Tank Mates and HELP URGENTLY
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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Mikeyburnsey
- Puffer Fry
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Re: Tank Mates and HELP URGENTLY
Hilly wrote:When was the last time you saw him take a dump?
Nice way off putting it
To be honest I am not sure, I will watch him more closely over the next few days. All I can say he is swimming around, looking happy as he goes 
Also he is searching by blowing the sandI take on advice, but refuse to be bullied by those who think they are in control!! Mikey
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Hilly
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Re: Tank Mates and HELP URGENTLY
So his behaviour is looking for food well thats a good sign. Perhaps it is just a blip, water parameters are good. I asked about taking a dump because I wondered if he might be a bit constipated, thats enough to put anyone off their food. A total guess but it was first thing that came to mind.
Hilly
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purplecandle
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Re: Tank Mates and HELP URGENTLY
I saw the mussel and the clam.. Do you feed anything else? A high variety diet should prevent some constipation..
if it is constipation you could try Epsom salt
But really not eating is not terrible unusual..some puffs go on hunger strikes.
I have a turgidus who is refusing to eat because I ran out of his favorite shrimp and apparently the little prince will not eat unless he has a shrimp ever other day...
if it is constipation you could try Epsom salt
But really not eating is not terrible unusual..some puffs go on hunger strikes.
I have a turgidus who is refusing to eat because I ran out of his favorite shrimp and apparently the little prince will not eat unless he has a shrimp ever other day...
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Mikeyburnsey
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- My Puffers: I own A MBU, bought 13th July 2010, it is called Midge. Housed in a 88 Gallon Tank External Filter Ehiem Pro 3. HMA water system, Blue and white lights for night and day. 2 Heaters.
- Location (country): Redruth Cornwall UK
- Location: Redruth Cornwall England
- Contact:
Re: Tank Mates and HELP URGENTLY
No he looks fine, I am about to take pics, then I will upload them. Thanks
I take on advice, but refuse to be bullied by those who think they are in control!! Mikey
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purplecandle
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UmBU Pics-
Mikeyburnsey
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Fri Jul 16, 2010 5:33 am
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: I own A MBU, bought 13th July 2010, it is called Midge. Housed in a 88 Gallon Tank External Filter Ehiem Pro 3. HMA water system, Blue and white lights for night and day. 2 Heaters.
- Location (country): Redruth Cornwall UK
- Location: Redruth Cornwall England
- Contact:
Re: Tank Mates and HELP URGENTLY
This is Midge Everyone.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
I take on advice, but refuse to be bullied by those who think they are in control!! Mikey
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Mikeyburnsey
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 46
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- My Puffers: I own A MBU, bought 13th July 2010, it is called Midge. Housed in a 88 Gallon Tank External Filter Ehiem Pro 3. HMA water system, Blue and white lights for night and day. 2 Heaters.
- Location (country): Redruth Cornwall UK
- Location: Redruth Cornwall England
- Contact:
Re: Tank Mates and HELP URGENTLY
I feed Live Muscles in shells, not every week, Frozen Muscle, Prawns and some sea food, what are you guys feeding yours?
I take on advice, but refuse to be bullied by those who think they are in control!! Mikey
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J-P
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Re: Tank Mates and HELP URGENTLY
+1 on the varied diet...
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_6/ ... minase.htm
is an interesting read but a long one.
Although I have not tried it, and I don't keep an MBU, I have read that Talapia is also a healthy choice. I wonder is anyone here has any ideas or thoughts on that.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_6/ ... minase.htm
is an interesting read but a long one.
Although I have not tried it, and I don't keep an MBU, I have read that Talapia is also a healthy choice. I wonder is anyone here has any ideas or thoughts on that.
if you follow me, you avoid stepping in the crap that I just did...
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZR55G ... pqlgec1A2Q
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZR55G ... pqlgec1A2Q
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purplecandle
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Re: Tank Mates and HELP URGENTLY
You said not eating right? Not eating could be parasites..
