Puffers not eating properly

Oh no! Sick fish?! Come here and see if someone can help!
Forum rules
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.
Post Reply
Phoenixbaby
Puffer Fry
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:42 pm

Puffers not eating properly

Post by Phoenixbaby »

Hey guys

PH 7.5
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate just over 10 when compared to the coloured strip

20gallon with 3 gsp at 1inch in size, plz note this is not permanent, i was told they would be fine in the tank, and then later found out theyre not, im planning to rehome 2 asap

feeding all sorts, bloodworm, shrimp, cockels, mussels, etc etc

water change yesterday as part of my weekly 20%change, added my salt as usual to the replace what id taken out

SG 1.003

tank has been running for a very long time, and these guys arent new additions to the tank

Ok heres my problem, being really fussy with their food, eating bits, but ignoring the rest, and then hovering back where i drop food in waiting for more

any ideas greatly appreciated
Phoenixbaby
Puffer Fry
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:42 pm

Re: Puffers not eating properly

Post by Phoenixbaby »

any1? im really worried about them doing this :(
User avatar
t1gerbee
Fahaka Puffer
Posts: 831
Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:10 am
My Puffers: 1 x Ceylon + 1 x GSP + 1 x stars and stripes (juv) -Marine
(Non puffs-)
4 x clowns
1 x Oscar-Tropical
3 x Convicts-Tropical
1 x Map Turtle-tropical
2 x Plecs-Tropical
2 x goldfish
Location: london

Re: Puffers not eating properly

Post by t1gerbee »

wait for them to eat one bit before dropping in more... so they eat it all rather than missing bits..?

how often are you feeding them?
1 x 90G Juv stars and stripes puffer, Ceylon Puffer + GSP + 2 black clowns
1 x 30G LPS Reef
1 x 30G 1 x Blind goldfish :-)
Image
Phoenixbaby
Puffer Fry
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:42 pm

Re: Puffers not eating properly

Post by Phoenixbaby »

2times per day, every day except for sundays

well they used to go mad for it all, now they just dont seem bothered?
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:

Re: Puffers not eating properly

Post by Agnate »

Probably don't need to feed twice a day. Feed them once until their bellies are rounded, then don't feed them until the next day.

Are their bellies sunken after only a couple hours after eating? If so, they might have internal parasites, and with the constant feeding, the parasites have gotten bigger and worse.

IF this is the case, you'll have to treat for parasites (while they are still eating would be best). However, you need to confirm the above questions (the one about their sunken bellies) first.
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)
Phoenixbaby
Puffer Fry
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:42 pm

Re: Puffers not eating properly

Post by Phoenixbaby »

Nope they stay plump pretty much all day, they look like balloons lol
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:

Re: Puffers not eating properly

Post by Agnate »

Yeah, then you just need to scale back on the feeding. It's difficult to turn down their persistent begging, but it must be done.

Actually, a lot of fish die because of being overfed (causes a lot of internal problems), so you have to stick to a schedule. Less is more in terms of their health. :)
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)
Post Reply