my congo is breathing heavy
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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beapeman
- Puffer Fry
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1 congo puffer(R.I.P) - Location: Toronto
my congo is breathing heavy
I just got my congo puffer last friday. he was really active when I brought him back home and was eating and reacting well with others( I have true red eye in the tank). he was active and swimming to get the food while I was feeding on Saturday and Sunday. Today I came home and found him on laying on the gravel pitch black, barely swimming at all. I tried to feed him with bloodworm and he ate the first one then stopped eating. I changed the water to give more oxygen in the water. the tanks is well cycled I think ( I did the water check last week) the rest of the puffers seems to be fine and swim up and down just the congo. can someone help me? I did brought 1 stone from outside and put it in the tank on Sunday, I'm not sure if that's what cause the problem.
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Christemo
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Re: my congo is breathing heavy
Please answer the questions in red.
Two F8's, two tiny fantails and a pleco call me mommy.
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recombinantrider
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Takifugu ocellatus (Fugu puffer) - Location: Los Angeles
Re: my congo is breathing heavy
Could you please answer all the questions above in the red box? It could be really helpful if we know the answers to these first before we give advice. Thanks!
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beapeman
- Puffer Fry
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1 congo puffer(R.I.P) - Location: Toronto
Re: my congo is breathing heavy
my tank is 22gal with gravel and couple stones.
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Christemo
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2 Figure 8s (Cupcake and Sprinkles) - Location: Marlton, NJ//Emmitsburg, MD
- Contact:
Re: my congo is breathing heavy
What are your test numbers? We can't help you without definite numbers, and "good" and "ok" are not good answers.
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
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it?
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
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it?
Two F8's, two tiny fantails and a pleco call me mommy.
-
beapeman
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Sat May 02, 2009 11:26 pm
- My Puffers: 2 red eye puffers(R.I.P)
1 congo puffer(R.I.P) - Location: Toronto
Re: my congo is breathing heavy
Sorry I didn't know how to check the water so I brought the water to the shop and asked them to check for me, I set up my tank for 3 weeks now.I let the tank run for 1 week first by filter and tetra aqua safe and bio-support in. i feed them once a day and today is the first time I changed the water. for the water I put in tetra aqua safe and bio support. I putted in a stone which I got at a park, rinse it and put the stone in the tank.
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Christemo
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2 Figure 8s (Cupcake and Sprinkles) - Location: Marlton, NJ//Emmitsburg, MD
- Contact:
Re: my congo is breathing heavy
You should have boiled the stone.
Please go out and buy a test kit ASAP. We don't know your nitrate or nitrite or ammonia levels, so there's no way to see if it is either one of those causing your fish stress. It sounds like one of them is way too high.
Please go out and buy a test kit ASAP. We don't know your nitrate or nitrite or ammonia levels, so there's no way to see if it is either one of those causing your fish stress. It sounds like one of them is way too high.
Two F8's, two tiny fantails and a pleco call me mommy.
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beapeman
- Puffer Fry
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- Joined: Sat May 02, 2009 11:26 pm
- My Puffers: 2 red eye puffers(R.I.P)
1 congo puffer(R.I.P) - Location: Toronto
Re: my congo is breathing heavy
OK Christemo thanks a lot for your help. I will buy the kit tomorrow and let you know for detail. it's 11 pm right now in canada so can't I can't go buy the kit now but I will get it tomorrow
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Christemo
- Suspended
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- Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2008 2:33 pm
- My Puffers: 1 GSP (RIP Puffy... we tried everything we could. :( )
2 Figure 8s (Cupcake and Sprinkles) - Location: Marlton, NJ//Emmitsburg, MD
- Contact:
Re: my congo is breathing heavy
Get a liquid kit. Test strips are useless.beapeman wrote:OK Christemo thanks a lot for your help. I will buy the kit tomorrow and let you know for detail. it's 11 pm right now in canada so can't I can't go buy the kit now but I will get it tomorrow
Two F8's, two tiny fantails and a pleco call me mommy.
