Okay, Now I'm REALLY worried....

[PufferPuck30]

Cheli's a GSP.....

I've got him in brackish....SG at 1.06

[Stungate]

no i was not saying buy a freshwater tester only asking if you were accidently using one. I hope the little guy makes it. Merry christmas

[PufferPuck30]

no i was not saying buy a freshwater tester only asking if you were accidently using one. I hope the little guy makes it. Merry christmas

Thank you. I'll consider it a very Merry Christmas indeed if he pulls through.

Merry Christmas to you, too.

[Pufferpunk]

I'd do more WC, to get the pH up. Do they seem to perk him up?

[KIONG]

Don't worry bud, my puffer's in bad shape too. I think you should do more WC with the right water parameter (SG, pH). If he still refuse to eat, I think forgo his meal for a day, and give him some juicy fat snails the very next day. Just suggestion, Hope it pulls through..

[Nusquam]

If you can find any LFS that are open, maybe bring some water in and ask them to do any and all tests they can? Maybe it's something in your water that you don't know about and don't have tests for, algae bloom or high copper, for example. Maybe try doing a water change with some RO/DI water if you have any, just to be sure?

Sorry I'm not more help, but hoping he pulls through! Good luck.

[xxSarahxx]

Do you know what your kh is... the kh buffers your pH... it is doubtful that it is low but it is worth a shot in this sort of scenario where weare clutching at straws... otherwise I'm in agreement about water changes!

[PufferPuck30]

Well.....he made it through the night, thanks in large part to Pufferpunk and her advice.

He's in his new tank. He still won't eat. I'm not sure he looks any better today than he did yesterday, but I'll take what I can get at this point.

He ate one small snail this morning, then immediately swam over to a corner and went all mottled. I've offered him some bloodworms soaked in fresh garlic. He doesn't appear to be interested. He ate three small snails yesterday, so I don't think he's in immediate danger of starvation. I wouldn't be so concerned over the lack of appetite except for the fact that he looks so skinny, so frail and weak compared to his usual robust, pudgy self.

If I can't get him to eat, I don't know how I can help him.

As for water changes....

I just did a 60% water change on Saturday. And he's currently in a 37gal with nothing BUT fresh, clean water.

He passed some irregular looking feces yesterday when I had him in the small QT tank, including what appears to be a rather large piece of undigested snail shell with a very sharp, knife-like edge to it. I'm hoping he's "recovering" now...and will soon be back to his normal, cheerful, murderous self.

He shows brief flashes where he appears to be his old self, flitting around like a hummingbird along the front of the glass as though he's ready for dinnertime. But they're brief moments, then he's back on the bottom of the tank, all mottled and lethargic.

I'll just have to keep an eye on him and hope for the best.

Any more suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

[PufferPuck30]

Here's an interesting update.....

As stated in my previous post, I noticed that Cheli had passed some "irregular" feces in the QT tank. Upon further investigation, (i.e. after taking a closer look at his poop....), I can confirm that there are, indeed, large SHARP pieces of snail shell in the feces. As a matter of fact, the main component is large, SHARP pieces of snail shell, with very little actual poo.

Now....

Upon closer inspection of the FISH, I find that there are two protrusions, one on either side of the fish, just below and behind each gill. They are both rather "pointy", (the one on the right side being the worse of the two). They appear almost as though there is something sharp trying to push through the skin.

Now....not long ago on this very forum there was someone who stated that the proprietor at his LFS opined that our fellow poster/forum member had perhaps lost a fish due to the fact that he'd injured himself on a snail shell. Many here dismissed this opinion as impossible, based upon the fact that snails are a natural food for Puffers, and are found in their own natural habitat.

Well.....man has been eating meat for millenia. That hasn't stopped the occasion human from choking to death on a piece of steak, has it?

If he has, in fact, taken on more snail than he can handle, and THAT is why he doesn't want to eat, (because it's PAINFUL to pass the digested food...???), is there any hope that he'll eventually pass the obstruction? And in the meantime, is there anything I can give him to keep him from starving to death while he (hopefully) heals? Nutritional supplement? Liquified food he wouldn't have to conciously, actively eat?

Also, will Melafix help with the healing process? Epsom salt to help pass the obstruction?

Any advice?

[manutius]

I think it could be that you are using aquarium salt rather than marine salt. Aquarium salt is used as a tonic but and just creates salty water, ity lacks the other minerals to create the balance in sea water that you are trying to create and give the buffering capacity that you are lacking. get a recognised marine salt mix such as Kent Marine and bin the aquarium salt, better still smack the guy at the LFS with the box

[PufferPuck30]

I think it could be that you are using aquarium salt rather than marine salt. Aquarium salt is used as a tonic but and just creates salty water, ity lacks the other minerals to create the balance in sea water that you are trying to create and give the buffering capacity that you are lacking. get a recognised marine salt mix such as Kent Marine and bin the aquarium salt, better still smack the guy at the LFS with the box

I'm sorry, I may have muddled that, making it unclear.

I'm only using aquarium salt in the small QT tank. That, along with epsom salt, as exactly what you stated it should be; a tonic. I'm also dosing him with Prazi-Pro because I've a feeling he's got gill flukes.

In his main tank I use Instant Ocean marine salt, enough to bring the SG up to 1.008.

[manutius]

Oh I see, I speed read your posts though so it could be me too, I hope we can sort this out for you

[PufferPuck30]

Alright, this has officially escalated to the point of the absurd.....

The 20gal crashed today. Unbelievable. I've done FIVE 50% water changes, and can't get the Nitrites to stay at 0ppm for more than an hour. Using Amquel+ works, but drops the pH down to alarming levels.

I've made a last ditch effort by dumping a packet of Fresh Water Bio-Spira into the tank, hoping that will help.

If it doesn't.....

I dont' know what to say. I'm exhausted. I don't have a life anymore. I spend nearly every waking hour, and most hours when I SHOULD be sleeping, trying to take care of this beautiful little fish. Looking over receipts, I've spent over $2,000 since early November on ONE fish!

I can't take any more. I'm frustrated and emotionally spent. I've become exceptionally attached to the little guy, but enough is enough.