The Puffer Forum

Hi all, been a while since I last posted - would really appreciate some help if possible.

My Abei seems to have gone downhill in the last few hours for no apparent reason. He seems very bloated and stiff and is having trouble swimming. His belly is white but his side seems to be going white like he's dying. The tank's (125litre) been set-up for 12months and have had no issues, I've recently been having the lights off a lot to try and combat some hair algae. I've done an emergency water change to see if that helps but so far no change. His breathing is normal.

Any ideas?

Sorry if i seem annoying but we need to know this information...

1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.

2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.

3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)

4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.

5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.

We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.

Apologies, thought I'd covered most things in my post:

1) Nitrate (<10ppm) , Nitrite (<10ppm) & ammonia (1ppm)

2) 125l, abei is the only inhabitant (& some plants)

3) Flourish excel added every 2 days, feeding every 2 days if he wants food

4) I've been having the lights off a bit more than normal

5) 12 months

Whoa! Do about a 90% water change RIGHT NOW. That's waaaay too much ammonia and nitrite.

You want ZERO ammonia and nitrites, I would do a BIG water change IMMEDIATELY!!!!

Do a really thorough gravel vacuuming, too. Get out EVERYTHING that could be causing this - any bit of food or poo.

Were there any tankmates that have disappeared? Did he refuse some food and you left it in there?

Is there any possiblity that something got into the tank and killed the nitrifying bacteria?

Maybe I've put in the wrong numbers (can't remember what the actual numbers associated with the colors are) - I've got the lowest readings that my test kits will register, but not quite zero.

Ammonia is an API kit, colour reading light yellow
6 in 1 strips, not white but just above.
Hardness off the scale (and always has been)

These are normal readings

30% Water changes every week and I always take any food out he doesn't eat.

I've done a big water change just in case as I mentioned but that hasn't made any difference.

The water changes need to be bigger, I would say at least 50% weekly. I usually do 60-70% and that's with no uneaten food in the tank.

Those are symptoms of ammonia and nitrite poisoning. You really need liquid kits for more accurate readings.

LilGreenPuffer wrote:Those are symptoms of ammonia and nitrite poisoning. You really need liquid kits for more accurate readings.

The ammonia kit is a liquid one, the other's aren't though

Should I try changing even more water then?

Yep. Keep going until ammonia is at zero.

Not trying to be rude, but those paper dip sticks are useless, honestly ..... you really should have water tests for everything.
And yes, do those water changes (don't forget the de-chlorinator too!)!!
You don't want to lose your Abei, I'd be heart-broken if I lost my Hymie.

You haven't used anything to get rid of the hair algae have you? And really, you should continue to give your puffer some light each day, as it throws them off when they aren't kept on a regular schedule with the lights.

tbh I've been a bit lax with getting liquid kits as my tanks are generally extremely stable

I've not used anything for the hair algae (hence trying to mess with the lights - I've still been giving him some light in the morning & evenings though and he's seemed to still be in a good mood until this afternoon when he suddenly went ill).

Doing 90% change now & then going to bed, will let you know if he makes it through the night.

EDIT:
He's just come out and looks fine again now will refill the tank & see what he's like tomorrow

Just keep watching those water parameters and do significant water changes daily until the tank is fully cycled.

Yep! *puts on best Ellen Degeneres voice* Just keep changin', changin', changin', changin'...