porcupine not well

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.
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crazdawg
Puffer Fry
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:27 pm

porcupine not well

Post by crazdawg »

I have a porcupine that is not doing well. Have had him for 2 yrs. One other time he stopped eating then started again after 2 weeks. This time he has stopped eating and is not very mobile; it has been a little over 2 weeks. The ph was low but now better. Nitrates were high and after water changes and treating now o.k. He is not discolored, appearance seems well. Issues-not eating, rapid/labored breathing. Teeth do not appear to be an issue. Tank 90 gal. Have been reading and realize diet of krill not good and will change when he starts eating again. Any ideas on what could be the issue. Thanks.
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Pufferpunk
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Post by Pufferpunk »

How long has he not been eating? Please post all water parameters (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH). What has your water change schedule been?
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!"
crazdawg
Puffer Fry
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:27 pm

Post by crazdawg »

Not eating about 2 weeks. Ph-is about 8, ammonia-0, nitrite-0 and nitrate-5-10(nitrates were very high)(placed Biochem Zorb bag in filter)said it may help with nitrates along with water changes. Will do another water change tomorrow. Just did one yesterday(20 gals each change) and one last week.
crazdawg
Puffer Fry
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:27 pm

Post by crazdawg »

Don't know if it will help but here is a pic of Prick(my porcupine)Image
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