The Puffer Forum

1. Ammonia - didn't measure. It won't be accurate b/c there's ammonia in the tap. Detoxified with Amquel. Presumably no nitrites or nitrates.

2. 5g, 3 African dwarf frogs

3. Offered bloodworms, no interest. Offered dried gammus shrimp, ditto.

4. Tank's new - everything's different!

5. Set up for one day. Not cycled! I had a sponge filter from a cycled tank, but (long story) forgot to dechlorinate water before dumping it in, so bacteria = dead. Stupid, stupid, stupid! I'd looked online and found sources posted by breeders on how to set up for these little guys; I didn't find any mention of cycling, so I thought it wouuld be OK. (I know, big mistake!!! Took me just one day to figure it out!)

The problem: their skin is peeling off! There are little bits of froggy skin floating around, and it's hanging off of them in shreds. I've added Amquel to detoxify ammonia, but I'm running very low on dechlorinator, and for various reasons, can't get any for a couple of days. (I'm really worried about this!) I treated with a little Melafix, and hopefully that will help them to heal up a bit, and I've added a bacteria source to start the cycling, but I'm thinking about two options right now.

1. Leave them there and cycle with them.

2. Get a divider and put them in the puffer tank for a week or so while I cycle their tank fishlessly. (Puffer tank - 10g, 2 DPs, 2 otos, 1 ghost shrimp, established 6mos.)

What do you think I should do? Also, is there anything else I can do to make them a bit more comfortable?

I know this one for sure! i had some african dwarf frogs a while ago in with my bettas. The are just shedding their skin. Mine did this every couple of weeks or so. If you see them trying to peel it off with their legs and stuff, its perfectly normal. Just make sure that whats coming off of them doesnt look fuzzy or like cotten. They will eat the skin they shed, its very nutritious

Nikki

Definately add Melafix--it's helped a lot of froggie skin problems for me. Can you get Safestart?

Yea go ahead and add melafix...incase he accidentally pulls too much off and gets scratched

Mrs.Puff - I would say that they're shedding, except that all three of them are doing it, and it's not a few minutes like it's supposed to be, it's overnight and then some.

Pufferpunk - Phew! Glad to hear it helped your frogs! Someone speculated that it might hurt their lungs or something... after I'd added it... and I'm glad to hear that's not the case. Safestart, not at the moment, but as soon as I get to the pet store (tomorrow, paycheck came), I'm getting more filter cartridges for the puffers, and I'm cramming the used Whisper bag into the BioWheel slot... somehow... maybe with a shoehorn... Can't believe I didn't think of that till Dadof4 suggested that earlier today!

Thanks for the help, folks. I was kinda freaking out!

Oh i see. Well thats about as far as i go lol...im not going to try to diagnose it because i dont want to give you the wrong info. But i will say that is sounds like its a type of fungus than(which you've probably already figured) I hope you figure it out though. Best Wishes!!

My theory is that their skin was burned from ammonia and peeling. I'll check on them again this morning. They may have been shedding. Idk... But anyway, I think it'll all be A-OK after my pet store visit this morning. Let's see, now, when does the bank open? Thanks for your help, Mrs.Puff!

I set up the filter in there, but I don't think they like the water flow one bit. It's an Eclipse 5 with a BioWheel. They've all migrated to the other end, and they're hiding in crevices, away from the flow. Oh, well. After the gravel gets seeded really well, after maybe a month, I'll take it out. For now, they can just suck it up.

your welcome, although i dont know how much help i was but i tried lol.