The Puffer Forum

Hi-I have a Mbu who is about 4 months old. He was quite active and excited to eat until about a week ago. I was feeding him salad shrimp and he loved it but I switched to regular shrimp and ...no go. He seems aloof and stays mostly in the back of the tank behind a cave. My numbers are good-ph 7.6, 0 nitrates and nitrites, 0 ammonia, but hardness is 180+. Maybe I'm jumping the gun a bit-I'll get more salad shrimp and see what happens. Any ideas? Thanks

What test kits are you using? Unless he's in a really HUGE tank, diluting the nitrate to 0, that test has got to be wrong. Please answer ALL the above Qs. Especially water change schedule, tank & fish size & any other foods you are offering?

He needs a much more varied diet than just shrimp. See the feeding articles in our Library, under the Learn tab above.

thanks pufferpunk. I'm using API. Nitrate 20, nitrite 0, ph 7.6, kh120, gh 180+. I have tried to feed him other things-he's pretty finneky. I will get some worms-my other puffer loved them.

I knew that nitrate reading had to be wrong.

ok-so.....what are your thoughts? I put some epsom salt in the tank-75 gallon 10 tbsp. Got some worms, krill, seafood mix.

Start with the live worms. Earthworms?

Gave him an earthworm and he just looked at it and swam away. He seems out of it. His belly is nice and bright but his skin seems a bit dartk in some blotches. He is not himself-that's for sure. I would welcome some "here's what I think is wrong" thoughts-I lost a Mbu last year and don't to lose this guy (Tiberius is his name)

Pufferpunk...can you help me-any thoughts?

Not sure - how big is the guy getting, and what kind of decor does he have? Bored maybe?

Hi-thanks. I've had him for only 2 months-he was fine until last week-won't eat and just seems off. He swims in spurts, in fact-if it weren't for him not eating I wouldn't be too concerned as he wouls sit on bottom often. I've treated the tank with parasite chemicals but no change so far. Levels seem ok as far as h20 quality. All my other fish-in separate tanks are great. In the tankI have several caves and oxygen bar, dim lighting, 75 gallon. He is young and about 4". Thanks

What kind of parasite treatment? Some are more effective for certain things than others.

Parasite clear. I also have pimafix for use if that doesn't work.

Don't bother with pimafix, has no effect on parasites.

Do you think I'm proceeding ok-looking at it as a parasite problem first? (after h20 quality). I'll treat tonight with a second dose.

Yea, parasitse are very common in these puffers. Remember to never underdose a parasite med.