sponges on intake, and misc. filter parts to diffuse nozzle-like flow. The pumps keep the tank free of garbage, but not too much flow keeping them from coming out swimming in the soft swirl of waterflow.
- Ehiem 350 surface skimmer right next to Tidal 110 skimmer intake to keep the top clean of film and to snag air bubbles on the surface and spit them out into micro bubbles in the tank (60 gal. 48x15x16 high Seapora brand).