ph - 8.2
ammonia - 0ppm
nitrite - 0ppm
nitrate - 10ppm
salinity - 1.022
90 gallon - 1 yellow tang, 1 large snowflake eel, 1 filefish, some hermit crabs, and snails
20% water change once a week
no changes to the tank other than water changes
been set up since 6/23/13 - fishless cycle
My stars and stripes puffer fish P. Diddy is unactive, and lethargic. I fed him a decent meal last night of unfrozen shrimp cut up into bits so he could handle them. And one tiny piece this morning at around 7am. he was acting completely normal this morning when i left for work, but when i got home he is acting slow, and uninterested. Normally he is very active especially when he sees me on the other side of the glass, and constantly begging for food. I have attached several photographs of where he has been for the past 3 hours. He has not moved from this spot. I think he may be constipated, but wanted to get a more expert opinion from you all. he seems bloated and to be breathing rather hard. Please let me know your thoughts thanks in advance for your help.
stars and stripes puffer acting lethargic and 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.
-
theginger
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2013 7:49 pm
- Location (country): United States
- Location: Beaumont, TX
stars and stripes puffer acting lethargic and sick
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-
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: stars and stripes puffer acting lethargic and sick
He might just be resting to digest his food.
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
-
theginger
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2013 7:49 pm
- Location (country): United States
- Location: Beaumont, TX
Re: stars and stripes puffer acting lethargic and sick
thanks for your response bertie, i sure hope so...when would i know if i need to treat with epson salt?
-
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: stars and stripes puffer acting lethargic and sick
When did you last see him poop? If they gorge too much they can sit for a couple of days, I feel like doing the same after a huge dinner lol. Has he got a large tummy still?
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
-
theginger
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2013 7:49 pm
- Location (country): United States
- Location: Beaumont, TX
Re: stars and stripes puffer acting lethargic and sick
i have only see him poop once since i've got him, but that doesn't really mean anything i am gone throughout the day. this morning i checked on him before work, and he doesn't seem to have a large belly anymore so i am assuming he has passed the waste. i will monitor him at lunchtime and report on how he is doing. he was swimming around normally this morning. and seemed to be doing better. i am still trying to get used to the mannerisms of puffer fish. i have never worried about a fish as much as this one...
-
theginger
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2013 7:49 pm
- Location (country): United States
- Location: Beaumont, TX
Re: stars and stripes puffer acting lethargic and sick
Thanks for your help this far. he seems to be acting more like his old self again, i have cut back on feeding only a couple of small pieces of bite size shrimp a day. the only other thing that i have noticed is my puffers eyes seem to be very hazy. what does this mean? thanks for your continued help.
-
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: stars and stripes puffer acting lethargic and sick
Hazy eyes are generally linked to water quality issues, what are the tanks param readings?
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
-
theginger
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2013 7:49 pm
- Location (country): United States
- Location: Beaumont, TX
Re: stars and stripes puffer acting lethargic and sick
bertie,
water parameters are as follows:
pH - 8.1
ammonia - 0ppm
Nitrite - 0ppm
Nitrate - 20ppm
Copper - 0ppm
Salinity (measured with a refractometer) - 1.021
20% water changes every 4 days i realize i need to do more.
these parameters are within range of where they have been for the past 3 weeks. nitrates jumped from 10ppm - 20ppm. please let me know what you think, thanks again for your continued help. took the tests tonight.
water parameters are as follows:
pH - 8.1
ammonia - 0ppm
Nitrite - 0ppm
Nitrate - 20ppm
Copper - 0ppm
Salinity (measured with a refractometer) - 1.021
20% water changes every 4 days i realize i need to do more.
these parameters are within range of where they have been for the past 3 weeks. nitrates jumped from 10ppm - 20ppm. please let me know what you think, thanks again for your continued help. took the tests tonight.
-
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: stars and stripes puffer acting lethargic and sick
How much LR in there? Protein skimmer?
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!"
-
theginger
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2013 7:49 pm
- Location (country): United States
- Location: Beaumont, TX
Re: stars and stripes puffer acting lethargic and sick
at least 90lbs if not more, i have a vertex protein skimmer. temp is around 82-84 what else do yall need to know? thanks for your help pufferpunk!
-
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: stars and stripes puffer acting lethargic and sick
Temp is a bit high. My SW tanks run around 76-78.
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!"
-
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: stars and stripes puffer acting lethargic and sick
Temp is a bit high. My SW tanks run around 76-78.
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!"
-
theginger
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2013 7:49 pm
- Location (country): United States
- Location: Beaumont, TX
Re: stars and stripes puffer acting lethargic and sick
i have recently been more worried about the temp...i have an aquatic life t-5 setup right now...i'm assuming thats where the heat is coming from? should i look into an led set up to lower the temp? the temp monitor is near the top of the water so its reading 84 at the top of the tank. heat rises, so its probably a little cooler towards the bottom but my puffer likes to hang near the skimmer at the top of the tank...recommendations?
-
theginger
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2013 7:49 pm
- Location (country): United States
- Location: Beaumont, TX
Re: stars and stripes puffer acting lethargic and sick
and by skimmer i mean surface skimmer/overflow.
-
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: stars and stripes puffer acting lethargic and sick
Saltwater melafix will help clear his eyes, also continue with water changes
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly