Tetraodon Turgidus

craigiscool · Post by **craigiscool** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 7:38 pm

Hello, new to the forum. I recently purchased a "red eye" puffer from LFS on six forks rd. He (if it is a male) is about 3 inches long and i believe he is a T. turgdus. He is in a 2 month old 20 gallon tall tank with one tank mate, a rainbow shark. He hasn't been very active since i purchased him. Just swims at night and almost never has tail fin spread. He stays mainly in his cave and hides in the shadow breathing heavy. I think after reading this http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/vie ... n+turgidus i think he might have internal parasites. I have seen little red and white worms in the water and on the aquarium sides. Any suggestions on how to liven up my new friend? i will have pics up soon.. of the aquarium, the puffer and i guess that's it.

Post by **Pufferpunk** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 9:12 pm

No way to liven them up. They are lurker puffers & nocturnal. Mine hangs out in his flowerpot "cave" all day & never moves. The worms could be from overfeeding & not as good cleanup as necessary.

perek · Post by **perek** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 9:29 pm

Mine didnt move all day, except to occasionally move between hiding spots or be fed. At night it was another story, very interesting to watch! I would suggest a moonlight system to get the most out of your tank!

craigiscool · Post by **craigiscool** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 2:40 am

What exactly is a moonlight system? I could really care less for the live plants if it will make the puffer happier to have a different dimmer light. I need to look into that. But i did get some pictures taken.. there are here. http://photos.yahoo.com/cdawgisback In the "Puffer Pet" album. -Craig

ps I am almost sure that i have a T turgidus.

Rocker · Post by **Rocker** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 6:08 am

He'll liven up when he fancies a chunk of the shark!

Post by **Pufferpunk** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:46 am

No single great shot of the fish, so can't tell for sure. If it has a black spot on each side near the tail, it's a turgidus. It will eventually kill all tank mates.

craigiscool · Post by **craigiscool** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 3:17 pm

um.. dont think this is good.. Recently i have been adding melafix and pimafix to the tank in 10ml each dosage daily, 3rd day.. and i have been seeing little red and white worms in the tank. The puffer is breathing somewhat heavy and swiming into things and up and down the glass. unlike he has ever behaved before. the lurker and stay hidden type is now swimming breathing hard, up and down the glass swimming, and bumping into things.. whats the problem? is he sick or am i hurting him unknowingly?

Phaedrus · Post by **Phaedrus** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 3:31 pm

How did you cycle the tank?
What are your water parameters? Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH
How often do you change water?
How much do you change?
Do you vacuum the water when you change it?
What kind of water conditioner do you use?
What else do you add to the water?
What kind of filtration do you have?

It sounds like ammonia or nitrite poisoning from an uncycled tank. Adding the puffer added more bioload than the tank could handle, and it had to catch up. Until it catches up, ammonia and nitrite will build up.

Test your parameters and report back. Do a 50% water change as well. Using Seachem Prime can help detoxify the ammonia and nitrite.

The worms will go away when you keep up with maintenance for a while. 50% weekly water changes and thorough vacuuming of the substrate.

craigiscool · Post by **craigiscool** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:34 pm

should i continue use of the chemicals after the water change? alos, i dont have any way of measuring the amonia and nitrate levels. However, i do have prime, http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_ ... &N=2023693 which i can add to the new water in the tank.

Edited to break URL - if you want to reach the page, cut and paste the URL to resore it on your browser. RTR

craigiscool · Post by **craigiscool** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:38 pm

oh yes.. i have a filter for a 20 gallon tank and i change usually 40% water and vacumm. change it weekly. and ph is usally 6.5 somtimes 7ish.

craigiscool · Post by **craigiscool** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 6:37 pm

ok, so i did a 75% water change and used prime to condition the new water. I vacuumed while changing the water and landscape. I have taken quite a few pictures of the puffer in hope that someone can identify him. Should i continue to add the melafix and pimafix?

go here http://photos.yahoo.com/cdawgisback and in the album "puffer pet"

craigiscool · Post by **craigiscool** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 12:08 am

good news is the puffer is doing good again. Lights off and he is swimming around joyfully. I think all i needed was a water change and ammonia and nitrate check. More pictures of my un named T. turgidus. Any suggestions for the fellow? not sure of sex.. oh yes i have one more thing.. He loves to eat snails and crayfish... is this an acceptable diet for him?

Post by **Pufferpunk** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 12:24 am

That's gonna be an expensive diet. Try getting him on dead foods.

Phaedrus · Post by **Phaedrus** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 12:58 am

Your pH is pretty low. You might want to get some aragonite to add to your substrate or filter to help buffer the pH to 8 or so.

craigiscool · Post by **craigiscool** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 8:55 am

well after work, i suppose i will go buy a new filter, maybe a penguin biowheel 125. extra filtration. He used to eat freeze dried jumbo krill, and wont touch them any more cause i fed him crayfish.... should i continue to feed him the krill? i can clip it towards the bottom of the tank close to his cave.

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