The Puffer Forum

My abei puffer has become sick. Water is okay: nitrite <10ppm, 0 nitrite or ammonia. Ph is 6.8.
He recently has become sluggish (not moving) and developed a thicker slime coat that is picking up a lot of the sand. The sand is also on his eyes. He has been resting completely tilted on his left side. Breathing is shallow but not rapid or slow. He is in a 30g tank which has been his home for the past 6 months. Abe is normally very happy and responsive. He eats market shrimp every other day. The tank has an eclipse filter and an ario circulation aerating pump. I change 25% of the water once a week. I changed the water two days ago and added a a slate background I made from slate tile I got from Home Depot glued to plastic eggcrate with black silicone sealant. I soaked the background in another tank and measured for any changes in water quality but none were apparant (i suspected it might alter pH but it didnt.) Since then he has gotten worse, I just did another 25% change.

Disease?
Toxins?
Similar experiences?

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Was the silicone 100% silicone?? MAybe the black stuff has an added chemical for color. Usually though I kno the clear 100% silicone is fine...MAybe the tile is leaching something???

If you suspect that atleast take it out for now....

I'd take the slate out just to be safe for now. You can always add it again in the future but just in case...

I also want to add that a diet of market shrimp is not suitable for a puffer. Not only is it nutritionally deficient it's also high in thiaminase which will break down the thiamin in your puffer. This article has a lot of feeding information.

library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/

This sounds like a chemical issue from the tile or the silicone. A lot of slate tiles are treated so they adhere better to a mortar and also the silicone more than likely has an additive to it. There are silicone caulks out that are specifically designed safe for aquariums.

Or maybe the silicone wasn't fully cured before you put it in the tank. If you could still SMELL it, it was still curing and releasing fumes.

Yes, take it out and do a couple big water changes, see if he feels better. Maybe run some fresh carbon if you have it.

I'd just like to add that you might also want to up your water changes to 50% weekly, which I think, is better for your puffer.
I would agree that it sounds like something that the silicone is doing.

The silicone was GE brand silicone II. I let it cure for 3 days before submerging it in the test tank. It didn't smell like wet silicone at all. I removed the slate and did another water change late last night. I just added some chemipure and will do another water change in another hour. Abe has righted himself and is swimming a little bit but his eyes are cloudy and his stress coat is stringy.....

I'd be putting some Melafix in there if you have it, and if you don't, you might want to get some.

Long story short, the tiles had water soluble adhesive on them and I believe they leached some type of toxic polymer into the water.
Abe, is in sad shape and after several large water changes, I moved him to a quarantine tank with a temp of 86, and added mela/pimafix cocktail and some salt. Not sure if he will make it.
I am seeking advice on how to detox both the tank and the puffer. I have put some fresh carbon into the tank's filter and have live plants.

If he survives, what effects could this type of poisoning have on Abe?
Is there any treatment I can use to aid in detoxing him?
Is there a way to detoxify the tank without tearing it down?
Is there a way to test for toxins?

Thanks in advance

Sadly Abraham has died ;.-( Rest in peace my sweet little Abraham. You were so special and dearly loved.

A harsh lesson to learn but a valuable one. The silicone I use is "Marineland Aquarium Sealant". So far no probs. As to adding a slate background, real slate / rock is always the way to go, that way you can boil the crap out of it and know it will be reasonably good to go. There are some real rocks that will alter the chem of the tank but they won't be leaching glue

Oh that sucks What a sad week for puffs

Sorry for your loss...

Awww, I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved puff (I lost one too this week)

aww, soo sad
sorry you lost your puffer