1) ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 10, Salinity 0.010
2) 58 gallon with 4 x 1.5" GSP's
3)No changes
4)Aquarium set up for about 4 - 5 weeks. Used Bactinettes (live bacteria like bio spira)
At the moment Ive stopped feeding as they are hunting the shrimp that are still in the tank. I'm feeding the shrimp algae wafers and bloodworms when i can sneak them in!
All the puffers are flicking against the plants and ornaments. Im looking closely but cant see anything on their skin. No white spots, cant see parasites or anything. Been doing it for the past 2 weeks or so. They seem happy and healthy otherwise. White bellys, eating normal etc.
Ive been doing a 40% water change every couple of days to keep the water as clean as possible but it hasnt helped.
I wasnt sure about adding meds as i didnt want to poison my puffs. any suggestions?
puffers flicking
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.
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
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Re: puffers flicking
How often do they flick the plants/ornaments, and is it all of them, or could it simply be the same puff doing it each time? Would you be able to describe the flicking a little more (such as "they whip their tail at it", or "they rub the side of their body over the plant/ornament in a burst of movement"). I really have no experience with this flicking stuff, though. 
I would presume it was ich or a skin irritation, especially if all of them are flicking. Maybe a more experienced keeper can give you some better insight.
I would presume it was ich or a skin irritation, especially if all of them are flicking. Maybe a more experienced keeper can give you some better insight.
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- Paul
40 gallon - Future home of Abei Puffer
28 gallon - 1 Abei Puffer (Captain Abe)
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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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indie
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Re: puffers flicking
Its all of them doing it. They just sort of swim up to something, and then quickly flick their body up against it.
They do it quite regularly. Definately every day, but i dont watch them all day so i dont know how much.
They do it quite regularly. Definately every day, but i dont watch them all day so i dont know how much.
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Pufferpunk
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Re: puffers flicking
I'd up the temp & add Melafix.
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!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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indie
- Figure 8 Puffer
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Re: puffers flicking
I do have some melafix. Do i add the normal dosage for the tank?
What temp should I raise to. Its currently at about 28C/82F
What temp should I raise to. Its currently at about 28C/82F
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
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T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
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burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
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Re: puffers flicking
Raise to 86, add the recommended amt of Melafix & be sure there is good surface aggitation or an air stone.
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!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
indie
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 227
- Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2006 6:57 am
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- Location: surrey, uk
Re: puffers flicking
Thanks, I'll try that now