One of my DPs seems to be suddenly sick.. the other two look perfectly fine- a bit thin (they were thin when they were delivered, they are now starting to develop their little chubby bellies), but very active and vibrant.
He's very dark and listless... he swam by the filter and stuck to it! I had to jiggle the filter a little bit just to make sure he wasn't dead... and right after that he found a leaf to kind of laze around on. Before that, I saw him resting on one of my plants, and I thought "aww, how cute, he's sleeping..." only to look closer to see him gasping! He was always the shier one.. eating after the other two female ones did (i save bloodworms for him so he gets the same amount they did), and he's usually hiding around the back part of the tank near the bottom. Today he seemed a bit "twitchy" as well.
I usually see all three of them at feeding time, but today (much to my distress) I only saw the two healthier ones.
I didnt notice any type of aesthetic anomalies right away... I'll have to scout around the tank for a while to find him.
1) I dont have a test kit yet, but I'm planning on buying one as soon as my financial aid disbursement comes through, which should be within the week.
2) Heavily planted 10 gallon, 3 DPs, two of which look/act healthy
3) I feed them frozen bloodworms, no more than 1/2 a cube a day. I change their water 40-50% every week... there is also a high rate of evaporation due to what i'm guessing is the climate here (lots of condensation in the tank), I'm talking about over an inch every 2 days.. they get clean water when I "refill" their tank then. I've used AquaSafe and SafeStart, nothing more.
4) Other than refilling their water after it drops below a certain point, nothing.
5) No more than a month. Ive had these guys for two weeks tops... I cycled it using SafeStart.
I really want him to get better!
Oh no, it was so sudden!
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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2jane
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:01 pm
- My Puffers: 2 DPs, Wintermute and Neuromancer
- Location: Ruston, LA
Oh no, it was so sudden!
Goodbye Chekov! I'm sure you will be happy in your new home.
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Myaj
- Tech Team
- Posts: 4587
- Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2005 12:27 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Bubba, turgidus
Paris, lined burrfish - Location: SE Wisconsin
- Contact:
Re: Oh no, it was so sudden!
Without you testing your water, its hard to know if its an ammonia problem or something of that sort.
But to be safe, I'd do extra water changes over the next couple of days and see if that helps. Clean water is always a good thing.
Do you know if the other two are picking on this one at all?
But to be safe, I'd do extra water changes over the next couple of days and see if that helps. Clean water is always a good thing.
Do you know if the other two are picking on this one at all?
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2jane
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:01 pm
- My Puffers: 2 DPs, Wintermute and Neuromancer
- Location: Ruston, LA
Re: Oh no, it was so sudden!
Will do, ma'am!
Ive been watching him, and i've seen no aggression from the other two.
I just isolated him (in a bowl ive never used to eat, totally clean).. and he looks DEATHLY thin! Like he's never eaten at all! I defrosted a small amount of bloodworms, but he doesnt seem to be taking any. His fins are constantly moving, and it looks like he's gasping... he just kind of flows along with the current. He's also very, very dark.
I'm hoping he'll warm up to the bloodworms soon, and that its not too late for him...
Ive been watching him, and i've seen no aggression from the other two.
I just isolated him (in a bowl ive never used to eat, totally clean).. and he looks DEATHLY thin! Like he's never eaten at all! I defrosted a small amount of bloodworms, but he doesnt seem to be taking any. His fins are constantly moving, and it looks like he's gasping... he just kind of flows along with the current. He's also very, very dark.
I'm hoping he'll warm up to the bloodworms soon, and that its not too late for him...
Goodbye Chekov! I'm sure you will be happy in your new home.
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2jane
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:01 pm
- My Puffers: 2 DPs, Wintermute and Neuromancer
- Location: Ruston, LA
Re: Oh no, it was so sudden!
Omg, I just watched him take his last breath. He started gasping, I looked down, and before you know it... he stopped. 
