I think my puffer is dying

[J-P]

there was something else but I forgot now .. sorry

[IluvShoes]

Thanks for the suggestions. I need you to dumb things down for me. What is a drip method? This is my first fish tank I don't know anything about filters or sponges.
SO I should find a used filter and squeeze it onto my new filter? And what do you mean coral him into the medicine then into the 10 gallon?

I don't get it.

I am slightly retarded.

[IluvShoes]

"place the filter inline and do a leak test"

what's that? and also what is running a filter with carbon?

I am fully a newb. I am contemplating finding someone that works at a pet store and having them do all of this for me.

[IluvShoes]

He was scratching himself on a ton of stuff then buried himself in the sand again. He picked up some food and spat it back out. I don't think he is going to make it. He looks absolutely terrible and I am absolutely heartbroken.

Is 50% waterchange a day okay?

[J-P]

"place the filter inline and do a leak test"

what's that? and also what is running a filter with carbon?

I am fully a newb. I am contemplating finding someone that works at a pet store and having them do all of this for me.

Well basically it means put the filter in and start filling the tank to see if it springs a leak

Gradually fill the tank as opposed to rushing things.

[IluvShoes]

Oh that's pretty straight forward. What about giving him medicine? He won't eat. I put two snails in the tank I thought he'd go nuts and eat them.

He's so sick one of the snails was sitting on his back and he didn't even care :(

[J-P]

that is what the 10 G is for.

Now I remember !!!!!! You have to focus on meds that are appropriate for scaleless fish.

Antibacterial will trash your biofilter. That is a no brainer because you have beneficial bacteria in there. The antibacterial meds will kill ALL bacteria even the good ones.

Getting that ammonia under control will certainly help.

IMO .. and like I mentioned others with more experience may counter this ... try a little food just after a water change when it feels a little better.

At this point we KNOW ammonia is a problem because the tank is uncycled. We do not know if it is IPs (white stringy poop, or it looks like a pearl necklace age good indicators but not conclusive) and ICH (looks like grains salt over the body most noticeable on the fins)

[trekenk]

As for your question two 50% or more water changes a day. JP had a lot of good suggestions. Medicate the whole tank with the product mentioned in the IP article ( but as JP also added we don't know if Puffy has IP's) . Do not throw in any other medications.....they aren't a miracle that you are looking for, clean cycled water will help the most. In simple terms what JP is saying is get the biggest tank you can afford and accommodate from craiglist or kijji in your area ( I checked and there are lots there). Fill that tank up to make sure it doesn't leak, you should also have heater filter ect. Get some use filter media ( sponges from a used up a run filter) from a freshwater healthy tank. Keep this in a bag with water from that tank so that it doesn't dry out for the drive home and squeeze this into your tank. Don't give up puffers are strong guys and if he has lasted this long he is a fighter you just got to help him out a bit. Cycled bigger tank........

[IluvShoes]

Well it's not so much affording it it's just I don't want to spend a couple hundred dollars if he is dying.

I haven't seen him poop for days and sometimes I can't really tell if it looks like he has sand on his body because he is always in the sand.

It looks like stringy white stuff on his body, and I saw some stringy white/clear stuff floating around.

I hate earth worms so I got my grandma to find one in the garden. I just talked to her. She put it in the tank and dangled it around in front of his face.

He paid no attention to it and would not eat it.

I don't know what to do. He is so skinny he looks anorexic. He chewed on some shrimp and spat it out. He won't eat blood worms, earth worms, snails...nothing. He won't eat period :(:(

I'll buy him a bigger tank but is there even any point if he won't eat?

:(:(:(

[IluvShoes]

Anyways if he is still around on Friday I'll get him a 29 gallon for the meantime...and I'll keep medicating. I'll get some used filter/media sponges and maybe I'll see if there is some drift wood or plants tehy can sell me from a healthy tank and I can put those in my tank?

I've been doing water changes and medicating the water.

Since I'm supposed to put two scoops in per 10 gallons every 10 days, what would you suggest I put in tonight?

I put in two scoops yesterday. Then I did a 50% water change last night, so I put in half a scoop.

So tonight should I also put in half a scoop when I do a 50% water change?

[J-P]

On buying a bigger tank... it will help. It will be a pain in the butt at first but it makes life easier.

In the tragic event that the puffer does not make it (not your fault), you have more options open to you.

The answer is: do what you can; hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Members will guide you but, without actually being there, the members are limited.

In my heart .. those large water changes are the key to success. Try not to let 12 hours go without a big water change. Once things balance out .. he'll be better (best case).

[IluvShoes]

I read about IP's and apparently when your puffer poops you'll see the parasites coming out of his bum.

I saw a bunch of clear stringy things floating in the water.

Does that mean maybe the medication is working?!?!!?!?!!?

I did my last water change last night at 3am and will do one tonight around 1am. Tomorrow I will do two and I will continue that for the next few days. I REALLY hope he is okay.

Can someone tell me what IP's look like?!

[J-P]

Stingy poop can be from excess mucus. Don't forget that the puffer hasn't eaten well in many days. The poop will not look normal.

You are looking for stringy white poop and or a string of pearls ... round balls attached by thin strands... coupled with that thin look.

If you treat for IPs be cautioned... some IPs can not be passed through the stool.

Clear stringy things in the water swimming around are normal for newly cycled (cycling) tanks. They are called nematodes... don't worry about them for now. Yes they are ugly .. but that is a good sign because the tank can support life. Usually tiny sticking to glass or dancing in the water.

If you take a magnifying glass to the tank can you see little worm & stuff in the tank?

[IluvShoes]

I'm at work right now so I can't. But I bought him a cave and I saw a bunch of white stringy things flaoting off of it and some dancing in the water like you described.
I washed off the cave properly yesterday too before putting it in....

[J-P]

don't worry about those for now.

Concentrate on the water changes.

I have to go to bed.. early day tomorrow. Keep us posted.. keep up the water changes. I can't say one way or the other on the meds.. but you can remove that cave.

less decor = less variables

TTYL
J-P