Help! Congo puffer not eating

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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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pufferian
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Help! Congo puffer not eating

Post by pufferian »

My congo is not eating :(
Not sure what's wrong with her.. she has always been a picky eater.
She eats every other day. Usually won't eat the next day I fed her and come right at the food the 3rd day.
But she has not been eating for 4 days now. 5 days ago she ate. then didn't eat on the second day. took half a bite on the 3rd day. Then hasn't been eating after that.

Here's the water parameter:
ph = 7
ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 5

it's a 30gal tank. Temp is around 78.5F. 50% water change weekly.
the tank is new but everything inside is not. So substrate, filter media, everything is well established.

I tried raw shrimp, red wigglers, cray.. none worked.. Only the cray that she seems to chase a little. But wouldn't attack it when it's right in front of her.

She's getting skinnier. Her belly sunken. And color got darker in some area. Poop is orange color in spherical shape.

Will it be internal parasite? Someone please help. I don't want to lose her :(
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FADE2BLACK_1973
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Re: Help! Congo puffer not eating

Post by FADE2BLACK_1973 »

Could be and sounds like IP's. If you cant get her to eat anything then might have to treat the tank. Better then nothing.
Chris,


He who knows best knows how little he knows - Thomas Jefferson
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Help! Congo puffer not eating

Post by Pufferpunk »

What was she eating before? Only live foods? 4 days isn't very long... I bet I only offer food to mine that often.
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!"
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pufferian
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Re: Help! Congo puffer not eating

Post by pufferian »

Thanks for the replies.
Pufferpunk wrote:What was she eating before? Only live foods? 4 days isn't very long... I bet I only offer food to mine that often.
In fact she would only take raw shrimps and nothing else. She seems to be more attracted to raw shrimps than any other live foods.

Should I treat the tank with levamisole? I am really worried about her. :(
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Re: Help! Congo puffer not eating

Post by Pufferpunk »

Try soaking the shrimps in garlic. If she eats that, then soak in the meds.
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!"
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Nuclear_Glitter
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Re: Help! Congo puffer not eating

Post by Nuclear_Glitter »

You could also try earthworms. Many fish can't resist worms. You can inject worms with the medicine, too.
"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." -- Henry Ford
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pufferian
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Re: Help! Congo puffer not eating

Post by pufferian »

Pufferpunk wrote:Try soaking the shrimps in garlic. If she eats that, then soak in the meds.
It worked!!! I just soaked the raw shrimp for an hour and she ate it!! Thanks!!!

What kind of med should I soak the food with now?

My understanding is that levamisole is for treating the tank and not for soaking food. I also heard Jungle Labs and Prazi Pro.. which one is better? Treat the tank or soak the food with med?
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Re: Help! Congo puffer not eating

Post by Nuclear_Glitter »

Treating the tank does NOT work. You must soak the food. Use Jungle Parasite fizz tabs.
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Re: Help! Congo puffer not eating

Post by Pufferpunk »

Go with the Jungle product, it contains more than one med.
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!"
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FADE2BLACK_1973
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Re: Help! Congo puffer not eating

Post by FADE2BLACK_1973 »

I agree with soaking the IP med into the food if the puffer will eat. So thats good that you have something to use, the shrimp if that is all she is eatin right now. And Jungle makes the best meds for FW fish, imo.
Chris,


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pufferian
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Re: Help! Congo puffer not eating

Post by pufferian »

I went looking for the jungle med yesterday but they only have external parasite guard or the jungle parasite clear.. which is tab to treat the tank not to soak the food? They sold out on the internal parasite guard...

Is it okay to soak with the tab? If so what should the ratio be? And how long should I soak it?

Another stupid question.. can I soak the food with both garlic and med?
I guess she ate yesterday cause the food is full of garlic scent.. but she might not eat if it's only soak in med..?
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Pufferpunk
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suvattii
burrfish
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Re: Help! Congo puffer not eating

Post by Pufferpunk »

You want the Jungle Parasite Clear. 1/4 tab & soak with the garlic. Soak an hour or 2.
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!"
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pufferian
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Re: Help! Congo puffer not eating

Post by pufferian »

Pufferpunk wrote:You want the Jungle Parasite Clear. 1/4 tab & soak with the garlic. Soak an hour or 2.
Oh so it's the tab that I need. Thanks Pufferpunk. So should I be giving her food with med everyday?
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Re: Help! Congo puffer not eating

Post by Nuclear_Glitter »

Anytime you feed her, use the med.
"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." -- Henry Ford
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pufferian
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Re: Help! Congo puffer not eating

Post by pufferian »

Nuclear_Glitter wrote:Anytime you feed her, use the med.
Cool. Thanks for all the help :)
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