The Puffer Forum

I just got a new porc puffer about 3 days ago because i sold my other one who was getting to big for my 75, the new one is about 1.5 to 2 inches so very small, last night he was out and i fed him a mix of brine shrimp, mysis, and squid and he loved it and ive never seen him more happy, this morning i woke up and could not find the puffer anywhere in my tank, i moved a rock and there he was just laying there, i know i scared him but ever since he has been breathing very hard, i checked all of my parameters, ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate under .04, calcium 400 ph 8.2, i added in an airstone but i dont think thats my problem? do you think i just scared him and he'll come around or do you think hes sick? also salinity is 1.024

Any chance a bit of the food had fouled? They can get a sour stomach from that, though they usually get over it in a day or two.

i guess there would be a chance but all my other fish are perfectly fine and none of them look like they are breathing hard, i was also thinking maybe he could just be sleeping? does anyone know if they generally breath a little bit harder when they are resting?

Puffers tend to stuff themselves quite well with food, so "off" food may seem to effect them more. My puffers usually seem to breath about the same when they rest, a bit more gently if they've been resting a long time.

I hope you got a bigger tank for this one.

ok thanks, should have a new tank within a year or so! should i be treating him with anything or wait to see how it plays out?

Is he still breathing hard? How much did you actually feed him?

yep hes still breathing hard, it was a half of cube brine, half a cube mysis and a less then 1/4 of wat a cube is from rods reef food all mixed together between a couple clowns a tang and the puffer, the puffer probably ate about 35% of it. hes been laying in his cave all day, moves around a little bit

Time to check parameters & do a WC.

checked all parameters, ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate under .05 ph 8.3 salinity 1.024, 10 gallon water change right when i started getting worried before the post.

how old is the tank? is there a chance a mini cycle has occurred. Those nitrates are super low IMO. unless ur doing/adding something to remove them?

could just be new tank syndrome?? maybe a tad panicked in his new home