The Puffer Forum

here are a couple of good articles on the causes of algae, including cyano, which is actually a type of bacterial issue
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_6/ ... algae.html
http://www.fishlore.com/aquariummagazin ... cteria.htm

what part of Denmark are you from?
my wife is from Nyhavn, Copenhagen
she grew up in one of the hotel-restaurants (her family owned it) on the waterfront there in the 1940s-1950s
it's one of the buildings you often see in the tourist pictures

Thanks

I am from the right north of Denmark but curently live on the island called Fyn, about an hour from copenhagen.
Nyhavn is lovely! My brother lives in copenhagen, so I often go there

His mouth really doesn't look that bad but his teeth are a bit jagged. I do wonder why your pH is so high. What's the substrate?

So ive done another test today. Its been 2 days since last wc. My boyfriend has managed to forcefeed the fish a couple of times since then. Only half a shrimp each time. Ive seen no poop.
Anyway, the results are very much the same except for ph:
Ammonia 0 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
Nitrate 0 ppm (it might be slightly more yellow, but nowhere near orange which is 5.0 ppm on the testkit. So definitly below 5.0 ppm)
Ph 8.4.

The substrate is sand. It was called cichlid-sand in the shop.
What can I do to lower the ph?? Do you think that is what making him not eat??
Should I do anything about his teeth?

The ph of the tap water is 7.4

Although I'm not sure the high pH is a problem, it is much higher than a FW fish would prefer. I would start changing out the substrate, slowly.

Ok. Will try changing the sand.
Should I start adding stuff to the tank to lower the ph or will that not be good for the fish?
He is very weak and I dont want to stress him out, but if the ph is a big problem I know you can get stuff to add to the water to lower it.
Just dont know what to do. I dont know whats wrong with him...

IDK if this is the problem. Just the only thing that sounds off. Seems something like this wouldn't be killing your fish--maybe just stressing him out. Time will tell I guess--after you get that pH down. I suggest adding peat to his filter. Put it in a stocking.

What do you think of his colour?
He had white stringy poop today, so will try prazi pro again.

He looks pale but he's also laying on white sand.

Good news. Swayze is eating again and although he is still a bit lethargic, he is much more active than he was. He is now begging for food again
His poop is back to normal, no more white strings.

However, earlier today i noticed these white marks on his skin. Also his belly looks a bit sunken in. Does he look ok to you?

Can you get a closer clear shot of the marks? Are they just scrapes? Filbert is always getting scraped up.

Here are some more pics.
The white marks are also on his tail and fins. Not sure if they are scrapes. They look smooth like the rest of his skin, only milky white.
Thank you for taking your time with this. I am grateful for any advice.

I just got home and he is looking very poorly. Looks like the white marks are on his eyes as well. Could it be cloudy eyes and how is that best treated? It looks a bit like mould or fungus? It looks a bit like he is disolving? Also ive seen him flashing recently. Like he is trying to scratch himself.
Did 50% water change the day before yesterday and just did another 25%. Treated him with epsom salt yesterday as he has been looking constipated and havent done a poop for 3 days. Could the epsom salt have made it worse?

I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't poop, since he hadn't eaten in quite some time. Do a 50% WC, add Melafix, Pimafix & salt, starting at 1 tbsp/10g today & then the same again tomorrow. Have you tested the parameters lately?

Look here: http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Columnaris.html