The Puffer Forum

my fahaka wont eat his usual food which is shrimp and krill and its been 4 days since he last ate anything, i've had him for like 6months. He doesnt accept anything besides shrimp and frozen krill so im limited to a variety diet though once in a blue moon he eats a pea. i've already put metronidazole in the water in case he has internal parasites and i do a 30% water change every week, he lives in a 10 gallon by himself, using the tetra whisper power filter, and he's like 1.5 inches also his water is always 82 degrees farenheit, also i've tried soaking his food in garlic and he actually hated it like so much he wouldnt go near the side of the tank it fell in.

plz help me

You will need a bigger tank very soon because fahaka grow fast. Minium i think is 125 Gal. Did you check your water? Nitrite,Nitrate,Ammonia and Ph? Is he Swimming or just sitting at the bottom?

After 6 months he's still 1.5? Hmmmm growing slow.

Please test your water & post the results, in addition to answering the other questions above in red.

ph 7.2, ammonia 0ppm, nitrite 0ppm, nitrate 40ppm, the salinity uhh i just added 2 tblspoons of aquarium salt, ALSO yes i know he gonna need a bigger tank thats why i have my 240 acrylic tank set aside , he aint in the 240 cuz i dont want to have a another big tank to clean weekly.

I think there is a big problem if he's still 1.5" at 6 months. He should be over 6" long. I can only think it's the size of the tank, try to use at least a 30 gallon as a grow out tank. A large water change might help, nitrates over 20 are disliked by most puffers. I've never had luck with metrodizole for internal parasites, only external flukes, does not seem to uptake through the gills.

Fahakas don't need salt. Upgrade your puffer to a larger tank & I think he'll start eating again, unless he has internal parasites. A pic would help.

Yes, 40 nitrates are too high for a puffer. Mine show signs of not being too happy at 20 or higher. Not wanting to eat is a common sign of a puffer that doesn't feel good.

And a 10 gallon tank for a Fahaka at any stage of life is just asking for trouble. He could be fairly well stunted already. I would move him into a much larger tank ASAP.

Are you positive you have a Fahaka? Can you get a photo?