Ok my tank details are as follows:
SETUP: 48" x 18" x 12" 160 litre freshwater tank, Fluval U5 internal filter, C02 diffuser, Sand and Slate substrate, Bogwood and Selection of plants.
FISH: 2 x 6" Common Pleco, 1 x Ghost Knife Fish, 2 x Sucking Loach, 7 X Neon Tetra, 3 x Guppy, 3 x Ghost Shrimp (were supposed to be puffer food) and of course 1 x Figure 8 Puffer.
PARAMETERS: Ammonia ~0ppm, PH ~7.6, Nitrite ~0ppm, Nitrate ~0ppm (Was impressed myself as just tested) and Temp 22-24C.
ROUTINE: 50% water change about weekly, filter washed in tank water. New water treated with API Tap safe.
Ok, so the story goes:
I aquired an F8 puffer about 2 inches long 5 days ago. It seemed in good health but has since got a fungal infection growing on it's body (I assume from the travel). I have been treating this with Melafix and Pimafix for 4 days now (20ml daily) and have removed the carbon from my filter.
The puffer also doesn't seem to be eating. I have tried live ghost shrimp (they are still alive in the tank), blood worm and prawn. The F8 did eat the prawn but then spat it out again and did eat 1 or 2 blood worms but that was about 3 days ago.
So my questions are:
Is Melafix and Pimafix the best treatment for the fungal infection? (I know fungal infections are usually a side affect from another infection hense using both treatments.)
Any recommendations on how to get my F8 to eat?
Thanks in advance!
New F8 puffer doesn't seem well
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.
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
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burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: New F8 puffer doesn't seem well
Very often, F8 puffers get sickly when kept in FW. Read the links Flutter gave you in your other thread.
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!"
-
pufferpuggirl
- Mbu Puffer
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Rainbow crab
crayfish - Location (country): Yorkshire, GB
- Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Re: New F8 puffer doesn't seem well
Having "0" nitrate makes me wonder if your tank is cycled properly - I asked in your other thread and I will ask again, how long as the tank been up and running?
"Puffer .... man's best friend?"
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mrgreen
- Fahaka Puffer
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2 figure 8s: Escalator & Elevator - Location (country): United States
- Location: Michigan, USA
- Contact:
Re: New F8 puffer doesn't seem well
You should show some nitrate if your tank is cycled. I suspect this is the problem. Retest nitrates and make sure to follow the directions exactly.
"Puffs puff cuz they're puffs cuz they puff cuz they're puffs. - Nathan age 12
Re: New F8 puffer doesn't seem well
Sorry, forgot to reply on the cycling bit.
My filter has been up an running for about 4 months now, starting off in a cichlid tank (also with an external filter), then into the current tank with 2 plecos for about a month before adding the other fish a few at a time.
I have recently rescaped the tank with additional plants and this included a complete water change so I assume this is my the nitrate level is so low. However, I am pretty happy that the filter media is mature enough.
My filter has been up an running for about 4 months now, starting off in a cichlid tank (also with an external filter), then into the current tank with 2 plecos for about a month before adding the other fish a few at a time.
I have recently rescaped the tank with additional plants and this included a complete water change so I assume this is my the nitrate level is so low. However, I am pretty happy that the filter media is mature enough.
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32984
- 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: New F8 puffer doesn't seem well
With large enough WC, it is possible to have 0 nitrate in a FW/BW tank but you should be seeing some nitrate soon. Now... there's the dilemma of keeping a BW fish in FW.
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!"
-
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: New F8 puffer doesn't seem well
I am going to be honest, until my recent purchase of 2 Figure-8 puffers, I thought I could keep my F8's in freshwater with no problem. I was wrong! Every Figure-8 I've had (all kept in freshwater) have died on me. So that finally told me something (I know, I should have learned a long time ago) .... but now I will keep my F8's in brackish water and hopefully they will live much longer than the previous ones I've had. 
Please don't make the same mistake as I did.
Please don't make the same mistake as I did.
"Puffer .... man's best friend?"
Re: New F8 puffer doesn't seem well
Hopefully the nitrogen cycle will sort itself out again shortly.
As for my F8 needing BW, any advice on this setup would be appreciated.
As for my F8 needing BW, any advice on this setup would be appreciated.
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32984
- 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: New F8 puffer doesn't seem well
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: New F8 puffer doesn't seem well
Thanks pufferpuggirl, I'm trying to sort it asap.
Thanks for the link pufferpunk, very useful. I have added it to my favourites.
Any recommendations on which salt to use?
Thanks for the link pufferpunk, very useful. I have added it to my favourites.
Any recommendations on which salt to use?
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32984
- 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: New F8 puffer doesn't seem well
Cheapest marine salt you can find.
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!"
-
PolishPuff
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 1212
- Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 1:20 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: ________
Also cared for;
Fahaka------------------- Had to give it away
Auriglobus modestus-----Traded
Auriglobus silus ---------Died during transport.
Figure Eight Puffers -----Sold and or traded
Dwarf Puffers ------------Traded
Congo Puffer ------------Traded
South American Puffers -Traded
Carinotetraodon lorteti --Died under my supervision :( - Location (country): USA-Chicago, IL
- Location: Chicago, IL
Re: New F8 puffer doesn't seem well
I use Instant Ocean
I keep my 2 F8's at 1.005 SG
I keep my 2 F8's at 1.005 SG
"Lost time is never found again" Benjamin Franklin
Re: New F8 puffer doesn't seem well
Wow, salt is expensive, but I assume brackish uses a lot less salt than marine. Will look at getting a nice little setup for my new F8 buddy!
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32984
- 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: New F8 puffer doesn't seem well
It'll be about 1 cup salt/5g to make a SG of around 1.005.
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!"
-
PolishPuff
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 1212
- Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 1:20 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: ________
Also cared for;
Fahaka------------------- Had to give it away
Auriglobus modestus-----Traded
Auriglobus silus ---------Died during transport.
Figure Eight Puffers -----Sold and or traded
Dwarf Puffers ------------Traded
Congo Puffer ------------Traded
South American Puffers -Traded
Carinotetraodon lorteti --Died under my supervision :( - Location (country): USA-Chicago, IL
- Location: Chicago, IL
Re: New F8 puffer doesn't seem well
A hydrometer would be very useful
Instrument---------------------Parameter measured-----------------Relative unit of measurement
Conductivity cells-------------Conductivity---------------------------mS/cm
Swing arm hydrometer-------Specific gravity (+ salinity)-----------adimensional (+PSU/ppt)
Floating hydrometer----------Specific gravity------------------------adimensional
Refractometers---------------Specific gravity (+ salinity)-----------adimensional (+PSU/ppt)
Instrument---------------------Parameter measured-----------------Relative unit of measurement
Conductivity cells-------------Conductivity---------------------------mS/cm
Swing arm hydrometer-------Specific gravity (+ salinity)-----------adimensional (+PSU/ppt)
Floating hydrometer----------Specific gravity------------------------adimensional
Refractometers---------------Specific gravity (+ salinity)-----------adimensional (+PSU/ppt)
"Lost time is never found again" Benjamin Franklin