The Puffer Forum

I wouldn't even know what the liver looked like, that's how bad I am. I thought about seeing if I could figure out if there was anything obvious inside him but figured it would be about like me trying to rebuild the transmission in my car. I wouldn't even know what the transmission looked like, much less where to find it. The only thing obvious externally on him was the few spots little spots on his back and some light pink striations on his belly. No idea what could have cause those or if they are normal in a large dead puffer or happened as or after he died.

I called the water department but they said nothing has changed recently. Its odd, though, my husband has lost several of his mollies recently and, come to think about it, his sole orange sailfin molly was behaving the same way shortly before he died. And those mollies are all in different a different tank.

I'm concerned about Leo, my turgidus, as well. He's usually pretty skittish and tends to hide in the back corner of the tank whenever anyone comes too near. This morning, though, he was laying on a leaf in the front of the tank, not moving much at all, even when I came close to him and took a close look at him. Other than his eyes, he really wasn't moving at all, not even his fins. So I reached into the tank and put my hand near him, which usually makes him shoot to the other side of the tank, and he just sort of hovered in my hand. He was moving a little more but not like his usual self. I'm afraid to go home from work now.

Maybe check the copper levels in the water. Not sure what the symptoms of high copper levels are, but it's one of those things that goes unchecked quite often.

I guess that could be possible.

Apparently if you have copper water pipes you are supposed to let the water run for 15 minutes and then add it to the tank otherwise lots of copper gets in. Is that true?

Sorry for your loss, I know exactly how you're feeling. I felt bad for like a month after my porcupine puffer Pierre died. Puffers are so personable it's really easy to get attached to them, almost like a friend.

I would call the water company to see if they've changed anything within the past couple months. Sometimes water companies add extra chemicals like chloramine (on top of their usual additives) when they get large bacteria spikes. FW fish are usually ok, but I've read about many reef systems being completely wiped out due to the water company making changes.

awww this post nearly made me cry!! I can't even imagine losing Chomper....

flamesofifreet wrote:I guess that could be possible.

Apparently if you have copper water pipes you are supposed to let the water run for 15 minutes and then add it to the tank otherwise lots of copper gets in. Is that true?

Then I could well be in the sh*t as all my water pipes are copper.

Me too but I haven't had a problem, maybe it just pertains to new pipes? Or maybe the book I read it in was wrong.

You could imagine it to be true especially if the pipe begins to degrade somehow.

Sorry for you loss BM

flamesofifreet wrote:I guess that could be possible.

Apparently if you have copper water pipes you are supposed to let the water run for 15 minutes and then add it to the tank otherwise lots of copper gets in. Is that true?

I believe you are right...in that it is only an issue with new pipes...after a few months a coating builds up on the inside, and should prevent any copper sepage...still testing couldnt hurt...I think I may do some testing just to see what my base line levels are as well

So sorry to hear that BM, it is so painful when you loose a special pet. trust me I know

Oh no Tina, I am so sorry to hear about Linus.

He did have a wonderful life with you, and sometimes, even with people, the right diet and environment will only go so far if their is a genetic defect or a rare disease. Whatever it was, hopefully Leo will not be affected and continue to thrive.

Hang in there.