The Puffer Forum

I can only guess that there was something wrong with them that is beyond what you or anyone could deal with...

maybe they were caught badly, or cyanide was used or something else...

or they had an internal illness that showed no signs....

I know it's sad, but you really did everything you could.


As for getting another puffer, when the time is right break down the tank completely, dry everything out including the filter and start over again.

I would not just re-stock the tank incase there was something/ is something in the tank that made the puffs ill...

What about the biowheel? Throw it out and get a new one? Dry it out too? I can cycle the tank with water from my 10gal. There hasn't been any illness in the 10gal for years.

That store takes horrible care of their fish. It seems they are into setting up custom made tanks etc. They outta stop selling the cheaper fish and just stick to their real expensive one. They don't even feed them enough, I've watched. If the slower ones don't get food that's too bad.

I never thought I would have fish envy. Now I have puffer envy. Ya'll have puffers and I don't.

Hugs

t1gerbee wrote:I can only guess that there was something wrong with them that is beyond what you or anyone could deal with...

maybe they were caught badly, or cyanide was used or something else...

or they had an internal illness that showed no signs....

I know it's sad, but you really did everything you could.


As for getting another puffer, when the time is right break down the tank completely, dry everything out including the filter and start over again.

I would not just re-stock the tank incase there was something/ is something in the tank that made the puffs ill...

just take it slow...

and find a better LFS.. maybe someone on here knows one near you?

I'm afraid I don't know what a biowheel is... maybe it's just not a UK thing, or maybe it's just something i've missed...

i would sterilise (by drying out for several days) everything that could have bacteria on it.. then start again.

If you can transfer some media from your other tank, and some of the substrate then that will help cycle the tank again, but remember if you then add a load of salt it will wipe out all the new bacteria that you just created...

you can only raise your tank by 0.002 a week to stop from killing the bacteria...


please take your time, rushing to replace your little buddies will only lead to more heartache.

You know I'm about to bust. I want another one so bad, but I'm following your alls advice and doing what you say. I know it will be another week or two before I reach expert status and won't need ya'll anymore.

The biowheel is in the filter. It's about 6-7inch. long and turns and collects beneficial bacterial. When I bought it many years ago the guy that sold it to me said the more gross it gets the better. Believe me that thing is gross. It's all slimy and brown and it's been going for...I don't know...maybe 10yrs. I've never had to break a tank down for illness so that's why I'm wondering if I have to throw the wheel out and completely start over with that too. It seems like I'd have to. That would be a shame. The water in the other tank is in great shape. I've had my girl fish in that tank for 4-5yrs and she has always done great. Getting water from that tank will work great.

I have new baby snails in my small tank. My little boy noticed them on the glass. My puffer will be thrilled.

I have gravel in closets, on shelves etc. I think I might look at what all I've got and maybe change that completely. I'm also wrestling with whether I might want crushed coral or something like that. If it complicates things forget it. Can you believe I've got a Eheim canister somewhere around here? I got the 30gal tank, stand, wood, and an Eheim for $50 I think that was a steal. It's good to have the right friends.

I keep reminding myself to go slow on the salinity. I'm so afraid I'll forget and crash the tank. Maybe I should write myself a note and put it by the tank.

I went back to the good FS today and saw the sick little puffers again. I think they're getting better. I was so pleased to see that they're still being cared for and even though they're sick they are very active. They begged me to bring them home. The guy told me they're procupine puffers. Just made me sick because my tank is too small. I fell in love with those guys. I got to see a red puffer for the first time. He looked like he was puckered up waiting for a kiss.

It looks like the new FS mainly has puffers that get way too big for my tank and they didn't talk like they're going to get any F8's, GSPs, or Ceylons in. I'm really bummed. I don't know what to do. The bad FS still has that one GSP isolated in a marine tank. I swear that little guy is only about an inch long. You know I am so tempted. I'm desperate.

I guess we should probably meet back on the general discussion forum since I'm not doctoring a sick fish anymore.

You guys are great and I look forward to getting more advice from you as I work on the tank and prepare for a new puffer that I just don't know where to get. I'm in Houston there's got to be MANY stores around me.

My head hurts really bad tonight so I'm sorry if this post is a mess. I tried. I really need to see a neurologist, but that's a different forum.

Hugs, Beth

t1gerbee wrote:just take it slow...

and find a better LFS.. maybe someone on here knows one near you?

I'm afraid I don't know what a biowheel is... maybe it's just not a UK thing, or maybe it's just something i've missed...

i would sterilise (by drying out for several days) everything that could have bacteria on it.. then start again.

If you can transfer some media from your other tank, and some of the substrate then that will help cycle the tank again, but remember if you then add a load of salt it will wipe out all the new bacteria that you just created...

you can only raise your tank by 0.002 a week to stop from killing the bacteria...


please take your time, rushing to replace your little buddies will only lead to more heartache.

Did I miss something ? When did Pete die?

Pufferpunk wrote:Did I miss something ? When did Pete die?

He died last week. He began acting like Nemo. Breathing hard, getting skinny, not eating and then dying. I am sick about it. I see his smiling little face in my mind throughout the day. I never dreamed I'd get attached to a fish so fast.

I'm going to start over. Clean the tank like crazy etc. So far I haven't located any stores that have anything other than dwarf puffers and puffers that grow way too big for my 30gal. I've had fun going from FW to brackish, I don't think I can go back to FW now. At least not in that tank. The store I got Pete from still has the GSP's and they must've decided to Dr. those fish because they've been there for 3wks and they're looking better. I know you're going to fuss at me, and I do understand, but right now I just don't know where I can get any other puffers.

I've now moved to the Brackish Forum to ask more questions as I'm getting ready to try this again. I drug a classic Eheim out of the closet that I'm going to try to get going along with the biowheel. I may as well go all out. I swear though, Pete is irreplacable. A part of me feels like I can't have any more puffers because Pete was it. But, I'm cleaning anyway.

Big Hugs, Beth

I sent you a pm about 2 really nice aquarium stores in Houston. You are talking about houston texas right? If so check your pm. They are really nice, clean stores. After visiting about 7 stores in that area those are my two favorites. I drive over 2 hours just to go there.


Sorry to hear about your puffers.