The Puffer Forum

Tank set up: 3 weeks ago, fish added one week ago.
Size: 5.5 gallons, with Aqueon Quietflow 10 filter.
Fish in tank: Two freshwater puffers (one deceased, removed this morning), and a pleco
Feeding: twice daily.
Products Used: API Stresscoat, Seachem Prime, Aquarium Salt

Nitrite levels: 0-0.25ppm.
-The store has yet to provide me with my test kits for Ammonia or nitrates, so I do not know those numbers.-

I have been in the process of an emergency cycle, because I was told stresscoat was enough to properly prepare the tank for my pets. Eek. I purchased prime this morning, and have followed the instructions on the bottle to hopefully save the remaining puffer (my pleco seems to be just fine) and I am absolutely terrified that I have done irrevocable damage to my poor Napoleon.

How can I tell if conditions in the tank are improving?

Also-- he keeps getting stuck on the intake valve of the filter... what can I do to stop this?

Also need to note that a 75% water change was completed last night, and this seemed to make them better... but I believe the stress was too much for my younger puffer, who was rather skittish.

StressCoat (as you now know) does nothing. Same with Prime. Immediately go out and get Tetra SafeStart - it's the only product besides Dr. Tim's that actually instantly cycles the tank. (Well, not instantly, but it's as close as we can get.) It's not cheap so take some bucks.

If you're online in time enough to see this, and right now it seems you are, log in to Chat - I'm there now.

What kind of puffer? I'm really hoping you're gonna say dwarf. Otherwise, the 5g tank is way too small for anything else. I'd return the pleco. Did you know the common pleco grows 18+"? The advise above is right on--don't use any other product other than the 2 mentioned.

Tank conditions will be improved when you see no nitrite or ammonia. Try fitting a sponge over the intake of your filter but a healthy puffer whouldn't get stuck on a normal intake screen.

PP, we were on Live Chat about this. Both didn't make it. They LFS also told her that they were both DP's, they were GSP's. She's now cycling it for a DP.

I know, she was bummed. She said one had its face in the gravel, that's what DJ did just before she died. I knew it wouldn't last long.

Yeah, sticking to the intake isn't good either...

True, true.

I really hope there's a little bit of heaven set aside for all the creatures we humans have sent to an early death. In their part of heaven, all the puffers would be able to eat and eat and eat and never burst or get fatty liver disease!

Oh please dear God, I'm older than 11, let there be a Puffa-Heaven.