another panting puffer

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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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onebadpuffer
Former Staff Member
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another panting puffer

Post by onebadpuffer »

When I bought my Fugu, I noticed he was the only one in the tank that was panting, but he was also the only one that had a tail. He was buried so I had the guy rouse him and he was fast and healthy looking. The panting has pretty much went on since I bought him and he is in the filter outflows most of the day. I have not witnessed him scrathing on decorations any and his appetite is the most of any fish I have ever owned, even worse than my hog of a F8. He buries a lot and i have added more decs to the tank so he feels more secure. He is even starting to shoot to the surface for food when I open the lid. I can see no parasites of any kind. One of his gills were swollen when I bought him, but not anymore. Could it be because I have him in light brackish, currently 1.005? I want to try light brackish since nobody has been able to keep them alive long term in high brackish/salt. Any ideas?

Also, my PH is a little low, at 6.8. Could this also be causing this? I added small crushed coral bags to each of the filters. Will this be enough to keep the PH buffered, or should i pull the sand substrate out and replace it with Aragonite or crushed coral. I used sand cause he likes to bury himself.
onebadpuffer
Former Staff Member
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Location: Texas
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Post by onebadpuffer »

Well, suspecting parasites, I did a few Formalin dips and he is no longer panting. Seems to be completely better. Crossing my fingers here.
midgetwaiter
Puffer Fry
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Location: Calgary, Alberta

Post by midgetwaiter »

Sounds like a gill infection of some kind for sure. Flukes probably. The formalin bath was the right call. Watch him to see if it comes back.
Pamela
Green Spotted Puffer
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Post by Pamela »

Did any gunge come out of his gill in the formalin bath?
Pami.
Eddy_b
Puffer Fry
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Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 9:33 am

Post by Eddy_b »

How'd you figure out the light brackish idea. I'd love to keep something as wonderful as a Fugu but theres no way id be able to cope with high-end brackish/full on marine, Just too darn pricey.
If it seems to be doing well in low end/med brackish i'd love to try and keep one.
What size tank etc are you using? and whats your final sg gonna be?

Eddy B
onebadpuffer
Former Staff Member
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Location: Texas
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Post by onebadpuffer »

Pamela wrote:Did any gunge come out of his gill in the formalin bath?
Pami.
There appeared to be a little, but I suspect flukes. I would've done a gill scrape, but I no longer have access to a microscope.
onebadpuffer
Former Staff Member
Posts: 76
Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2005 4:34 am
Gender: Male
Location (country): United States
Location: Texas
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Post by onebadpuffer »

Eddy_b wrote:How'd you figure out the light brackish idea. I'd love to keep something as wonderful as a Fugu but theres no way id be able to cope with high-end brackish/full on marine, Just too darn pricey.
If it seems to be doing well in low end/med brackish i'd love to try and keep one.
What size tank etc are you using? and whats your final sg gonna be?

Eddy B
He is in a 20 long right now, but he gets a 60 gallon all to himself after I move next month. I am trying the low end brackish as an experiment. I am going to keep it 1.002 to 1.005. He seems to be doing well, but apparently, this is their M.O. I bought the fugu knowing that I may lose him, but praying that I won't. I have only read of one person saying that they had success with them and I believe it was Mandycat. I am keeping it in the same salinity as she reported and trying to give it as much live food as I can hoping that this may mean the difference, It loves to hunt and is extremely successful doing so. It's the best hunter puffer I have ever had. I know others have tried before with no success, but I want to try and break the code. Purchase one of these expecting to lose it but hoping to prevail.
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