Red Eye puffer - not eating snails.. help!
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.
Re: Red Eye puffer - not eating snails.. help!
lol i will be pissed if it is a faulty Nitrate test.. .. nitrate remover cos £20.. doh.. plus the testing kit cost £20 .. grr. lol just my luck!..
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bertie 83
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Re: Red Eye puffer - not eating snails.. help!
Return the nitrate remover? If unopened
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
Re: Red Eye puffer - not eating snails.. help!
ok not good.. the bottled water is 0ppm .. the water is dangerously toxic..
guess next stage is to contact water board!!..
any other suggestions ?
guess next stage is to contact water board!!..
any other suggestions ?
Re: Red Eye puffer - not eating snails.. help!
is the nitrate remove really that bad ?..
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J-P
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Re: Red Eye puffer - not eating snails.. help!
no... check out:
http://www.seachem.com/Products/product ... rigen.html
grab some of that if you can.
http://www.seachem.com/Products/product ... rigen.html
grab some of that if you can.
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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bertie 83
- Moderator
- Posts: 5298
- Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
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- My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis - Location (country): Brighton, England
- Location: brighton , england
Re: Red Eye puffer - not eating snails.. help!
Oh my god! You drink that? I would get a few 2l bottles warm it and change out some water as a temporary fix
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
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J-P
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- Location: Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan
Re: Red Eye puffer - not eating snails.. help!
or go with a fully planted tank. With those numbers you can grow stuff you wouldn't believe 
Including algae... which I am sure is on the way.
That just reminded me. Take a look at an algae scrubber. If you are a DIY type, the algae in your sump will eat up those nitrates. Just a thought.
Including algae... which I am sure is on the way.That just reminded me. Take a look at an algae scrubber. If you are a DIY type, the algae in your sump will eat up those nitrates. Just a thought.
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
Re: Red Eye puffer - not eating snails.. help!
Well.. i have been on the phone to the local water board and they have stated the daily water check on the out flow is Nitrate 21ppm. They also stated that there was a peek about 3 weeks to 29ppm. So i think it must be the testing kit. I also just bought paper testing kit that states in the 20ppm. So i guess the Nitrate is either over sensitive or i am a numpty and what ever way i do the test, i muck it up.
the good news is the paper test states that my tank is in the 20ppm zone which is ok..
A little to much chlorine but that can be solved with tap safe.
and pH alittle high..
finally i think it is all coming under control..
time to take a break and relax!
Thanks for all the forum support really appreciate..
best
Dan
the good news is the paper test states that my tank is in the 20ppm zone which is ok..
A little to much chlorine but that can be solved with tap safe.
and pH alittle high..
finally i think it is all coming under control..
time to take a break and relax!
Thanks for all the forum support really appreciate..
best
Dan
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J-P
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Re: Red Eye puffer - not eating snails.. help!
good stuff! Well done 
As mentioned, you'd be in it for the long haul. I am glad things are working out and from here you should know the road to take.
If you have any more questions feel free to ask!
As mentioned, you'd be in it for the long haul. I am glad things are working out and from here you should know the road to take.
If you have any more questions feel free to ask!
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
Re: Red Eye puffer - not eating snails.. help!
one quick question.. now everything is starting to look ok.. how often and how much water should i change?
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J-P
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- Location: Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan
Re: Red Eye puffer - not eating snails.. help!
take readings weekly. and water change accordingly.
In an adequately stocked tank when your nitrates hit 40 do a water change 50% (or several small partials). That is within 1 week.
If your nitrates are lower or higher than that you go more frequently or less frequently. That is a basic guide. If you want under 20 then the same principal applies. Under 40 is good. Under 20 is excellent, under 10 is outstanding.
It is up to you to do the tests and keep the water quality at its best.
In an adequately stocked tank when your nitrates hit 40 do a water change 50% (or several small partials). That is within 1 week.
If your nitrates are lower or higher than that you go more frequently or less frequently. That is a basic guide. If you want under 20 then the same principal applies. Under 40 is good. Under 20 is excellent, under 10 is outstanding.
It is up to you to do the tests and keep the water quality at its best.
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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sevenyearnight
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Re: Red Eye puffer - not eating snails.. help!
+1 to a planted tank suggestion.
Your test is not likely to be faulty, just that the colormetric scales are really difficult sometimes to determine the number relative to the color.
Your test is not likely to be faulty, just that the colormetric scales are really difficult sometimes to determine the number relative to the color.
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Red Eye puffer - not eating snails.. help!
I am surprised you went out & bought a 2nd puffer when your 1st one is having issues.
that would be 24 hours & does not get rid of chloramines. Use Prime for dechlorinating your water.i have to say i have heard that the chlorine evaporates if left for a couple of hours.
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: Red Eye puffer - not eating snails.. help!
Hi sorry for not posting for a while,
The puffers are doing really well, the second encouraged the first to start on the snails and to eat the frozen bloodworms, all seems good! all the fish are doing well apart from one little miss hap with a guppy when the puffer went for a blood worm that the guppy went for... lost a chunk out of its tail.. all is good though. growing back nicely.
the nitrate in the tank is back down to 10 -20 area, which is good and all level looking good.
I keep up with 30% water change every 2 days and the aquarium is well planted.. looking good on all front.
Many Thanks
thanks for the support.
Best
Dan
The puffers are doing really well, the second encouraged the first to start on the snails and to eat the frozen bloodworms, all seems good! all the fish are doing well apart from one little miss hap with a guppy when the puffer went for a blood worm that the guppy went for... lost a chunk out of its tail.. all is good though. growing back nicely.
the nitrate in the tank is back down to 10 -20 area, which is good and all level looking good.
I keep up with 30% water change every 2 days and the aquarium is well planted.. looking good on all front.
Many Thanks
thanks for the support.
Best
Dan
-
bertie 83
- Moderator
- Posts: 5298
- Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis - Location (country): Brighton, England
- Location: brighton , england
Re: Red Eye puffer - not eating snails.. help!
Good job. Those guppys won't last long tho, soon to be puffer snacks
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly