The Puffer Forum

Hello.

New Green Spotted Puffer introduced to well cycled tank 9 days ago. Juvenile about 1 inch. LFS in fresh, drip acclimated for 2hrs to 1.005. Tank cycled at 1.002 w/ BioSpria and mulm from established FW tank, then brought up to 1.005 over several weeks w/ biofilter maintained by 1 adult molly and 3 baby mollys. SG was stable at 1.005 at least 2 weeks before GPS introduction.

At introduction puffer active, looked healthy. Initially accepted live brine, frozen brine, frozen bloodworms, and live snails. During subsequent days puffer appetite and activity progressively decreasing. During this period have tried freeze dried baby krill, freeze dried shrimp, frozen krill, fresh uncooked scallop, fresh uncooked shrimp. Samples each but appetite continues to decline. Takes a few bites, then stops.

Yesterday and today partial loss of color, spent most of time near bottom. No evidence of internal parasites, fungus or other; except recent loss of color, and progress decline in activity, and appetite.

Virtually every post such as this I have seen has ended in "puffer died". This is my first puffer, but I thought I was doing everything right - or at least trying to.

My hypothesis is internal parasites, only because that seems frequent in puffers - and I don't know what else it might be.
My current tactic will be to withold feeding 24hrs, then try some Gel-Tek soaked freeze dried bloodworms. I don't expect that will be profitable given he is not eaching much.

Should I also dose Melfix and Pimafix? Or would these be expected to stress the fish?
Is it worth it to skip the Gel-tek and try some net-and dip with an alternative?

Any hypotheses (bacterial??), or courses of action?

Thanks for any help.


37 gallon tank, running about 3 months
Instant Ocean, SG=1.005
Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia all zero, pH about 8.0
Aragonite substrate, RUGF
Two Eheim 2128s, one drives RUGF, one with spraybar output at standard rear top
50% WC each week, water for change maintained in separate large plastic drum with heater and circulation pump
Prime dechlorinator added to drum whenever new water & salt installed

http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/vie ... =5&t=10934

Is his stomach sunken in? Perhaps you should try raising the salt another 0.002 to see if that helps.

Stomach not visibly sunken. But since not eaching much, he ain't looking fat. I have to admit I am uncertain of my ability to visually detect symptoms I have read here, since it would be my first time seeing it (first puffer).

Raising SG sounds like a reasonable idea. But I wonder if stability is more important to a stressed and already vulnerable fish. What evidence is there that raising SG can remediate such problems? Not at all challening the suggestion, sounds like a good one. Just wish to understand the basis of evidence.

IMO as GSP's age they do considerably better in full marine conditions. Until then they require a high end brackish environment which is between 1.008-1.010.
I moved my oldest puffer into full marine after he was beginning to turn very grey in color and becoming non-active and almost instantly he color was great and he was social again.
Atleast with raising the gravity, there will be no harsh side effects and if that doesn't work then you can concentrate on what you think it is next.

Have you offered him foods soaked in garlic? I'd go ahead w/the IP treatment & Melafix.

No, haven't tried garlic.

Is there a home recipe for garlic solution, or is Garlic Extreme the only game in town?

In either case, how much solution and how much of a soak?

thanks,

Dice, crush & soak.

don't lose hope. I managed to save my sick puffer with the help of these guys..

it is possible!


Good luck!

Thanks for comments/suggestions.

Added Melafix, will dose for 7days.

Fasting today, have FD shrimp & blooworm soaking in Gel-Tek overnight. Will try feeding tomorrow. Will add garlic if not successful.

The fish don't always show signs of IP's, I had a GSP in a 5 gallon quarantine, and I was going to put him in my 25 gallon SW tank. He started to do bad after a while so I put him in the tank to see if it would help. He died 2 days later and there was nothing to him just skin, thats how bad his IPs were, and he never showed any signs.