The Puffer Forum

I called home again. Apparently the worm is nowhere to be found in the tank. I have to do a water change tonight and I hope to god he ate the worm. If he didn't and I run into that worm I'm going to have a panic attack.
I hope he ate it. He looks super anorexic. I'm going to spoil him so much if he gets better.

I'll keep you guys posted!

So puffy is still alive this morning. I just found him swimming around trying to scratch himself.

I put some more medicine in the water.

But his stomach looks severely sunken in. Apparently he did eat a worm yesterday as one was put in the tank and was nowhere to be found an hour later.

Should I try giving him some shrimp? I really want him to fatten up he looks like hell.

Keep offering Puffy foods. If he doesn't eat it take it out of the water don't leave to to rot. How about another earthworm !!! Your just adding the one medication Metronidazole right? How are those water changes going.

It is raining today, so maybe I'll get my grandma to feed him one while I am out (way too scared of them)

I haven't done a water change yet today I have to go get some water conditioner for him.

I didn't want to even risk the tap water so I bought Puffy Jugs and jugs of bottled water (he is very spoiled).

I'll do another water change in a few hours, and then again late tonight.

And I am only using the medication that I got at the store which is also the stuff recommended in the IP's article.

I'll offer him a tiny bit of shrimp right now.

I'll give you an update in a few hours. I want to fatten him up!

What kind of bottled water did you get? The reason i ask is it may have a very different ph then your tank water and cause extra stress.

I've been using Chicago tap water for over 30 years. Unless there is ammonia or copper in there or you have well water, just add Prime & fill up the tank with water matching the temp of the tank.

IluvShoes wrote:
ph- 7.5
kh 180
nitrite .75
no3 15
gh 180
copper .4

I have old pipes in my house is that why there is copper in the water? I can get a giant jug of water and change his water tomorrow or tonight.

IluvShoes seems to think she has copper in her water.

I've just been getting bottled distiled water...is that the right choice? And then water conditioner. Because of the copper content I really did not want to test it and make him more sick. Please tell me I made the right decision?

I also got some bacteria stuff to put in the tank to get it cycled. It said to put 25ml per 10 gallons but I was kinda hesitant even though it's perfectly safe so I put half that...and today I went to the fish store and I got a plant that had been in a healthy fully cycled tank. I got it home within an hour (kept it under water in the bag the whole time) and put it right in the tank.

I'm going to do a 25% water change in 30 minutes and then later tonight (probably around 3am) I will do another water change.

Am I doing okay so far you think?

Puffy is alive still and my grandma said his coloring looks like it has improved a bit.

why 25%?

HEAVY.... 75 ~80%

If the fish was healthy .. maybe a 25~50 weekly. I understand you are busy .. work, life etc... heavy water changes every 12 hours until that tank is cycled and in order. After that, you are still looking at 50% every other day until the larger tank arrives.

Thank you for the update Keep trying to feed him / her and remove any uneaten portions.

Distilled water is totally neutral (or is supposed to be). If it is not a planted tank then that is fine.

I am a little conscerned about that copper level though. The LFS tested the water and said you have that level? Is it possible to get a second opinion?

Below is the only bottle bacteria that might work, all the others are crap and your just throwing dead bacteria into your tank.
" BioSpira and Dr. Tim’s – (USE WITH CAUTION)
** Not available in every country.

CAUTION: Many stores have a terrible habit of improperly storing these products. If you buy these, make sure you check how it is stored (BioSpira must be refrigerated, Dr. Tim’s does not need to be) and the expiration date. There is also a chance that it will not work properly, which is a risk you take when you purchase one of these products."

Distilled water now didn't I just recently read somewhere here on the board that it didn't contain important element needed (some one else can jump in here if I'm wrong).

I don't know if one plant will be enough to make any different. Did you ask at the pet store for a dirty sponge from one of their filters. Most will give you one some might charge a small sum.

Keep up those water changes, did you pick up Prime water conditioner?

Found it....

Troender wrote:Yes, you need to do water changes. There will still be enough ammonia and then nitrite for the bacteria to feed on.

Distilled water is not good. Water contains lots of stuff (trace elements and minerals), and when the water is distilled, everything else but the water is removed, the things you need too.

agggg I am torn ......


After my first tank crash .. I used a tiny bit of Septo-Bac on the tank. It kick started the cycling process. That being said, I can not recommend this product for this situation because it has a sensitive fish.

If you are starting to cycle your new larger tank (empty) ... sure give it a try. I placed about a table spoon in the filter for a 500 gal. It worked and worked quickly. Personally I would not try this in a hospital tank or a sick fish tank. Just a new start up.

Again just my 2 cents... someone may or may not agree.

Okay so what do I do then? If my tap water has lots of copper and distilled water doesn't have the proper elements in it, which is the better pick???

I asked for used sponges, they didn't have any.

I'm in a huge rush but I'll do a 50% water change tonight.

Do you guys have any suggestions for good bottled water then?

I'll get my water tested again tomorrow and I'll do two water changes tomorrow!

Or maybe I'll do a 60 or 70% water change tonight since I didn't do one earlier today.

Oh my god this is so stressful.

I have you guys telling me to do two a day and I have other people telling me to do one every three days. So many people are telling me different things but I trust you guys more so since this is the puffer forum.

ACK.

Who is telling you to do one water change every three days on a to small uncycled tank? As far as the water goes you will have to wait for someone who uses water other than tap or RO. I just use tap water so have no experience with other.
It may be stressful now but just think of the rewards when he gets better and you have him in a beautiful big tank. Keep up those water changes and the good work. Go my fingers crossed for Puffy.