Not an emergency, but I need some info...

Oh no! Sick fish?! Come here and see if someone can help!
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Read this before posting!!

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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Agnate
Former Staff Member
Posts: 1203
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1 Abei Puffer [Monotrete Abei]
(Captain Abe)
Location: Ontario, Canada
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Not an emergency, but I need some info...

Post by Agnate »

Ooookay, so BOTH my puffers appear to be VERY pale today, and are both hiding in one of the caves I have. I'm probably going to perform a water change tonight, but this dual-paleness is starting to worry me (before it was only Allakazam, so I figured he was just being a moody kid). Whenever I go near them, they turn their heads, curl their tails, and back away from me. Are they just being really moody? Their bellies are still white, and they ate well enough... I actually had to find Pickles and put the food near the entrance of the cave he was in, because he didn't want to come out... but then instead of getting the food, he bit my finger instead! >_< But then he took the food, heh. Their water temperature was a bit low (around 76 degrees), but it's been like that for about a week and they were acting as usual.

I'm hoping it's just because they're still young and don't understand what's going on, but it doesn't make me any less worried. Also, I haven't checked the parameters today, but I'll post them up when I get a moment between assignments to check them.

Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated! :)
Did our staff successfully help you? The Puffer Forum is an incredible resource and is run completely on the donations of its viewers. Proceeds from the Puffer Forum store go towards future contests and keeping the site running. Donations may also be made via PayPal.

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40 gallon - Future home of Abei Puffer
28 gallon - 1 Abei Puffer (Captain Abe)
5 gallon - 1 Betta (Frederico)
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Jase
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 1579
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2008 3:13 am
Gender: Male
My Puffers: RIP Hootey :(
Location (country): USA
Location: Montana

Re: Not an emergency, but I need some info...

Post by Jase »

A lower than usual temp could be effecting their immune system and make them unhappy... that's all I can think of with out the parameters.
how are they now?
-Jase
edmlfc1 wrote:A house without a puffer is not a home. :D
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Agnate
Former Staff Member
Posts: 1203
Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:44 pm
My Puffers: -

1 Abei Puffer [Monotrete Abei]
(Captain Abe)
Location: Ontario, Canada
Contact:
Contact Agnate

Re: Not an emergency, but I need some info...

Post by Agnate »

Well, I lured them out with food, and they floated around a bit, but then went back into hiding after they stuffed themselves with scallop bits. I turned the heat up a bit, but I think my 200 watt heater just isn't cutting it (I have it at 86, yet my temp is only about 76). I tested the water this morning, and I've got Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = 0, Nitrate = 5-10 (looked about 7ish), and pH = 8.2 (might be closer to 8.1, but whatev). Nitrates are a *little* high, but nothing out of the ordinary. *Shrug* I think they just hate me, or something, haha.
Did our staff successfully help you? The Puffer Forum is an incredible resource and is run completely on the donations of its viewers. Proceeds from the Puffer Forum store go towards future contests and keeping the site running. Donations may also be made via PayPal.

- Paul

40 gallon - Future home of Abei Puffer
28 gallon - 1 Abei Puffer (Captain Abe)
5 gallon - 1 Betta (Frederico)
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User avatar
Jase
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 1579
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2008 3:13 am
Gender: Male
My Puffers: RIP Hootey :(
Location (country): USA
Location: Montana

Re: Not an emergency, but I need some info...

Post by Jase »

maybe you hurt their little feelings somehow. ;)
-Jase
edmlfc1 wrote:A house without a puffer is not a home. :D
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StormySkiez
Fahaka Puffer
Posts: 679
Joined: Sun Nov 11, 2007 9:00 am
My Puffers: 55G 2- 1 3/4 inch GSP's ~Bud AKA Jaws and Puff~
Location: USA~TN

Re: Not an emergency, but I need some info...

Post by StormySkiez »

But he spoils them!
Image
55g-2 green spotted puffers 1 year old Nov 08!
20g-5 leopard danio,4 whiteskirt tetras, amanos, nerita snails, 2 neon tetras
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Jase
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 1579
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2008 3:13 am
Gender: Male
My Puffers: RIP Hootey :(
Location (country): USA
Location: Montana

Re: Not an emergency, but I need some info...

Post by Jase »

StormySkiez wrote:But he spoils them!
haven't you heard of a spoiled little snot!? ;)

Agnate, I hope your little guys get happier. :)
-Jase
edmlfc1 wrote:A house without a puffer is not a home. :D
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User avatar
Agnate
Former Staff Member
Posts: 1203
Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:44 pm
My Puffers: -

1 Abei Puffer [Monotrete Abei]
(Captain Abe)
Location: Ontario, Canada
Contact:
Contact Agnate

Re: Not an emergency, but I need some info...

Post by Agnate »

Yeah, my gf got them to come out today, and they were in full colour. Apparently, once I came home, they went back into hiding, so it looks like they just hate me right now. It's probably due to the fact that I'm the one who causes water cascades and brings in the DOOM-VACUUM! ^_^
Did our staff successfully help you? The Puffer Forum is an incredible resource and is run completely on the donations of its viewers. Proceeds from the Puffer Forum store go towards future contests and keeping the site running. Donations may also be made via PayPal.

- Paul

40 gallon - Future home of Abei Puffer
28 gallon - 1 Abei Puffer (Captain Abe)
5 gallon - 1 Betta (Frederico)
Top
User avatar
Jase
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 1579
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2008 3:13 am
Gender: Male
My Puffers: RIP Hootey :(
Location (country): USA
Location: Montana

Re: Not an emergency, but I need some info...

Post by Jase »

haha, well I hope they get their act together.

Vaccum: another connection between dogs and puffers. :lol:
-Jase
edmlfc1 wrote:A house without a puffer is not a home. :D
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