Hi, my dwarf pufferfish that I have kept for about 3 to 4 years started acting strange this morning. It has been swimming in an erractic manner and has been sort of twisting around. I checked my water, found nothing out of the ordinary, looked for signs of a parasite or maybe something it was trying to rub off, and I cannot see any. I did a 20% water change this morning. I have an Algone in the tank currently which I had put in a few days ago and I have used them for years with no problem. I regularly add Leaf Zone and Seachem Stability (helps with nitrate). Now the puffer is spinning like a top or a screwdriver, it is very hard to watch, at one point the puffer even got itself stuck to the filter intake and I had to free it. The puffer seems to not have any sort of balance.
My tank:
10gal
Marineland Penguin 100
Soft sand bottom with plants
Temp: 80F
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20ppm
pH: 7.4
no other tankmates
I cycled it with Stability and Microbe-Life Gel filter cartridge inoculant
Spinning dwarf puffer
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
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.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
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.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
-
kylockwood
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:28 pm
- Location (country): United States
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32975
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: Spinning dwarf puffer
Sorry to say, I believe their life expectancy is about 3 years. 
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
kylockwood
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:28 pm
- Location (country): United States
Re: Spinning dwarf puffer
I was afraid of that I know she's lived longer than 3 years...
Pufferpedia says 5+
I've been doing more research, some things say it might have a central nervous system problem
I don't think there is anything I can do about that
I know she's lived longer than 3 years...Pufferpedia says 5+
I've been doing more research, some things say it might have a central nervous system problem
I don't think there is anything I can do about that
-
pufferpuggirl
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 3979
- Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 3:04 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffs & Stuff:
1 x M Abei
1 x M Turgidus
1 x T Palembangensis
1 x M Baileyii
1 x T Schoutedeni
1 x T Leiurus
1 x T Miurus
Rainbow crab
crayfish - Location (country): Yorkshire, GB
- Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Re: Spinning dwarf puffer
That's got to be a very difficult thing to watch. I always thought that dwarf puffers lived for more than 5 years. Shame when we get attached to something and it's lifespan isn't very long.
"Puffer .... man's best friend?"
-
Lil' Swimz$
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 1686
- Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:26 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Lorteti - Peaches
- Location (country): USA
- Location: Wisconsin
- Contact:
Re: Spinning dwarf puffer
You said he has lost his balance? Possibly trapped air?
library/hospital/help-my-puffer-is-air-filled/
library/hospital/help-my-puffer-is-air-filled/
Ha ha, he he! DAncE whEn yoU're HAPpppy! He he he! DAnce, danCE, DANCe!
-
kylockwood
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:28 pm
- Location (country): United States
Re: Spinning dwarf puffer
Not trapped air..the puffer has been sitting at the bottom now except when I go to look at it and it swims away...still doing the spinning thing. It sorta seems like it can't control one half of itself? I'm not really sure.
-
Miller535
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 78
- Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 10:07 pm
- My Puffers: 2 f8's. Have also kept dp's and gsp's
- Location (country): Usa
Re: Spinning dwarf puffer
Thats sucks. sorry
-
sao870
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Sun Jan 31, 2010 11:46 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: two gsp's spike and ike
- Location (country): Chicago
Re: Spinning dwarf puffer
well at least he went form old age.
-
kylockwood
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:28 pm
- Location (country): United States
Re: Spinning dwarf puffer
The puffer is still alive now, hiding in a plant. I have the room darkened to minimize stress, whether or not that actually does anything I don't know. Water quality is the same as before, no changes.
-
kylockwood
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:28 pm
- Location (country): United States
Re: Spinning dwarf puffer
Update on the puffer. This is very bizzare, the puffer seems to be fine now after a couple days. I really don't know what was wrong with it but now it seems fine.
-
Ohyouknow
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 756
- Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 2:26 pm
- My Puffers: Vicious (T. Lineatus - Fahaka)
- Location (country): Indiana, USA.
- Contact:
Re: Spinning dwarf puffer
Oh! Well, that's a good thing. Maybe it had gas? (just kiddin.)
Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.
-
xrayjeeper83
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 4167
- Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 9:31 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Fahaka named Bloat
Abei named Huey
GSP named Bacon - Location (country): USA
- Location: Orange Park, FL
Re: Spinning dwarf puffer
thats great to hear, glad you didnt listen to us talking about putting it down
RTR wrote:Fahakas do not have tank mates, they may have swimming food reserves.
-
pufferpuggirl
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 3979
- Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 3:04 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffs & Stuff:
1 x M Abei
1 x M Turgidus
1 x T Palembangensis
1 x M Baileyii
1 x T Schoutedeni
1 x T Leiurus
1 x T Miurus
Rainbow crab
crayfish - Location (country): Yorkshire, GB
- Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Re: Spinning dwarf puffer
I think euthanisation should be a VERY last resort. I would never forgive myself if I put a puffer down and then had 2nd thoughts about it and figured there was another way to go about it. I know it's a necessary evil sometimes, but I am very reticent to do it unless I'm absolutely sure there's no other alternative.
kylockwood, I am so happy that your puffer has made a complete recovery! I hope he continues with good health and happiness (for you both).
kylockwood, I am so happy that your puffer has made a complete recovery! I hope he continues with good health and happiness (for you both).
"Puffer .... man's best friend?"
-
LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 5301
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:26 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Dwarf puffer - Thumbelina (only mine in my heart now; she lives in CT with my friend)
RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond. - Location (country): United States
- Location: Kentucky
Re: Spinning dwarf puffer
I believe Nick has had DPs live up to 8yrs, with 3 being a normal number too.
Stability won't do squat for nitrates. Just do more water changes.
Stability won't do squat for nitrates. Just do more water changes.
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
-
omplmpa3
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 211
- Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2008 9:09 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 1 Turgidus
1 Irrubesco - Location (country): United States
- Location: Wisconsin
Re: Spinning dwarf puffer
How long was your puffer spinning around for? One of my F8s spins when she sleeps, in tight spirals like a football and crashes into everything. It's very unsettling the first time you see it.