Hopefully I can spot sickness in a fish faster next time... and though I've lost a cute little thing, at least I learned something out of it...
Hopefully I can spot sickness in a fish faster next time... and though I've lost a cute little thing, at least I learned something out of it...
Goodbye Chekov! I'm sure you will be happy in your new home.
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Myaj
- Tech Team
- Posts: 4587
- Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2005 12:27 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Bubba, turgidus
Paris, lined burrfish - Location: SE Wisconsin
- Contact:
Re: Oh no, it was so sudden!
That's too bad.
Sometimes these poor little guys are just way too stressed from all the transport and everything they go through at the retail level, and there's not much you can do for them other than keep them the best you can for their last few days.
Keep an eye on the other two for signs of losing weight, white and/or stringy feces, etc... there's always a good chance it could be internal parasites.
Sometimes these poor little guys are just way too stressed from all the transport and everything they go through at the retail level, and there's not much you can do for them other than keep them the best you can for their last few days.
Keep an eye on the other two for signs of losing weight, white and/or stringy feces, etc... there's always a good chance it could be internal parasites.
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2jane
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:01 pm
- My Puffers: 2 DPs, Wintermute and Neuromancer
- Location: Ruston, LA
Re: Oh no, it was so sudden!
I certainly will. They do seem to be putting on weight, which is good, but I'll keep checking.
Goodbye Chekov! I'm sure you will be happy in your new home.
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LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 5301
- 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: Oh no, it was so sudden!
Oh, dear. I'm sorry.
It's important to get a test kit *before* you get the puffers.
It's important to get a test kit *before* you get the puffers.
"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!
-
2jane
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:01 pm
- My Puffers: 2 DPs, Wintermute and Neuromancer
- Location: Ruston, LA
Re: Oh no, it was so sudden!
Yeah, that does make sense, doesn't it... I guess I was too excited for the little girls and I completely forgot.
Also, is it normal for a puffer to just kinda... chill out near the heater? Ever since I moved the heater to get to the sick one easier, one of them has been utterly fascinated by it! I haven't seen her move to another area since she discovered it.
Also, is it normal for a puffer to just kinda... chill out near the heater? Ever since I moved the heater to get to the sick one easier, one of them has been utterly fascinated by it! I haven't seen her move to another area since she discovered it.
Goodbye Chekov! I'm sure you will be happy in your new home.
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LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 5301
- 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: Oh no, it was so sudden!
Lots of fish have a favorite spot. James Bond sleeps under the rock cave, and before I took the ugly thing out, Thumbelina liked to sleep on the blue plastic coral. Then she slept on the hornwort. Now that the hornwort is dead, I have no idea where she sleeps. Many fish do like to stake out a spot to call their own. Your little girl has just moved house and called dibs on the best bedroom before the other girl could get it.
"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!
-
pufferpuggirl
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 3979
- Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 3:04 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffs & Stuff:
1 x M Abei
1 x M Turgidus
1 x T Palembangensis
1 x M Baileyii
1 x T Schoutedeni
1 x T Leiurus
1 x T Miurus
Rainbow crab
crayfish - Location (country): Yorkshire, GB
- Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Re: Oh no, it was so sudden!
I'm very sorry for the loss of your little puffer.
"Puffer .... man's best friend?"
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Lil' Swimz$
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 1686
- Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:26 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Lorteti - Peaches
- Location (country): USA
- Location: Wisconsin
- Contact:
Re: Oh no, it was so sudden!
Oh no!! That's too bad.
Bullet sleeps under my stump thing, and Bug, I think she sleeps in my fake red anenome, but sometimes she sleeps next to Bullet.
Bullet sleeps under my stump thing, and Bug, I think she sleeps in my fake red anenome, but sometimes she sleeps next to Bullet.
Ha ha, he he! DAncE whEn yoU're HAPpppy! He he he! DAnce, danCE, DANCe!