The Puffer Forum

Hi Guys, I am new to this forum. I'm freaking out a little, and am really hoping to get some solid advice.

Two nights ago my pump broke - so the water in my tank was stagnant- no circulation.

It was about midnight at the time, and I didn't have a replacement. I figured I'd take care of it in the morning...BAD idea. When I came down in the morning both of my tangs were dead, and my porcupine puffer was on the bottom of the tank, pale as a ghost, and barely breathing.

I grabbed him up and immediately brought him to the local petshop so they could put him in a rehab tank while my pump got replaced.

I left my puff at the pet store for 2 full days because I didn't want to stress him out moving him so much. I was careful getting him used to the water changes. He is now back in my tank.

SO HERE IS WHERE IM REALLY WORRIED: He looks funny. He looks paler, he looks swollen.

The guy who watched him thinks Im imagining it, and thinks he looks healthy and fine. I love this fish and look at him everyday, and I know that he looks weird.

--Does Anyone know any preventative measures I can be taking to help my puffer? He almost died, so I realize he needs time to heal, but im also worried that by not doing anything now he could end up dying from me not being proactive.

--and yes, he is eating - which is good.

......any advice on care for fish who were "injured" due to lack of water circulation would be really great.

Thank you everyone.

This happened to me once and I lost two fish. I had a slight ammonia spike to from the water being not circulated thru the sump and blah blah. But yea atleast you didnt lose any fish. Sorry I cant help u much with the puff But I still had power-heads running thou).


Maybe post your water parameters and a pic of him? Then some other ppl may comment on what may be needed.

SammyDee wrote:But yea atleast you didnt lose any fish.

Didn't he loose two tangs?

Definitely test your water and check your parameters. Next step would be a large water change. How long has your system been running?

jdak wrote:

SammyDee wrote:But yea atleast you didnt lose any fish.

Didn't he loose two tangs?

Definitely test your water and check your parameters. Next step would be a large water change. How long has your system been running?

I lost my yellow tang which I miss extremely but didnt replace cuz hed outgrow my tank any way and a yeloow tail blu damsel fish which I dont miss too much cuz he was mean as hell to everyone.

prolly wouldnt hurt to have a back up pump. I been broke lately but i wanna get another of the exact same pump I use on my tank and have it as a back up, plus use it to pump my big container I use for water changes. So with that I wont have to lift a million buckets to fill the tank back up. HAHA im lazy so thisll make it that much easier to do WC's.

Flow is the #1 most important thing in a tank. Fish can survive (to a point) temp swings, pH swings, salinity swings but without flow, they are goners. Once fish start dying, then you have ammonia/nitrite to contend with. Your puffer is a tough fellow! Keep a VERY CLOSE EYE on the water parameters, keeping ammonia & nitrite 0 at all times & nitrate <10, if possible. Look into my thread stickied in the Marine Tanks forum about vitamin C. After you've read it, I can try to help talk you though raising the dosage.

Clean water and low stress. This might mean some extra water changes in your future, but it is the safest route.

Even an air pump and bubble stone would have likely given your fish a good chance to survive the night.. try to at least have that around as a back up.