The Puffer Forum

He is about 3.5 in. And yes I shoke it vigorously for 1 minute as the directions instructed. I followed the instructions to the letter. I have done a 50% water change every day since Saturday and today was the first day he has eaten since Friday.

bertie 83 wrote:Snails, crab etc are crunchy grub

Does it matter what kind of snails? Other then wild one I do give him frozen crab but he really isn't that interested in it.

Ramshorn or pond pest snails

library/feeding/basic-snail-breeding/

Be sure to defrost all frozen foods. Try mussels, oysters, clams, from the grocery store. Crack them open--he'll scrape his teeth on the shell to get the meat out.

purplecandle wrote:Ramshorn or pond pest snails

library/feeding/basic-snail-breeding/

Of course these are not readily available anywhere around me, the only thing I can find is something called a Mystery snail.

Mystery snails are fine for a fahaka but just go with my above suggestions.

Two days ago he looks as healthy as he could be happily eating and swimming around the tank again, but yesterday he appeared to half a relapse. Floating at the surface hardly moving, not even food could get his attention. I notice the spots on his body, fins, and eyes had returned. Through the day I could see it getting worse and worse. The Melaflex + salt and heat where still in use so I am not sure why it seemed to come back with more of a vengeance. Sadly this morning when I awoke he had passed.

I was like probably the majority of people and saw a cute little puffer and thought wouldn't that be great pet. With little to no research I bought him and brought him home following only the guidelines given but the shop keeper and what I knew from keeping other fish. Unfortunately, a puffer really isn't like other fish and the short time I had with him was awesome as these guys are spectacular. I know now that I have a lot to learn. I will get to know this fish much better and learn how to property care for them before I will bring another one home into the family.

Thanks for all your assistance. I will remain on these forums and read as much as I possibly can.

Systine wrote:Two days ago he looks as healthy as he could be happily eating and swimming around the tank again, but yesterday he appeared to half a relapse. Floating at the surface hardly moving, not even food could get his attention. I notice the spots on his body, fins, and eyes had returned. Through the day I could see it getting worse and worse. The Melaflex + salt and heat where still in use so I am not sure why it seemed to come back with more of a vengeance. Sadly this morning when I awoke he had passed.

I was like probably the majority of people and saw a cute little puffer and thought wouldn't that be great pet. With little to no research I bought him and brought him home following only the guidelines given but the shop keeper and what I knew from keeping other fish. Unfortunately, a puffer really isn't like other fish and the short time I had with him was awesome as these guys are spectacular. I know now that I have a lot to learn. I will get to know this fish much better and learn how to property care for them before I will bring another one home into the family.

Thanks for all your assistance. I will remain on these forums and read as much as I possibly can.

Sorry for your loss!

Just so you know, when treating for ich, you must do 80% WC, while cleaning the substrate thoroughly every other day, replenishing the Melafix/salt, to remove the free-swimming cysts, before they can attach to the fish.

Pufferpunk wrote:Just so you know, when treating for ich, you must do 80% WC, while cleaning the substrate thoroughly every other day, replenishing the Melafix/salt, to remove the free-swimming cysts, before they can attach to the fish.

I was doing 50% WC as stated in the article, but doing it everyday. As well, I was replenishing the Melafix and salt. Everything did look good up until yesterday.

Pufferpunk wrote:Just so you know, when treating for ich, you must do 80% WC, while cleaning the substrate thoroughly every other day, replenishing the Melafix/salt, to remove the free-swimming cysts, before they can attach to the fish.

This is interesting to me, as for the past year and a half I've treated ich simply by turning up the heat to 84-85 for up to two weeks, and doing slightly larger than normal WCs once a week as usual, no meds. This has always solved the problem for me. Do you feel the extra WC plus meds keeps ich from popping up again down the line? Is this specific to puffers?

Since the lifecycle involves the rotation of laying eggs, hatching, attaching to the fish,k & laying eggs into the water again, scooping out as many as possible as they swim free from their hose, will help the fish a great deal.

Systine wrote:

purplecandle wrote:Ramshorn or pond pest snails

Of course these are not readily available anywhere around me, the only thing I can find is something called a Mystery snail.

You can go to pets mart and ask for snails if they have some they are usually free (small ones)