Figure 8 Puffer lethargic and acting strange

Oh no! Sick fish?! Come here and see if someone can help!
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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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Tofuthepuffer
Puffer Fry
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Aug 07, 2020 10:39 am
Location (country): United States

Figure 8 Puffer lethargic and acting strange

Post by Tofuthepuffer »

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.

Ammonia - 0 Nitrite - 0 Nitrate- 5 (after water change) and 10 (before)
Salinity - 1.05

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.

28 gallons, the puffer is the only inhabitant, running a sponge filter and a 50 gallon hang on the back. He has not only his sponge filter but also an air stone. normal gravel (am currently in the process of changing over to sand but he isn't very stable right now) however, my water is extremely hard and falls within ph and hardness.

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)

Feeding- bloodworms, brine shrimp, krill (just found out this is bad will stop), and mostly snails that I breed
25% water changes weekly
No new products just de-chlorinator and marine salt for his salinity

4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference.

No new changes

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.

Been set up for about 6 months, I cycled it previously with two mollies that are now rehomed. the tank has never shown signs of recycling.

Question: My figure 8 Puffer tofu has been acting strangely and it's really worrying me. His sides are a tad darker than normal and today I noticed he seemed sort of disoriented almost like he was having a hard time navigating. His very back fin doesn't seem like he isn't moving it as much but besides that, he's just moving slower than normal. His breathing seems to be a bit more forced than normal but I didn't even notice it until I was inspecting him so it doesn't seem that bad. I fed him today and he ate after a little persuading but he didn't even greet me at the tank which he always does. He seems much less alert than normal but I can't figure out what it could be since his water levels are totally okay. I did a water change at 2am to be safe but I'm still very worried. Any help would be awesome I apologize for the extremely early post.
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Pufferpunk
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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
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Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
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Re: Figure 8 Puffer lethargic and acting strange

Post by Pufferpunk »

Hi, Sorry you're having these issues. It is very obvious you care for this fish & take excellent care of it. What test kits are you using? Any painting or aerosol sprayed near that room?
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!"
Tofuthepuffer
Puffer Fry
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Aug 07, 2020 10:39 am
Location (country): United States

Re: Figure 8 Puffer lethargic and acting strange

Post by Tofuthepuffer »

I appreciate the reply but sadly tofu passed away shortly after. He seemed to prolapse before dying which was very weird. I'm still not sure what did it but im leaning towards my little sister possibly spraying something around his tank. Thank you your help though!
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: Figure 8 Puffer lethargic and acting strange

Post by Pufferpunk »

Oh no, I'm so sorry! :rip:
I hope you had a serious talk with your sister.
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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