New to Puffers

Dwarf, Red Eye, South American & more. Freshwater puffer talk in here.
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Fahakaluvr
Puffer Fry
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2019 4:50 pm
Location (country): United States

New to Puffers

Post by Fahakaluvr »

I just purchased my first puffer. His name is Moses, the Fahaka. I have him in a very colorful 150 gal tall tank. First couple days were touch and go and I'm certain he had a serious parasite infestation. I treated with PraziPro, water change a few days later and another PraziPro treatment today as follow-up. The day after the first treatment, his appetite returned in full force. He devoured about 10 small snails, 2 slugs from my garden and an earthworm throughout the day. Today he has consumed a few more snails and his color has really started to return to what I see in photos of these guys. The first few days his color was dull grey, almost zero yellow and his stomach was totally sunken in. I am seeing really good changes in his color and activity. It may be hopeful thinking on my part, but I swear he has grown about 30% in the little over a week I've owned him. He is currently about 2.5" maybe a bit more, but when I brought him home he definitely was less then 1.5" and super skinny. I am so happy I got this little dude. I have high hopes he is on the mend now. He loves the high flow areas of the tank, and is very responsive any time I approach the tank he darts right to the surface. So smart for being just a little guy. Can anyone help me with how I can post some photos of him to see if anyone thinks he is still on the skinny side or if he's looking good now?
https://imageshack.com/i/pmQODOrdj
https://imageshack.com/i/plKISVdcj
https://imageshack.com/i/pmzSxWsYj
Last edited by Fahakaluvr on Sun Mar 17, 2019 8:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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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 to Puffers

Post by Pufferpunk »

[welcome]
Great save, glad he's doing so much better! Kudos for giving this lil fella a BIG tank to grow into, too.
You'd have to upload your pics to a photo storage site & link them here.
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!"
Fahakaluvr
Puffer Fry
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2019 4:50 pm
Location (country): United States

Re: New to Puffers

Post by Fahakaluvr »

Some photos
https://imageshack.com/i/pmQODOrdj
https://imageshack.com/i/plKISVdcj
https://imageshack.com/i/pmzSxWsYj

Thoughts on how he's looking?
Water tests perfect zero ammonia, zero, nitrites, less than 5 ppm nitrate, ph around 7.4 to 7.6 temp at about 80-81 with aquarium salts in the water as well as a dose of Melafix to get rid of a bit of velvet looking stuff. Any advice is welcome
User avatar
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 to Puffers

Post by Pufferpunk »

Looks great, very healthy!
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!"
Fahakaluvr
Puffer Fry
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2019 4:50 pm
Location (country): United States

Re: New to Puffers

Post by Fahakaluvr »

So a quick question. I have noticed just a couple very small white specks on Moses. Literally only a couple very small grain of salt size specks. Should I treat for ich? Or wait to see if he clears it up on his own?
User avatar
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 to Puffers

Post by Pufferpunk »

What's their salinity level?
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!"
Fahakaluvr
Puffer Fry
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2019 4:50 pm
Location (country): United States

Re: New to Puffers

Post by Fahakaluvr »

I have 1 tablespoon per 10 gallons currently.
User avatar
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 to Puffers

Post by Pufferpunk »

That's not brackish. Get yourself a hydrometer or better yet, a refractometer with calibration solution.
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!"
Fahakaluvr
Puffer Fry
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2019 4:50 pm
Location (country): United States

Re: New to Puffers

Post by Fahakaluvr »

I thought Fahaka puffers were strictly fresh water.
User avatar
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 to Puffers

Post by Pufferpunk »

LOL, I'm so sorry, thought this was a post about GSPs. Too many puffer questions!
That is good on the salt then. Watch & see.
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!"
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