The Puffer Forum

Ok, I have a 15 g aquarium with a small F8, a white mollie, and a couple ghost shrimp. I have had the tank set up for several months now with no problem. I recently got the mollie (along with a black mollie also) and the shrimp for help with keeping the tank clean. All were doing fine, until about Sunday night. I noticed the black mollie was dead in the bottom lying upside down. It had no visible bite marks or anything. The F8 never bothered either of them, not even the shrimp. The only thing unusual I noticed was its gills had a white outline. I highly doubt it was ich, because there was no white anywhere else. Everyone else still acted fine, but I did a water change anyways (this was several days ago- I had the mollies/shrimp for about 3 weeks at that time). For the past 3 days, I haven't seen my puffer eat. The other fish acts fine now and is eating away though. The puffer acts really weak. I saw him bump into a thing or two while swimming. He doesnt swim away from the glass(like usual) when I put my hand to it. When he gets under the current of the pump, it pushes him down. I've checked his teeth, they aren't overgrown. I can't notice any change his physical appearance, just the change in what he has been doing. I don't have a way to check the parameters right now b/c my testing kits are at a friends house. I figured they would all be acting that way if it was the water though. I will probably go get those later and do a test, anyways though, just don't have it now. Anyone have any help?

It's hard to give any advice when so much depends on the quality of your water. And just because the others aren't showing symptoms doesn't mean they won't start to soon, because some species are more tolerant of polluted water than others are - if your water turns out the be the problem. While you're waiting for someone more experienced than me to respond to your post, I'd do a 50% water change. Is there any salt in this water?

Well, it's only been about 4 days since I did a waterchange and yes, it has salt. It is a brackish aquarium. I will get parameters and post them tonight.

Nitrite poisoning maybe? Hard to say without test results though. When you say he is bumping into things, does he look like he is doing it by accident, or is it like he is scratching against stuff? Or could be some sort of external bacterial infection that was on the mollie. Hmm I'm not sure to be honest. These could be completely wrong. Get those test results as soon as you can. I would also recommend doing a 50% water change.

He's not bumping into things a lot, just noticed him do it a couple times. It does look like an accident. I also noticed once that he tried to nibble on a (fake) plant, and he jerked away when he did. That's why I questioned about the teeth, but that doesn't seem to be the problem. All I have here is an ammonia testing kit and it came back .25 which says safe. I have a nitrite testing kit, but my friend can't find it right now.

Ammonia should be 0.

I can not find the stuff to test the water. I think I am going to take a sample of the water to petmart/petco. They do testing right? I did another water change tonight because he is just lying on the bottom most of the time. I dont know what else to do. I know ammonia is supposed to be 0 but I doubt that it would make him do this just because of that. My ammonia fluctuated once before and I never had a problem with the fish. Anyone else have any suggestions?

Did you find a test kit yet? You really need one. You can find a Master Test Kit at http://www.drsfostersmith.com. See sticky in the Gen Disc forum about rebates.

Sorry about the double post. I did another water change last night, with no response from him. I was able to test at home for nitrites, nitrates,and ammonia, which were all zero. So, I took a water sample to petco to double check. She said my water was perfect all except for pH was a little high. He is currently lying on his death bed, literally. He is on the bottom just gasping for air

what is your water temperature?
Are you using RO/DI water, or tap water?
If you're using tap water, are you using a dechlorinator before you put your salt in?
What type of salt are you using?

Temperature is 78 (with a heater going). I am using tap water, adding a dechlorinator. I have also had the water tested for chlorine to make sure my dechlorinator is working right, it is. I am using Instant Ocean sea salt.

How long have you had the puffer? Has he been healthy all along?

Ive had him for about 6 months, and yes, he has been completely healthy as far as I've noticed. I have several very educated "fish people" that I have inquired to also, and they are all at a loss, too.

I'm assuming you have the output of the filter or powerhead disturbing the waters surface?
if it is struggling to breathe as such then it could just be an O2 issue, but they usually occur from other problems like pollutants or temperature.
could it be possible that it has whitespot, but at the moment it is only affecting/attaching to the gills, which would be difficult to see, but this is usually where it starts.

how much salt do you put in your water? can you give us the salinity or how much you put in at each water change?