Labored Breathing
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
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xrayjeeper83
- Mbu Puffer
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GSP named Bacon - Location (country): USA
- Location: Orange Park, FL
Re: Labored Breathing
Yes take out the charcoal and put in the white ceramic rocks, they get bacteria growth and help with filtration.
RTR wrote:Fahakas do not have tank mates, they may have swimming food reserves.
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signnet
- Figure 8 Puffer
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1 Orange Saddleback Fucca - Location (country): USA
- Location: Coral Springs, FL
Re: Labored Breathing
With the two filters running it is getting a lot clearer faster. I put a little/smaller log in so they can go and hide. I guess fedding is out of the question....they can't see it
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xrayjeeper83
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 4167
- Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 9:31 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Fahaka named Bloat
Abei named Huey
GSP named Bacon - Location (country): USA
- Location: Orange Park, FL
Re: Labored Breathing
they can smell food very easily. But dont forget to clean the sponges and floss every now and then to keep them from getting clogged up. Clean then during a water change using water from the tank
RTR wrote:Fahakas do not have tank mates, they may have swimming food reserves.
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Srkoe
- Fahaka Puffer
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1 Honeycomb Toby "Ashera"
2 Congo "P-Nut"&"Bevo"
1 mystery puffer (turgidus?)"Manson" - Location (country): United States
Re: Labored Breathing
The size of the powerhead doesn't matter. It is just used to mix the water and salt in the bucket. Right now however I wouldn't really worry about adding the saltwater until you get the tank stable.signnet wrote:Ok, this is the third time I am trying to get this to come through. The comment(s) did not upset me, I was making a funny, lol. I cannot tell you how thankful I am to all of you for all you hae don to help my little one. Additionally, a HUGE THANK YOU to PUFFERPUNK for all your help and how you stuck by me throught the early morning hours and today, you are AMAZING!!!
I have the hydrometer, fun to use. A Liquid Nitrate testing Kit annd a seperate Liquid Ammonia test kit. I purchased the Marine Salt and also the Aragonite Sand. Can I use the sad now in the small tank after I change the water or is that a bad move? Got the epsom salt and aready put some in. Will put more in after the water change.
I purchase an AC 110. Cannot use it on this tank, too big. Will use it on the new one. Purchased an AC for a 5-20 gallon, but that will not work because the filter on the tank is built in and there is nowhere to put this one so I will use the 110 and the one for a 5-20 gal on the new tank.
I searched 2 pet stores for a Powerhead. All they had were ones for 50-100 gallon. No small ones. Any suggestions? When do I ue the Marine Salt purchased to mix water?
I also got thermometer to closely watch tan temp while this is going on. Temp right now is 78 degrees. Did I miss anything?
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
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T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
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Re: Labored Breathing
+1, wait until you upgrade to make their tank BW.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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signnet
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 159
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 11:35 pm
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1 Orange Saddleback Fucca - Location (country): USA
- Location: Coral Springs, FL
Re: Labored Breathing
Here's where I am, and I changed 50% of the water already
Nitrates: 10 (Freshwater) 20 (Saltwater) ( am not sure about this because there is no Marine Salt or Aquarium Salt in the tank
Ammonia: Levels are .25 (On both salt water and Freshwater chart)
Hydrometer Level: 1.004
My little one that was not doing well keeps going up against the second Aqua Clear Filter tube and just sitting there. I keep pushing her away. She acts like she gets stuck on it. Why is she doing this?
There is also two airstones in the tank. The original filter system that came with it and the AC for 5-20 Gallon Tanks.
The Aragonite Sand that made the water cloudy last night is at least clearing up now so I ca see the puffers.
Nitrates: 10 (Freshwater) 20 (Saltwater) ( am not sure about this because there is no Marine Salt or Aquarium Salt in the tank
Ammonia: Levels are .25 (On both salt water and Freshwater chart)
Hydrometer Level: 1.004
My little one that was not doing well keeps going up against the second Aqua Clear Filter tube and just sitting there. I keep pushing her away. She acts like she gets stuck on it. Why is she doing this?
There is also two airstones in the tank. The original filter system that came with it and the AC for 5-20 Gallon Tanks.
The Aragonite Sand that made the water cloudy last night is at least clearing up now so I ca see the puffers.
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
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burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: Labored Breathing
I'm afraid she's doing this because she's too weak to swim. 
Are you still adding salt? What kind?
Are you still adding salt? What kind?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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signnet
- Figure 8 Puffer
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1 Orange Saddleback Fucca - Location (country): USA
- Location: Coral Springs, FL
Re: Labored Breathing
I haven't added any, should I add the aquarium salt or the marine salt. My understanding was that I had to put some sat in a bucket and mix it overnight.
What should I do
What should I do
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
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burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
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Re: Labored Breathing
No, just the Epsom salt for now. IDK why your hydrometer is registering anything. Fill it with tap water & see if it says 1.000.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
signnet
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 159
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 11:35 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's
1 Orange Saddleback Fucca - Location (country): USA
- Location: Coral Springs, FL
Re: Labored Breathing
Hydrometer filled with tap water says 1.000. I put the epsome salt in thi morning. Still not eating even when I put snails in
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
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T miurus
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burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: Labored Breathing
Is the other one eating? Do you think you could post pics of them? The ammonia may still be bothering them. What other foods are you offering? Can you get some Earthworms?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
signnet
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 159
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 11:35 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's
1 Orange Saddleback Fucca - Location (country): USA
- Location: Coral Springs, FL
Re: Labored Breathing
To backtrack:
Took out regular rocks
Replaced with : Nature's Own Bio-Activ Live Aragonite Reef Sand (Instant Cycling)
50% water change this morning
2 TBS of Epsome, diluted then poured into tank (this morning after wc)
Two filters running
Two airstones running
Nitrates: 10 (Freshwater) 20 (Saltwater) ( am not sure about this because there is no Marine Salt or Aquarium Salt in the tank
Ammonia: Levels are .25 (On both salt water and Freshwater chart)
Hydrometer Level: 1.004
Took out regular rocks
Replaced with : Nature's Own Bio-Activ Live Aragonite Reef Sand (Instant Cycling)
50% water change this morning
2 TBS of Epsome, diluted then poured into tank (this morning after wc)
Two filters running
Two airstones running
Nitrates: 10 (Freshwater) 20 (Saltwater) ( am not sure about this because there is no Marine Salt or Aquarium Salt in the tank
Ammonia: Levels are .25 (On both salt water and Freshwater chart)
Hydrometer Level: 1.004
-
signnet
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 159
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 11:35 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's
1 Orange Saddleback Fucca - Location (country): USA
- Location: Coral Springs, FL
Re: Labored Breathing
I can try but the water is still cloudy for pics, but I will try. Just put Bloodworms in, the other didn't look very interested, then I put snail and the other one ate them. My neighbor has a steady supply of snails
I will go right now and see if I can get some pics
I will go right now and see if I can get some pics
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signnet
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 159
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 11:35 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's
1 Orange Saddleback Fucca - Location (country): USA
- Location: Coral Springs, FL
Re: Labored Breathing
Here's Pics
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
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- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: Labored Breathing
He sure is cute! Gotta be constipated. The Epsom hasn't been in there long, I hope it helps.
Nothing "live" or "instant cycling" about that sand.Nature's Own Bio-Activ Live Aragonite Reef Sand (Instant Cycling)
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"