The Puffer Forum

I'm not sure what test kit I use. I use the ones at Advance Aquariums (LFS I've been referring to) here in town. I just go in every couple days and do all my water tests, he doesn't charge me anything to do them.

I guess 50% it is for tomorrow. I'll mix up 18g of salt water tonight.

Next time you're in there (like tomorrow), get yourself an API SW Master Test kit.

i'm pretty sure his stuff is API.

for now I'll probably just keep doing them there.

1. its free
2. I don't mind the drive
3. I like going there just to hang out and BS with the owner about different things, last time I went, I ended up staying for 2 hours just looking at all the fish and picking his brain.

I'll put that on my list of things to buy though.

I find LFS guys don't shake the liquid as long as they should. Always good to have your own.

nah I've been doing the tests myself, I just use his stuff, I make sure to shake the bottles well.

Will doing a 50% change screw with my melafix treatment?

I'm just going to do it now since I have nothing better to do.

No, by all means, do a WC & add the normal amount of Melafix afterwards.

this is how he looked today when I got up after doing 50% change last night.



pretty colorful.

I'm starting to think he's really not liking the melafix, because shortly after dosing, he went way darker and now he's just been floating in the top corner of the tank ever since. Before I put it in he was swimming around and his belly was all white.

Should I stop? I thought this stuff was supposed to make him feel better? I couldnt even get him to acknowledge any food when he's like this. I ended up just scooping it all back out.

This is what he looks like now, he hasn't really moved in 2 hours.

My puffer hates Melafix too.

It might be reducing oxygen too much. Have you added extra water circulation? I suppose it is possible that he's having a bad reaction, though - people have allergies and side effects and reactions, and so do other animals; why not fish?

When I first started with puffers, I think I had ard 7 GSPs in roughly a 55g FW tank. Was duped by the LFS too. They insist that they are all FW. I was a total noob that time. That was way b4 I found this forum. Had them in FW for a year without any problem at all. 1 yr is not long considering they can live for over 10. I eventually gave them all away. I stress again that was way b4 I join this forum so pls dun blast me.....

what I wanted to say is that I never find it urgent to bring them to SW asap even till now, though I dun own any now. In your case, I read that originally it might be in FW. I felt that it would be better to nurse him back to health b4 acclimatising him to SW. The process could be too much for a sick fish. This is entirely my own opinion and what I have gone through. But, none of that matter now.. Birdy was that skinny when I got him too. It was alot of work to bring them back to health. Your time and $ spent on this buddy is really admirable. While many idiotic keepers would have probably flushed it by now. hope that he will make it and even if he doesn't, I believe U have learnt enough to be able to care for another one. Good job!

What's the Melafix for again? He's really suffering from those IPs.

that sunken belly doesn't look good at all , get some jungle fizz tabs and soak the food in a solution of jf and tank water .....try that for a couple of days and if you don't see an improvement treat with maracyn at half dosage ....scrap the melafix , good stuff but this puff needs treating from the inside out ...

scpion wrote:
what I wanted to say is that I never find it urgent to bring them to SW asap even till now, though I dun own any now. In your case, I read that originally it might be in FW. I felt that it would be better to nurse him back to health b4 acclimatising him to SW. The process could be too much for a sick fish. This is entirely my own opinion and what I have gone through. But, none of that matter now.. Birdy was that skinny when I got him too. It was alot of work to bring them back to health. Your time and $ spent on this buddy is really admirable. While many idiotic keepers would have probably flushed it by now. hope that he will make it and even if he doesn't, I believe U have learnt enough to be able to care for another one. Good job!

There were a few reasons why it was suggested that LongGrain go full marine to start. His GSP was covered in ich. With the current setup that the fish was in at the time he was unable to treat with the heat and salt method. He needed a tank upgrade and to be treated so going full marine to start was killing two birds with one stone.
Your main problem now LongGrain is trying to get those IP's under control .

I've treated the water twice with jungle IP tablets and I soaked his food for a week, but he won't eat it. He won't even really eat untreated food anymore. He'll eat crushed snails (without much enthusiasm) but won't touch blood worms anymore, and he used to LOVE blood worms. I know he has IP's, I just can't seem to get any treatment into him. I'm going to soak more snails in that medicine to try to get more into him, but i'm running out of snails small enough for him, and I've pretty much cleaned out the LFS as I've been taking them faster than they can reproduce haha.

I was dosing him with melafix because his tail is clamped all the time and its pretty tattered at the end when I catch him fanning it out. I was told in addition to helping this, it would also sooth him and make him feel better/more comfortable, but it seems like it might be doing the opposite.