The Puffer Forum

When I bought my Fugu, I noticed he was the only one in the tank that was panting, but he was also the only one that had a tail. He was buried so I had the guy rouse him and he was fast and healthy looking. The panting has pretty much went on since I bought him and he is in the filter outflows most of the day. I have not witnessed him scrathing on decorations any and his appetite is the most of any fish I have ever owned, even worse than my hog of a F8. He buries a lot and i have added more decs to the tank so he feels more secure. He is even starting to shoot to the surface for food when I open the lid. I can see no parasites of any kind. One of his gills were swollen when I bought him, but not anymore. Could it be because I have him in light brackish, currently 1.005? I want to try light brackish since nobody has been able to keep them alive long term in high brackish/salt. Any ideas?

Also, my PH is a little low, at 6.8. Could this also be causing this? I added small crushed coral bags to each of the filters. Will this be enough to keep the PH buffered, or should i pull the sand substrate out and replace it with Aragonite or crushed coral. I used sand cause he likes to bury himself.

Well, suspecting parasites, I did a few Formalin dips and he is no longer panting. Seems to be completely better. Crossing my fingers here.

Sounds like a gill infection of some kind for sure. Flukes probably. The formalin bath was the right call. Watch him to see if it comes back.

Did any gunge come out of his gill in the formalin bath?
Pami.

How'd you figure out the light brackish idea. I'd love to keep something as wonderful as a Fugu but theres no way id be able to cope with high-end brackish/full on marine, Just too darn pricey.
If it seems to be doing well in low end/med brackish i'd love to try and keep one.
What size tank etc are you using? and whats your final sg gonna be?

Eddy B

Pamela wrote:Did any gunge come out of his gill in the formalin bath?
Pami.

There appeared to be a little, but I suspect flukes. I would've done a gill scrape, but I no longer have access to a microscope.

Eddy_b wrote:How'd you figure out the light brackish idea. I'd love to keep something as wonderful as a Fugu but theres no way id be able to cope with high-end brackish/full on marine, Just too darn pricey.
If it seems to be doing well in low end/med brackish i'd love to try and keep one.
What size tank etc are you using? and whats your final sg gonna be?

Eddy B

He is in a 20 long right now, but he gets a 60 gallon all to himself after I move next month. I am trying the low end brackish as an experiment. I am going to keep it 1.002 to 1.005. He seems to be doing well, but apparently, this is their M.O. I bought the fugu knowing that I may lose him, but praying that I won't. I have only read of one person saying that they had success with them and I believe it was Mandycat. I am keeping it in the same salinity as she reported and trying to give it as much live food as I can hoping that this may mean the difference, It loves to hunt and is extremely successful doing so. It's the best hunter puffer I have ever had. I know others have tried before with no success, but I want to try and break the code. Purchase one of these expecting to lose it but hoping to prevail.