A few days ago I got a South American puffer, along with a Green Spotted, that wasn't wanted by this man. I happily took them because I had 2 SAP's and thought they would enjoy having another of their kind with them. So I put him in the tank, and all has been well ... until tonight.
Earlier I was sitting there watching the puffers and I noticed that he had what looked like one or two white spots on his tail fin. Now I've had 2 cases of whitespot (ich) in the past 3 months with my SAP's, so I started looking at the other fish. I can see no evidence of whitespot on any of the other puffers. But this newest SAP swims with his tail fin clasped alot and that doesn't seem natural to me. I watched all the other puffers and they all opened their tail fin when going through the current of my filter, but not this new SAP, his tail fin remained clasped.
So my question is -- is this just an early indication of whitespot (ich), or is this possibly something else?
If it is whitespot then naturally I want to get on it as soon as possible, if it's something else, then I would still like to know what it is and if it's dangerous to my puffers?
I would appreciate any and all help. I have been keeping fish for 30+ years, but I have only had puffers for about a year now. So I admit that I don't know all that I wish I did about them, but I want to learn and am open to anything anyone has to say.
Thank you,
Suz
HELP!! SAP with Clasped Tail Fin
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.
-
pufferpuggirl
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HELP!! SAP with Clasped Tail Fin
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LilGreenPuffer
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Re: HELP!! SAP with Clasped Tail Fin
Can you answer the Hospital questions? (I assume you're familiar with them.) That would probably help.
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
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pufferpuggirl
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Re: HELP!! SAP with Clasped Tail Fin
Sorry, I totally forgot about posting my question in the hospital forum ....
Had alot going on tonight.
Well nitrite and ammonia are at 0
Tank has been up and running for more than 9 months
Haven't added anything other than this new puffer to the tank
It's a 120-liter tank and has Dwarf puffers, 2 other SAP's and 4 Figure 8 puffers (and yes I know that some people keep them in brackish - please let's not get into that argument, TY).
There's really nothing that has changed about the tank, other than having recently acquired that new puffer. None of my other puffers seem bothered or different. But definitely something going on with the newest SAP.
Had alot going on tonight.
Well nitrite and ammonia are at 0
Tank has been up and running for more than 9 months
Haven't added anything other than this new puffer to the tank
It's a 120-liter tank and has Dwarf puffers, 2 other SAP's and 4 Figure 8 puffers (and yes I know that some people keep them in brackish - please let's not get into that argument, TY).
There's really nothing that has changed about the tank, other than having recently acquired that new puffer. None of my other puffers seem bothered or different. But definitely something going on with the newest SAP.
"Puffer .... man's best friend?"
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Sponge bob
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Re: HELP!! SAP with Clasped Tail Fin
Way to over stocked.
Try Melafix and try to get a bigger tank
Try Melafix and try to get a bigger tank
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pufferpuggirl
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crayfish - Location (country): Yorkshire, GB
- Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Re: HELP!! SAP with Clasped Tail Fin
Well, as it happens, I am cycling a bigger tank now, but that doesn't negate the fact that my puffer has something wrong with it. 
Besides, that isn't telling me what is wrong with my puffer. I don't believe it's fin-rot, the fin itself doesn't look damaged.
Besides, that isn't telling me what is wrong with my puffer. I don't believe it's fin-rot, the fin itself doesn't look damaged.
Last edited by pufferpuggirl on Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Pufferpunk
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Re: HELP!! SAP with Clasped Tail Fin
SAPs stress easily & are prone to getting ich when moved.
Moving to correct forum.
Moving to correct forum.
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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pufferpuggirl
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- Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Re: HELP!! SAP with Clasped Tail Fin
Thank you Pufferpunk, at least that makes sense to me.
"Puffer .... man's best friend?"
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puffertt77
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Re: HELP!! SAP with Clasped Tail Fin
I saw a UK website recently selling F8 as a freshwater puffer saying that it comes from the Freshwaters of Southeast Asiaschismy007 wrote:Figure 8 puffers (and yes I know that some people keep them in brackish - please let's not get into that argument, TY)
http://www.directtropicals.co.uk/index. ... cts_id=482
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pufferpuggirl
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Re: HELP!! SAP with Clasped Tail Fin
That's always been my argument too, but some people get rather nasty about the fact that F8's should be kept in brackish water. I have my F8's in freshwater and they seem fine, however, my GSP's do much better in brackish water. So it's not that I don't have a brackish tank, it's just that I think they do better in fresh. I just don't care to argue about it.
Thank you for pointing that out though, I agree totally with it.
Thank you for pointing that out though, I agree totally with it.
"Puffer .... man's best friend?"
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edmlfc1
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Re: HELP!! SAP with Clasped Tail Fin
As PP said it's probaly stressed. I would keep an eye on it and make sure it's not getting picked on also. When Elvis was being picked on he kept his tail clamped all the time. 
Need to know what kind of puffer you have? Click on Puffer ID.....Puffer ID: ug.php/v/PufferPedia/
What to feed your puffer? Click on Feeding......
Feeding: library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
Have a GSP, need more information......Click on GSP Article.....
GSP Article: library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
What to feed your puffer? Click on Feeding......
Feeding: library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
Have a GSP, need more information......Click on GSP Article.....
GSP Article: library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
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pufferpuggirl
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Rainbow crab
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Re: HELP!! SAP with Clasped Tail Fin
Thanks edmlfc1, but when your Elvis clamped his fin, did he also have whitespot (ich) ? Or was it just being stressed?
"Puffer .... man's best friend?"
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edmlfc1
- Mbu Puffer
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125G:Fahaka (Annabelle) - Location (country): U.S.A.
- Location: Texas
Re: HELP!! SAP with Clasped Tail Fin
He caught whitespot shortly after. I can't say for sure if it was from the stress or the new rock that I didn't qt before adding to the tank. More than likely a little of both.
Need to know what kind of puffer you have? Click on Puffer ID.....Puffer ID: ug.php/v/PufferPedia/
What to feed your puffer? Click on Feeding......
Feeding: library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
Have a GSP, need more information......Click on GSP Article.....
GSP Article: library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
What to feed your puffer? Click on Feeding......
Feeding: library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
Have a GSP, need more information......Click on GSP Article.....
GSP Article: library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
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Pufferpunk
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A modestus
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C valentini
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C papuan
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DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
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Re: HELP!! SAP with Clasped Tail Fin
Doesn't really matter where F8s come from, it has been proven over & over that they live longer & are healthier in low-end BW. We had a mentor here who did a decade-long study on them. Kept one for 18 years!
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!"
Re: HELP!! SAP with Clasped Tail Fin
When my GSP had clamped tail, I did a big water change and moved all their decor around. I think it helped stop the other feeling like it had an established territory, and of course, the water change is only going to be a good thing.
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LilGreenPuffer
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- Location: Kentucky
Re: HELP!! SAP with Clasped Tail Fin
I don't think that a bigger tank is the solution. I think that *multiple* tanks is the solution. These fish weren't meant to live together.Sponge bob wrote:Way to over stocked.
Try Melafix and try to get a bigger tank
schismy007, what are your nitrates? I don't think you mentioned those. That might be affecting him.
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!