Help Holiday Cheer for A. Meleagris

Arothron Junkie · Post by **Arothron Junkie** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 9:27 am

The Guinea Fowl we took in on rescue due to her former tank mates (read: triggers) beat her nearly to death is doing better physically but is still depressed after 3-4 weeks. Barely eats, rid of all ick/parasites/etc. Right now she is in the 75 gallon QT tank. Here is a pic:

Thoughts on cheering her up? Done plenty of healing the body stuff w' puffers but fixing depression is harder. Water quality is sterling, physically she is fine, just glum. She is terribly sweet, swimming up to get petted, etc...

Thoughts?

lisalisa · Post by **lisalisa** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 10:07 am

Perhaps she bored as well, being in a bare QT. My fish seem to perk back up when in their real tanks. I'd bet one QT is done, and she has some decor to explore she'll be happier! What a sweet face she has...

YBeNormal · Post by **YBeNormal** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 10:58 am

I agree. Decorations (read: areas to hide in and explore) should cheer her up. It might take some time before she considers herself to be the owner of her new tank, but I think she'll be fine.

What size tank do you have planned for her?

Post by **Pufferpunk** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 12:22 pm

Maybe dancing in front of her tank naked? Always cheers my fish up!

Rocker · Post by **Rocker** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 12:24 pm

:32: :32: :32:

lisalisa · Post by **lisalisa** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 12:34 pm

I'd bet it cheers up your hubby too!!

Post by **Pufferpunk** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 12:39 pm

You bet! But after being married this long, me naked is a normal thing for him to see. He likes the dancing though... :12:

Peregrine · Post by **Peregrine** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 12:59 pm

yesh-did I stumble in to the wrong thread

:33:

Arothron Junkie · Post by **Arothron Junkie** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 1:05 pm

Right now she has 3x terra-cotta pots shaped into cave/overhangs if she wants to hide. Being a QT, no substrate, plants, or whatnot. Dancing naked would at the very least convince the girlfriend I've lost it but on the upside I might get her to join in...

Anyhow, soon as she has been disease/parasite free for 1 month she'll get the full setup and a couple friends. Right now looks like a 4" greenbird wrasse, a 3.5" chocolate tang, maybe a Harlequin Tusk if santa-girlfriend finds one in time.

Thanks all for the kind replies...

Post by **Pufferpunk** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 7:56 pm

Now we've all gone mad if I can get 2 people to dance naked for their puffer! :40: :34: Sometimes Kalvin dances with me.

puffernuke · Post by **puffernuke** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 8:12 pm

guilty as well.

Arothron Junkie · Post by **Arothron Junkie** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 3:37 am

Update: moved her to 75g with a greenbird wrasse (5") and chocolate tang (4") as company. This tank is similar except it has 65lbs of base/live rock mix and aragonite/black sand substrate.

She has staked out a cave or two as her own but mostly still hangs out near the top or following us around the room when we are near.

Friendliest fish I've ever seen...if you put your hand in the tank she swims up to "pet" herself on your hand. Just wish she'd eat more... If you are not in or at the tank she just shuts down. She is eating some, but still skinny as hell. Every other puffer we have looks like a baseball/softball/football w' fins. She just can't seem to find the apetite despite trying EVERYTHING. (live crabs/ghost shrimp/etc, cleared out my local fresh market seafood dept, mysis, kryll, pellets, etc) Of course, all kinds of apetite stimulants (garlic, beta gluten, B12, etc) Tried hand feeding and leaving stuff on the bottom but will not leave anything in with her (that isn't alive) longer than 12 hours.

Girlfriend thinks perhaps we should get a golden puffer (arothron meleagris - male) but none of the LFS (including hers) have or want to mess with ordering one really. Where is the best place to find something like that online?

Thanks as always....

Jager · Post by **Jager** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 4:06 am

well saltwaterfish.com is a good place as is liveaquaria.com

I think that what you should do is give your guinea fowl its own tank for now. no tank mates. obviously she is scared and rather timid, and fast moving tankmates wrasses and tangs are quiet close speed and color wise to some triggers. it may still be freaking due to past issues with the triggers. try letting her get used to the tank solo and eating better, then add tankmates etc.

The decor helps, but solitude and time is a wounded puffers best friend atm

you keep showering it with attention thoughh. try pvc pipes to rearrange in ther and anythign new to play in or chill in. also hid food inside the tubing so that she can eat and be hidden if she feels the need too. it also helps them get over issues with tank comfort.

when she is queen of the tank, then add tankmates. youll see a much faster turn around time.

puffermama · Post by **puffermama** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 6:54 am

Your story reminds me of my cat. My vet says he doesn't behave nicely to other people because he has overbonded with me. Seems like I've been too nice to him, he needs to want to reach out for other people. I am absolutely terrible at 'not being there' for any of my pets, so its going to be an uphill struggle. Anyway, you mentioned all your other fish are 'happy eaters' so your obviously a very good 'feeder', I'm just wondering whether you're offering her too much, too often. A bit like with me offering too much affection to Chester and getting a result which is not good for him?

I might be completely off the mark, but thought I'd mention it in case it can help.

lisalisa · Post by **lisalisa** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 10:09 am

It's really sweet that your puff seems so attached to you. Keep giving her attention for sure! I agree with Jager on the no tankmates right now.

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Help Holiday Cheer for A. Meleagris

Help Holiday Cheer for A. Meleagris