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beapeman
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Sat May 02, 2009 11:26 pm
- My Puffers: 2 red eye puffers(R.I.P)
1 congo puffer(R.I.P) - Location: Toronto
Re: my congo is breathing heavy
ok i will thanks.
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LilGreenPuffer
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- Location: Kentucky
Re: my congo is breathing heavy
Actually, the strips aren't bad. The liquid ones are important for when something seems wrong, like now, but if it all looks good, the strips can be fine.
A great brand for liquid kits is API. They are expensive, but worth it.
Your tank size may be a factor. A fully-grown congo puffer needs 30g, and with tankmates, you'd need more than that. How big is the puffer, and how many true red-eyes do you have?
A great brand for liquid kits is API. They are expensive, but worth it.
Your tank size may be a factor. A fully-grown congo puffer needs 30g, and with tankmates, you'd need more than that. How big is the puffer, and how many true red-eyes do you have?
"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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recombinantrider
- Green Spotted Puffer
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Takifugu ocellatus (Fugu puffer) - Location: Los Angeles
Re: my congo is breathing heavy
What I think the culprit might be is that you have at least one other puffer (and possibly more) sharing a 22G tank with this congo who is now lethargic and pitch black. I'm not trying to shoot you down but it sounds like you have a tank too small to accommodate these messy eaters who are really sensitive to ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. Immediate actions need to be taken if you want to save the congo's life or preventing it from getting any permanent damage (puffer blindness is very common when the water is not in pristine condition). I know puffers are really precious and I hate to see them go myself. However, if you want the best for your puffer(s), you might need to consider bringing the congo back to the store, until you can figure what to do next. If you absolutely cannot let go of it, please keep up with daily water changes, 50% or more. I strongly suspect the water condition is to blame (you'll get the verdict once you get the API kit tomorrow hopefully).
Welcome to the puffer forum by the way
This is the best puffer forum I've found. I'm glad you've come to the right place to ask questions! We may not know all the answers but we're all eager to help!
![[welcome]](./images/smilies/welcome.gif "welcome")
Welcome to the puffer forum by the way
This is the best puffer forum I've found. I'm glad you've come to the right place to ask questions! We may not know all the answers but we're all eager to help!-
LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
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RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond. - Location (country): United States
- Location: Kentucky
Re: my congo is breathing heavy
Another possibility while you figure out what to do is to get a big plastic storage container and put the puffer in that. Keep up with the water changes, of course, since it's not cycled, but it would help, I think.
"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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Pufferpunk
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Re: my congo is breathing heavy
IMO, you really need to return the Congo. Your tank is large enough for only 1 puffer species. Stick with that one, maybe get a pair of red-eyes in there--that's it. If that Congo was feeling better, he'd wipe out every fish in the tank with it.
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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LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
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- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:26 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Dwarf puffer - Thumbelina (only mine in my heart now; she lives in CT with my friend)
RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond. - Location (country): United States
- Location: Kentucky
Re: my congo is breathing heavy
Is the "true red-eye" the same thing as the red-eye puffer? Just checkin'.
Have you done research? If no, here's where to get started.
Congo puffer rundown:
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/T_Miurius/
Feeding and diet:
library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/ (Since the congo is a piscivore, their feeding will differ from that described in the article; Pufferpunk or someone else who's owned a Congo can help you with that. This is the place to start, though.)
Further feeding and diet, as it applies to piscivores:
library/feeding/feeders/
Have you done research? If no, here's where to get started.
Congo puffer rundown:
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/T_Miurius/
Feeding and diet:
library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/ (Since the congo is a piscivore, their feeding will differ from that described in the article; Pufferpunk or someone else who's owned a Congo can help you with that. This is the place to start, though.)
Further feeding and diet, as it applies to piscivores:
library/feeding/feeders/
"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!