The Puffer Forum

IluvShoes wrote:All I saw was an article about cycling with plants- but if the tank is empty and with plants, where do I put the puffer?

Maybe I'm just an idiot.

What size tank would you guys recommend? I bought the ten gallon a few days ago. What size do I need for him now? He is just an inch and a half big.

Read this link.....
library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/#more-129


Minium size tank for him right now 35 - 40 gallon should buy you time for the next few months or a little more. Can you maybe post a picture of your guy so we can make sure it is a Fahaka.

I'm also confused about the water changes. I've heard twice a day, once a day, every three days, once a week?

IluvShoes wrote:I'm also confused about the water changes. I've heard twice a day, once a day, every three days, once a week?

Because your tank is so small and uncycled you need to do massive numerous water changes every day.....Once your puffer is in a larger cycled tank then once a week 25% or a little more will be good. Please read the last link I posted it will explain a lot.

"You MUST change out 75-100% of the tank’s water EACH DAY until the bacteria is established."

Okay I can't get a sponge or filter from my ex's tank, because the tank was not healthy and all of the fish died.

So am I okay to do a 50% water change today, tomorrow and thursday and then make my way over to this really great fish store and ask for some used sponges.

Would live plants work as well?

I was always under the impression that the new fresh water would burn the puffer's skin...I had no idea frequent water changes were the way to go, but I guess it makes sense. I hope the antibiotics helped him. I'm excited to do a water change tonight.

Should I do more than 50%?

I'm uploading pics now. They are crappy quality cell phone pics. Hold on

IluvShoes wrote:I was always under the impression that the new fresh water would burn the puffer's skin...I had no idea frequent water changes were the way to go, but I guess it makes sense. I hope the antibiotics helped him. I'm excited to do a water change tonight.

Should I do more than 50%?

Your on the right track make sure that the sponges from the LFS are from healthy tanks, and don't let them sell you any junk to add to your tank. The reason we are suggesting doing more than one water change a day is because you tank is so small for the puffer you have. I would change out 75% two times a day, going by the parameters you posted . What is the name of the antibiotic that you added?

This is in his healthier days...before my boyfriend's tank water got bad and all the fish started dying



after that he slowly went downhill, and now he looks absolutely TERRIBLE

Red these: library/category/water-filtration/

Ya looks like a fahaka. How long since he has eaten. Have you ever treated for IP's?

http://i50.tinypic.com/e0int4.jpg

and

http://i47.tinypic.com/30xhc20.jpg

sorry if those didn't work

okay i'll change his tank water twice a day then 75%

I'm at work right now but when I get home I will tell you the name of the medicine.

One is "Fungus Clear" and comes in a blue box. It's a tablet that fizzes.

I'm a little confused the thing above this post says

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.

So these massive 75% water changes twice a day won't shock him?

Not if you build up to them with smaller, more frequent ones.

He probably hadn't eaten for a few days.

I've been trying to feed him but we wouldn't eat.

Then today I put some blood worms and some shrimp into the tank... I saw him eat one little piece of the shrimp. I put some snails in the tank too for him to eat.

I didn't see him eating and I left my room for dinner and when I came back I saw him whipping around the tank, so I am assuming he must have eaten a little bit because he was going nuts in a pile where there were blood worms and one of the snails was.

Then he ran himself face first into the sand and then buried himself in the sand and was sitting there when I left for work.

What is IP's?

I'm a fish newb. I honestly have no idea what I'm doing. I'm about ready to go to a pet store, find someone who is good with tanks who works there and pay them money to come to my house and help me out. I am going to have a nervous break down if my fish dies.

IluvShoes wrote:http://i50.tinypic.com/e0int4.jpg

and

http://i47.tinypic.com/30xhc20.jpg



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.

So these massive 75% water changes twice a day won't shock him?

What this means is if you have or have taken a fish from a tank that doesn't get many water changes ( dirty water) you just can't put them is pristine water it will shock their system. Was the tank he came from looked after??? As the boss pufferpunk says maybe work your way up and do three waters changes at 40% or so. You really really need a larger tank for him.

Okay.

The other stuff I put in the tank was for bad bacteria or something. It is a white powder and comes in a little cylinder thing with a scooper