Hello, I'm new to this forum and to puffers. I got 2 figure 8 on Wednesday and one died 2 days after. I'm pretty sure he was already sick when I got him and didnt notice it. Before he died i had put some API ich cure treatment but was reading that could kill them so i out the carbon filter back. Next day did wa big water change about 40% and added Prime and upped water te p from 77 now 81, tank is 30 gal.
After water change and food given tested water, btw he is in freshwater for now.
Testing results:
NO3 was less than 20,
NO2 0.5,
PH between 8/8.5,
KH 240 & GH 180. Not sure if these 2 are good or too high.
Now I think the 2nd one had started with same simptoms only difference is this one acts normal with eating and swimming. I read somewhere I could add table salt (iodize?) to water? But couldnt find how much, I also have marine salt. So which one will best to add? Can i add Pimafix and/or Melafix? Unsure on what to do. Please help!
*It wont let me attach pic-will try from laptoo
Figure 8 puffer with ich?
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.
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freebird0101
- Puffer Fry
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Pufferpunk
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T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
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Re: Figure 8 puffer with ich?
Ammonia? Please answer ALl the questions 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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freebird0101
- Puffer Fry
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- Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2023 6:54 pm
- Location (country): Florida
Re: Figure 8 puffer with ich?
Not sure I guess the test strip I used didnt include ammonia.
The tank was set up a week and half prior to getting them, cycled it, also used API accu-clear.
Before the other died I added about 2 tsp of salt first dialuted it using same tank water, maybe it wasnt enough to help.
For feeding im giving frozen kreel, frozen clams, brine shrimp which he doesnt seem to like and some but very little vibra bites.
First water changed 40% was 2 days ago right after one died, later today will do another change but small, maybe 25%, and add more prime to new water.
I havent made any changes to the tank im afraid too except for the water change.
The tank was set up a week and half prior to getting them, cycled it, also used API accu-clear.
Before the other died I added about 2 tsp of salt first dialuted it using same tank water, maybe it wasnt enough to help.
For feeding im giving frozen kreel, frozen clams, brine shrimp which he doesnt seem to like and some but very little vibra bites.
First water changed 40% was 2 days ago right after one died, later today will do another change but small, maybe 25%, and add more prime to new water.
I havent made any changes to the tank im afraid too except for the water change.
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32619
- 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 with ich?
How EXACTLY did you cycle the tank? Get API liquid test kits, strips are unreliable.
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!"
-
freebird0101
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2023 6:54 pm
- Location (country): Florida
Re: Figure 8 puffer with ich?
My boyfriend set it up, so to my knowledge he prepared the tank by adding api accua-clear and a piece of his pellet fish food few days later (I didnt have the food for the puffers yet), to create the bacteria needed before getting the puffers. Also washed the filter once.
Ok I will get the liquid test.
Ok I will get the liquid test.
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32619
- 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 with ich?
Sounds like the tank isn't cycled. It's really important you get good parameter readings for ammonia/nitrite/nitrate/pH
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: 32619
- 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 with ich?
What makes you think the fish has ich? Ich-X is is what is recommended if it indeed has the parasites.
library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/
library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/
library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/
library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/
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!"
-
freebird0101
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2023 6:54 pm
- Location (country): Florida
Re: Figure 8 puffer with ich?
Some great info thank you. He started with some dots didnt notice until it covered its whole body (it happend so darn quickly) and then they looked like wet salt grains and he was just there not moving. Maybe it wasnt ich but some other illness.
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32619
- 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 with ich?
The reason I ask is that small puffers have tiny white spines that look like tiny grains of salt.
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!"