South american puffer

[sevenyearnight]

Some of us prefer to use 95 -100% hard foods and only rarely need to trim dental plates.

+1
I'm fairly certain by his reaction that Balki never thinks, "Oh man, snails again? Don't be ridiculous."

[branw]

So I bought five today they look good. One has a bit of a sunk belly not sure if that is a problem . I haven't been able to get any ramahorn snails but the pet store gave me a ton of these other small guys for now. I have an ad on kijiji and will search other pet stores. I will upload a pic tonight hopefully and get help id them.

[Pufferpunk]

I suggest treating for IPs. Keep a very close eye for Ich & Velvet--happens almost in all cases with this species in a new tank.

[branw]

I will have to look that up . So they always get sick ? From travel/ stress ?

[sevenyearnight]

Here you go: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=28113&start=0&st=0& ... =Heat+salt

[Pufferpunk]

Stress of being moved. High-strung species to begin with...

[branw]

So do I wait to see if they show signs of being ill or treat regardless. Also, ick and ip are two different things right? So do I treat them with salt/heat for both. I already love having these fish! They are so fun to watch. They gobbled up blood worms I have on hand. They poked at some snails bit was hard to tell if they actually ate them. There was lots of places for the snails to hide. My tank is decorated heavy with rock. My plan was to put cichlids in this tank. It has some major filtration and they love swimming in the current. It has been cycled for 2 months with filter media from my 40G and tiger barbs. My other 90G is being filled tonight since my 3d background is all dry now and I will again put filter media from my 40G and switch the tiger barbs from this tank. I haven't decided if I will put in real or fake plants. I am hoping to research and see if there are any that don't need co2. I took some video and will see if I can figure out how to upload! I feel sad though that they are so hard to tell apart Their marking are so similar

[sevenyearnight]

Ich and IP's are different treatments, here is the IP treatment: library/hospital/internal-parasites-pre ... treatment/

[branw]

But do I still need to do both regardless?

[RTR]

All puffers are scaleless fish. All FW puffers common in the trade are true tropicals. Therefore all FW puffersin the trade are prime candidates for Ich (which is a temperate FW disease) - they have no experience with the parasite and zero immunity.

It is a given that all fish in LFS are stressed - from capture, multiple radical changes in water parameters, shipment conditions, overcrowding, improper or no feeding, etc. Infectious diseases of all sorts are a very real possibility. Any pre-existing diseases, including IPs are likely to be made significantly worse by the severe reduction in the animal's normal immune response.

This is why many of us are such strong advocates of extended QT for all new acquisitions.

HTH

[branw]

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=NXn8Xw-JS5M


http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=txhlV_tg_r8

My first attempt at posting video, hope it works

[sevenyearnight]

If you take the characters after the v= and paste them between the brackets on the code you get when you press the youtube button, you can place the video in your post.
They really are very cute!
I would treat them now for ich and IP's, no reason to let the diseases they 99% chance are likely to have get a stronger foothold on the puffers.
As far as them looking alike, just give them all the same name lol, like Steve.

[J-P]

dang mobile you tube links don't work on a PC...

can't find them or your profile on regular youtube :/

[J-P]

anyway ... treat for parasites regardless.

anti-bacterial medications will hurt your tank. De-worming and parasite meds usually don't.

BTW... when they catch a snail you'll probably know it. Look for one of the pack running away with something in its mouth and sometimes the others will chase it. Mine used to "rag doll" them similar to the way a dog shakes a toy.

[branw]

I am in Canada, so what would the recommended ip med be ?? Can i get it at the pet store?
Metronidazole
Levamisole
I get that i should soak food in it so they get it internally . Should I medicated them in the tank they r in or move them to something smaller .

Thanks everyone for answering all my questions. I really want to do the right thing! I have a cycled tank large enough for them, food but there was still more research to do. My husband thinks its crazy the high maintenance.