figure 8 puffer problems

Oh no! Sick fish?! Come here and see if someone can help!
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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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Pufferpunk
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Re: figure 8 puffer problems

Post by Pufferpunk »

Open the canister & take some out. And stop listening to the store, they obviously know nothing about puffers. Just by bringing him over, could have stressed him enough to kill him.
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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bertie 83
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Re: figure 8 puffer problems

Post by bertie 83 »

The ammonia is definately the issue. Follow the advise the guys and girls are giving here and your puffer stands the best chance. Please don't listen to the fish store as it seems they don't have a clue.
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
RTR
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Re: figure 8 puffer problems

Post by RTR »

Very, very few is any LFS have any clue as to puffer care. For chains, I don't think any comment is needed - they don't even know to keep any fish for a proper captive lifespan.
Where's the fish? - Neptune
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bertie 83
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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: figure 8 puffer problems

Post by bertie 83 »

Or at all lol.
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
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Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32987
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: figure 8 puffer problems

Post by Pufferpunk »

How is the puffer today?
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!"
thefickens
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Re: figure 8 puffer problems

Post by thefickens »

sadly didn't make it. Don't know if i wanna try another one. I knew too little and feel bad.
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Flutter
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Re: figure 8 puffer problems

Post by Flutter »

I'm sorry to hear that. Like you said, it's a good idea to not get another one until you know more about them and have a suitable setup for one.
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bertie 83
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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: figure 8 puffer problems

Post by bertie 83 »

You admit you knew too little, which means next time you will find out more and be successful. Sorry for your loss, should you wish to start again we are here
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
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Iliveinazoo
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Re: figure 8 puffer problems

Post by Iliveinazoo »

If you still have the Bumblebee Gobies and crabs then return the crabs as their needs are completely different and the crab is likely to catch the Goby eventually, plus the tank isn't really large enough. If you are keeping one of the species then still use some of the media from your other tank to cycle.
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