I did a water change and raised the water temp up to 80 from 78.
I was thinking constipation, as I do not see any spots or fungus. But I was looking for some input as to what I should do.
SAP not eating & not active
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.
SAP not eating & not active
On saturday I moved my two sap's into a bigger tank. The tank has been setup for over two years and the water parameters where identical to their previous tank. On tuesday one of my puffers started acting funny, not active at all, however he did eat some. Then today he is not active and not eating. He also seems bloated and for a while today his tail was clenched. Now its seems his back side is floating up more.
I did a water change and raised the water temp up to 80 from 78.
I was thinking constipation, as I do not see any spots or fungus. But I was looking for some input as to what I should do.
I did a water change and raised the water temp up to 80 from 78.
I was thinking constipation, as I do not see any spots or fungus. But I was looking for some input as to what I should do.
-
busybones
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 738
- Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 12:46 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: ******
(1)T. lineatus-Fahaka~Pookie 125 gal
(1)M. turgidus- Brown Puffer~Rowdy 30 gal
(1)T.nigroviridis-GSP~ 55 gal - Location (country): USA
- Location: Kentucky
Re: SAP not eating & not active
The SAP's didn't take in any air when you moved them did they? If this is possible check out this article on air filled puffers...
library/hospital/help-my-puffer-is-air-filled/
library/hospital/help-my-puffer-is-air-filled/
Re: SAP not eating & not active
No i put a container in the tank and never took them out of the water.
Any opinions as to whats wrong and what to do?
Any opinions as to whats wrong and what to do?
-
busybones
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 738
- Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 12:46 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: ******
(1)T. lineatus-Fahaka~Pookie 125 gal
(1)M. turgidus- Brown Puffer~Rowdy 30 gal
(1)T.nigroviridis-GSP~ 55 gal - Location (country): USA
- Location: Kentucky
Re: SAP not eating & not active
If it's constipation, try feeding them some peas. Since you said they weren't eating this may not work so well..If they don't eat the peas add 1 tablespoon of Ebson salt per 5 gallons of water this should help with the constipation. Let me know how things are going.. and good luck!
Re: SAP not eating & not active
Well only one of them is acting funny. Is it okay to add the epsom to the tank with both of them in it or do I need to move the one? Any chance it could be internal parasites?
Also today his eyes look sunken in. Either that or his head is swelled up.
Also today his eyes look sunken in. Either that or his head is swelled up.
-
busybones
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 738
- Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 12:46 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: ******
(1)T. lineatus-Fahaka~Pookie 125 gal
(1)M. turgidus- Brown Puffer~Rowdy 30 gal
(1)T.nigroviridis-GSP~ 55 gal - Location (country): USA
- Location: Kentucky
Re: SAP not eating & not active
I would say that it would be ok, but I'd like a second opinion to be sure. My general rule with IP's is that the fish eats and then looks thin again shortly after eating, so i'm not certain that you are dealing with IP's.
Re: SAP not eating & not active
I feed them a combination of snails and freeze dried shrimp. Ive had trouble getting them to eat anything else. I have had them for 13months.
I just remembered that he did start acting this way the day after I placed some snails in. Maybe he swallowed one without breaking the shell.
I just remembered that he did start acting this way the day after I placed some snails in. Maybe he swallowed one without breaking the shell.
Re: SAP not eating & not active
I have added epsom salt.
However I have confirmed that it is a snail shell. I can now see the tip of where the shell comes to a point. Is this a problem or will it come out?
However I have confirmed that it is a snail shell. I can now see the tip of where the shell comes to a point. Is this a problem or will it come out?
-
robert_hollis
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 167
- Joined: Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:04 pm
- My Puffers: 3 SAPs - Lucky, Dusty, & Ned
- Location (country): U.S.A.
- Location: Houston, TX
Re: SAP not eating & not active
Someone had this same problem with their puffer swallowing a whole MTS not too long ago. Eventually their puffer passed the whole shell. I can't remember who had the problem pr what kind of puffer it was, though...
You read it! You can't unread it!
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32979
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: SAP not eating & not active
I still think Epsom salt might help things "flow" better.
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: SAP not eating & not active
Well, this morning the shell is no further out and he is now laying down most of the time.
Would putting him to sleep and trying to break the shell be something I should try?
Would putting him to sleep and trying to break the shell be something I should try?
-
diverchic
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 294
- Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:50 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Parent to:
No puffers since moving to work on a boat but looking to get some again now I am back on land. - Location (country): London, UK
Re: SAP not eating & not active
erm??? are you suggesting putting the fish to sleep and then breaking up the shell of a snail that's inside your fish??? I don't know how you'd be able to break the shell without hurting your puffer.
I must be interpreting what you've written wrong.
I must be interpreting what you've written wrong.
-
busybones
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 738
- Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 12:46 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: ******
(1)T. lineatus-Fahaka~Pookie 125 gal
(1)M. turgidus- Brown Puffer~Rowdy 30 gal
(1)T.nigroviridis-GSP~ 55 gal - Location (country): USA
- Location: Kentucky
Re: SAP not eating & not active
No I wouldn't try to force the shell out, you may hurt him even more by cutting him on the inside. Just see if he can pass it on her own. I know someone else has had this problem and it seems like the fish passed the shell ok.diver wrote:Well, this morning the shell is no further out and he is now laying down most of the time.
Would putting him to sleep and trying to break the shell be something I should try?