The Puffer Forum

Nusquam wrote:Try to change at least 20% (AT LEAST) a day until the ammonia and nitrites both reach 0. It should take a few weeks, so good luck.

80% 2x/day, if you have to--do whatever it takes to keep ammonia & nitrites as close to 0 as possible.

He died today... the other two have been bending their tail a lot, does that mean anything?

I'm currently trying to get a hold of some Biospira.

I just changed the tank water (yet again) -and they are happier. Although, they are still not eating the blood warms I am trying to feed them. It's like they don't even know its food.

They will eat in time, when the water quality improves.

Do bear in mind that each time you add food, you are simply adding more ammonia and nitrites to the water. Without an established biological filter (i.e., what we call a 'cycled tank'), that ammonia and nitrite will not be converted quickly enough, and it will build in the water, burning and harming the fish until they die.

In the meantime, as suggested, keep up with the daily water changes to keep ammonia at 0. A pinch of normal aquarium salt (following the directions on the packet with each water change), won't harm the dwarfs, but will significantly reduce nitrite toxicity -- and so I would recommend that you add some until the tank is cycled. (Slat is clearly proven in this regard -- not a myth in this case).

Also, until the tank is cycled, feed sparingly -- once every other day. If it looks like the fish aren't going to eat it, remove it before t can decay.

Sorry that you lost one already ... Hopefully the others aren't too damaged.

Unfortunately, its very common to lose puffers to an uncycled tank. They are very sensitive to water parameters. Hopefully the others will make it though. Keep doing large daily water changes, declorinate the fresh water, and as PetPirate says, feed sparingly. Curling their tails doesn't mean anything, their tails are like rudders, helps them steer and sometimes they curl for no reason.

What kind of bloodworms are you feeding, frozen or freeze dried?

I am feeding them live blood warms that I keep refrigerated and change the water ever day. There are also snails all over in the tank. Should I use a chemical to get rid of them?

Oh, those are probably blackworms. I don't know of anywhere that sells bloodworms, they turn into insects. It can take awhile for puffers to settle into their new homes, sometimes weeks. Do not use a chemical to get rid of the snails. The puffers may not be hungry because they may be eating the snails, or still settling in. Especially with them dealing with an uncycled tank.

If I get Biospira how many times do I have to use it? Can I just use it once and then use "cycle" or "stress zyme" stuff?

You use Biospira once and never use Cycle or Stress Zyme.

Is it normal for dwarf puffers to swim towards air bubbles and get pushed away and then go back and do it again? even if he hits the glass? He also swims into the glass at times or is sloppy and allows himself to lightly smash against rocks.

Yes, they tend to like a good bit of current. Just make sure they have a place to get out of the current when they want to, a cave or other protected type area.

Boxermom wrote:Oh, those are probably blackworms. I don't know of anywhere that sells bloodworms, they turn into insects.

Live bloodworms are for sale regularly here.... (in fact, live blackworms aren't, but live bloodworms are common)

What does it mean when the puffer's lips turn dark?

PetPirate wrote:

Boxermom wrote:Oh, those are probably blackworms. I don't know of anywhere that sells bloodworms, they turn into insects.

Live bloodworms are for sale regularly here.... (in fact, live blackworms aren't, but live bloodworms are common)

Same here

Usually a dark belly can be a sign of stress (or sleeping, or some puffers just naturally stay darker than others), but I have no idea about lips (never have seen it happen on any of my species) but I would guess its probably an extention of their belly changing color abilities.

How are your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings? Are they getting better? Still doing daily water changes?

One more thing you can do is get a friend or the store (but usually a friend will have a healthier tank) to give you a handful of gravel from their tank. You can put that in your tank and bring in some live bacteria that way. If you do find Biospira, make sure the store kept it refrigerated, because if they didn't, it will all be dead (many stores don't realize this).