And you said feeding some sea food, like from the grocery store? That is fine, we all do that, but make sure you freeze it before feeding it because unfrozen it can contain parasites which can kill your puffer..Thought I would mention just in case
Anyways Unfortunately I do not have a MBU..but I feed. Snails, worms, mussels, scallops, shrimp, peas, prawns, plankton, blood worms and I might start feeding guppies
Here is an article with a few more ideas
library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
Have you tried crabs or crayfish?
And you said feeding some sea food, like from the grocery store? That is fine, we all do that, but make sure you freeze it before feeding it because unfrozen it can contain parasites which can kill your puffer..Thought I would mention just in case
Anyways Unfortunately I do not have a MBU..but I feed. Snails, worms, mussels, scallops, shrimp, peas, prawns, plankton, blood worms and I might start feeding guppies
Here is an article with a few more ideas
library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
Have you tried crabs or crayfish?
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Hilly
- Mentor
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Previous:
Tetraodon Sabahensis
Montrete Abei
Tetraodon Biocellatus
Carinotetraodon Salivator - Location (country): UK
- Location: Nottinghamshire, UK
Re: Tank Mates and HELP URGENTLY
My personal preference is not to feed live foods of any sort just for the unknown factor of what they could be harbouring but each to their own. Diet seems quite varied, have you tried him with some cockles in shell. I usually get the frozen Gamma packs but at the moment working through some bigger ones one of my LFS's had in.
Hilly
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pufferpuggirl
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Re: Tank Mates and HELP URGENTLY
I might have missed it, and if I did, pardon me .... but how long has your Mbu gone without eating?
You could always try an earthworm, most of my puffers love them. When my Mbu had internal parasites and was very ill, he stopped eating for a fairly long time, it was difficult to get him to take any food .... but the earthworm did it.
You could always try an earthworm, most of my puffers love them. When my Mbu had internal parasites and was very ill, he stopped eating for a fairly long time, it was difficult to get him to take any food .... but the earthworm did it.
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Ohyouknow
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Re: Tank Mates and HELP URGENTLY
An earthworm might do the trick for you.
I'd be wary of any live foods though, (as you said you feed live mussels in shell every once in a while) due to the fact that even on this forum I recall someone feeding their fish some live seafood, only to find later their tank crawling with tiny parasites that were all over the substrate, food and the fish itself. (may have been an Mbu, and a clam - I don't remember).
You could try treating all of his food for IPs, but I'd treat EVERYONE's food in the tank as well - or feed them IP pellets too - if one fish in the tank has it, it's best to treat all.
I'd be wary of any live foods though, (as you said you feed live mussels in shell every once in a while) due to the fact that even on this forum I recall someone feeding their fish some live seafood, only to find later their tank crawling with tiny parasites that were all over the substrate, food and the fish itself. (may have been an Mbu, and a clam - I don't remember).
You could try treating all of his food for IPs, but I'd treat EVERYONE's food in the tank as well - or feed them IP pellets too - if one fish in the tank has it, it's best to treat all.
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Tank Mates and HELP URGENTLY
How long has he has that small bulge on the belly, near his anus? My think is constipation too. Sorry I missed the parameters, I read a lot of posts.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
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Mikeyburnsey
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Fri Jul 16, 2010 5:33 am
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- My Puffers: I own A MBU, bought 13th July 2010, it is called Midge. Housed in a 88 Gallon Tank External Filter Ehiem Pro 3. HMA water system, Blue and white lights for night and day. 2 Heaters.
- Location (country): Redruth Cornwall UK
- Location: Redruth Cornwall England
- Contact:
Re: Tank Mates and HELP URGENTLY
Hi and morning, well it is here across the pond. Midge eat last night, me thinks I worry about him to much But he is a lovely and active little guy. The lump on his belly, I never really noticed it, glad that you pointed it out, I will watch to see if it goes down. About feeding dose everyone feed theirs daily & if so how many times? I myself only feeds once a day. Thanks to you all with the helpful comments I appreciate them, but not the ones that are rude to me. 
But he is a lovely and active little guy. The lump on his belly, I never really noticed it, glad that you pointed it out, I will watch to see if it goes down. About feeding dose everyone feed theirs daily & if so how many times? I myself only feeds once a day. Thanks to you all with the helpful comments I appreciate them, but not the ones that are rude to me. I take on advice, but refuse to be bullied by those who think they are in control!! Mikey