So for the past day or 2 he has been hiding behind a fake plant I have. He usually lays in 1 spot for a day or 2 after I feed him so I didnt really think much of it. Today I look at him and his skin looks darker than usual. He is usually brown but to my parts of him look darker than usual. So I decided to open the lid of the tank and make a little noise with my fingers because he would usually think its food and come swimming up but he stayed where he was. So I got the net and put it in there because he also knows that when the net goes in the water something is going on and possibly food...... Still nothing.
So I put my hand in there and he would either usually try to bite me (I think he may because my fingers are food) or at least get up and move but he still didnt. So I kind of scooped him up in my hand and he was just sitting in my hand doing nothing really. So I put him in a spot closer to the front so I can keep and eye on him and every once in a while he does this weird thing where it looks like he is either sneezing, coughing, or trying to spit something out and I can hear it. He also seems to be breathing fairly heavy. I dont know what I can do. I feel really bad
By the way I have a 30 gallon tank and my hairy puffer is the only thing in it.
I think my puffer is sick
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.
-
Pufferpunk
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Re: I think my puffer is sick
Please answer ALL the Qs above, in red.
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!"
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trever22
- Dwarf Puffer
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Re: I think my puffer is sick
1. pH. 7.6 ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate about 20 (I know its a little high but I dont see how that can make him act this way)
2. Tank size 30 gallon, My hairy puffer is the only thing in it
3. Water changes I do at least once a week about 50% I feed him jumbo prawn, clam (all raw) and once in a while live fish :/
4.I dont make any changes
5. The aquarium has been setup a month or 2 and I cycled it with tetras instant cycle stuff
He seems like he cant lay on his belly, he has to prop up against something to be on his side.
2. Tank size 30 gallon, My hairy puffer is the only thing in it
3. Water changes I do at least once a week about 50% I feed him jumbo prawn, clam (all raw) and once in a while live fish :/
4.I dont make any changes
5. The aquarium has been setup a month or 2 and I cycled it with tetras instant cycle stuff
He seems like he cant lay on his belly, he has to prop up against something to be on his side.
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Pufferpunk
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burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
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Re: I think my puffer is sick
Have you noticed his poop lately?
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!"
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trever22
- Dwarf Puffer
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Re: I think my puffer is sick
I have notPufferpunk wrote:Have you noticed his poop lately?
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Squaffy
- Dwarf Puffer
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Re: I think my puffer is sick
Constipated?
Epsom salts might work, never had to do so myself, so hopefully someone who has may add more info
Epsom salts might work, never had to do so myself, so hopefully someone who has may add more info
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Pufferpunk
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suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: I think my puffer is sick
1 tbsp/10g for FW fish.
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!"
-
trever22
- Dwarf Puffer
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- Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2011 10:34 pm
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Re: I think my puffer is sick
Pufferpunk wrote:1 tbsp/10g for FW fish.
So this is what you suggest I do? Just add it directly to the aquarium.
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Pufferpunk
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- 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: I think my puffer is sick
I'd add it to your filter (impeller side), so it mixes better.
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!"
-
Squaffy
- Dwarf Puffer
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- Location: Isle of Wight
Re: I think my puffer is sick
You could try a couple of peas (make sure the shell is removed, and boil the peas to make soft) - they act as a laxative also, but if it's not eating at all, epsom salt is really the only way to go to try and flush out any blockage