Puffer seem sick

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.
Jackie0527
Puffer Fry
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat May 23, 2020 12:59 pm
Location (country): United States

Puffer seem sick

Post by Jackie0527 »

I have 3 GSP in a 50 gallon tank. Plan upgrade soon. I have 3 molly fish and 4 nerite snails as cleaners. I have a corner power filter, UV filter and air stone. Salinity is 1.014, PH is 7.8, Ammonia is 0, Nitrite is 0 and nitrate are at 60. Did a 30% water change last night for nitrate and added a nitro zorb filter. Tank has been set up for 6 months and I let it cycle for a week before adding any fish. I used a biofilter and small amount of water from another established tank. I usually do water changes every 2 weeks. They get fed a variety of food, clams, snails, bloodworms, brine shrimp, ghost shrimp. Snails are from my own snail tank that I set up just for them, I am working on a ghost shrimp tank now. I also have a brime shrimp hatchery.

I have 1 puffer that has been dark in color and just laying on the bottom of the tank for a few days, which is why I did tank parameters early. She, I think, is stressed out. But she will come to eat, then go back to hiding. I am not sure why nitrates spiked, but I am doing what I can to get rid of them.

My other 1 puffs starting acting strange today also. Not very active. And are gray around their spots.

My question is, can I use tetra lifeguard all in one treatment on them? Being scaleless, I am not sure what is ok for them. Please help, I do not want my babies unhappy or to lose them...
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Pufferpunk
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Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
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Re: Puffer seem sick

Post by Pufferpunk »

[welcome]
Nitrate needs to be <20. Lots more WC, try 50% daily for a week.
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!"
Jackie0527
Puffer Fry
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat May 23, 2020 12:59 pm
Location (country): United States

Re: Puffer seem sick

Post by Jackie0527 »

I did a 30% water change 2 days ago and a 30% last night. They seem more sick now that I have done water changes. I am very worried about them. I know they are very sensitive fish. If I have had them for 6 months, would I have known if they had parasites or could they have gotten them from the ghost shrimp I got from the feed store recently? How do you tell if they have parasites?
Jackie0527
Puffer Fry
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat May 23, 2020 12:59 pm
Location (country): United States

Re: Puffer seem sick

Post by Jackie0527 »

Also, the mollies and snails seem perfectly fine.
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Puffer seem sick

Post by Pufferpunk »

Is there any salt in there?
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!"
Jackie0527
Puffer Fry
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat May 23, 2020 12:59 pm
Location (country): United States

Re: Puffer seem sick

Post by Jackie0527 »

Yes. Salinity is 1.014.

Update: I lost 1 puffer, the smallest, and all but 1 snail. Mollies are acting like nothing is wrong. I have been doing daily water changes and nitrates are down to about 30, will keep doing them.
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Puffer seem sick

Post by Pufferpunk »

What substrate are you using? Are you stirring it thoroughly, before each WC? Even under rocks & other decors?
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!"
Jackie0527
Puffer Fry
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat May 23, 2020 12:59 pm
Location (country): United States

Re: Puffer seem sick

Post by Jackie0527 »

I am using aquarium gravel. I don't stir it all up, but I clean around around and under decor.

I just lost a Molly. I have no idea what else to do. My puffers are hiding and not wanting to eat. And they are sunken in around their front fins. I am afraid I am going to lose them all...
Jackie0527
Puffer Fry
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat May 23, 2020 12:59 pm
Location (country): United States

Re: Puffer seem sick

Post by Jackie0527 »

I have my last puffer and 2 mollies in a quarantine tank. Hoping to do a clean and fresh cycle on their tank to see if I can save them. So far, I lost 2 puffers, 1 molly and all my nerite snails. I am changing substrate to natures ocean sand. Hoping that helps.
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Puffer seem sick

Post by Pufferpunk »

library/hospital/internal-parasites-pre ... treatment/

Substrate should be aragonite sand. ALWAYS stir substrate thoroughly! That's where your nitrate is hiding.

library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
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!"
Jackie0527
Puffer Fry
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat May 23, 2020 12:59 pm
Location (country): United States

Re: Puffer seem sick

Post by Jackie0527 »

My puff and molly are in quarantine, I have started treating them with seachem metroplex and focus. I have taken out the gravel substrate in their normal tank and added bio-active nature's ocean argonite sand. Will be using the method in the link to cycle it and hopefully all will be well for me to add my fishies back. Fingers crossed I have saved them, my Scardy Cat is starting to interact with me again. I call him scardy because he does not like to be pointed at, silly fishie.
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Puffer seem sick

Post by Pufferpunk »

Why are you treating internal parasites with antibacterial 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!"
Jackie0527
Puffer Fry
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat May 23, 2020 12:59 pm
Location (country): United States

Re: Puffer seem sick

Post by Jackie0527 »

I read that it treats parasites as well.
Jackie0527
Puffer Fry
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat May 23, 2020 12:59 pm
Location (country): United States

Re: Puffer seem sick

Post by Jackie0527 »

Quarantine and the metroplex/focus seem to be working. My GSP and 2 mollies seem to be almost back to normal. Once their tank has cycled, they should be at full strength. Scardy, my GSP, has even started coming out to say hi every time we go near him.
Jackie0527
Puffer Fry
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat May 23, 2020 12:59 pm
Location (country): United States

Re: Puffer seem sick

Post by Jackie0527 »

Good news! Scardy and his 2 molly buddies are doing great! Seem to be 100% back to normal. Just waiting for their normal tank to finish cycling then I can put them back.

For plants and having the aragonite sand, do I just get some of the little plastic pots to plant them? Or will they root into the sand? I have a couple moss balls then some grass types and leafy types.
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