The Puffer Forum

I have a saltwater tank that basically fell in my lap. My neighbor was going to just flush the fish!!! I said no I will take them & have had them about 6 months. The problem is I know NOTHING about fish! I had no idea how full of personality puffers were till now. Recently the pump/filter broke. I aerated the water every hour till I could get a new pump/filter. Since I got the new one my puffer has become swollen on its left side. He also is not swimming barely. He either stays at the bottom of the tank w his head facing down or he will push himself between the pump against the tank at the top w his head down. He is still eating fine. He is about 4 inches. I feed him every 3 days. My tank is 50 gallons. I tested the salt and the ALK. The ALK is at the normal range and the salt is at 1.025.... That is all he gave me to work with. I don't know what else I need to test. It also is home to a trigger that minds its own business and a Blinny that also minds its own business. Both of those fish are doing fabulous. No issues at all. I have done a lot of research since he got sick a couple days ago. I know I need to cycle the water (something I JUST learned), but I don't have a clue how to test ANYTHING for the new water I would put in or how to get the new water to the correct levels. I also have tried to help burp him, I got a couple bubbles out, but it doesn't seem like it has helped at all. My neighbor didn't care about these fish.... He shouldn't have ever started the tank.... Now I am DEEPLY attached to this Puffer. Please PLEASE someone help me!!! I am on a tight budget right now because I myself just had surgery.... so any helpful hints that are not super costly would be much appreciated.... I just want my fish to live

Get test kits for ammonia, nitrite & nitrite.
Read this: library/hospital/help-my-puffer-is-air-filled/

TY! That is good to know about the frozen food. I had no idea I should be thawing it. I really have fallen in love with these fish and want to do everything I can to keep them happy and safe.

How is he feeling today? Please answer all the Qs above, in red.

You should also be aware that a Porcupine Puffer gets larger than a football and will outgrow a 50 Gallon in no time. Good luck.

I'm sorry I thought I answered all the questions? Yes, I am aware of the size issue. I am saving for a much larger tank now.... The guy that ended up giving the tank to me (bc he was just going to let them die) never should have started the tank... But I cant just let innocent fish die! LOL So now they r my babies and I am doing all I can to help them live :O) He is filling much better now!!! When I burped him and made the filtration not so extreme he started to feel/look better immediately!!!

Cool, I'm glad the burping worked! What I am looking for are the water parameters, water change schedule, how much live rock, & diet.

Big Thank You for posting Burping a Puffer fish. My 8 yr old porcupine puffer fish had swollen right side I did what they said to do he puff up. Then began swim and ate. Hadn't ate in a week.
my puffer swelled up last week REALLY BIG and then I believe pass eggs. Tank was a mess. Won't eat then yesterday had a swollen area laid at bottom of the tank. Then I read ABOUT HOW U BURP A PUFFER AND WORKED THANKS AGAIN FOR SAVING MY PUFFER

Do you have a photo of "eggs"? Maybe it was constipated & finally pooped?

I 1st thought same that puffy pooped. Eggs were all small uniform in size round and color. Also, I seen puffer eggs on internet looked just like them. Eggs laid on bottom of tank. They were eggs.

Mature female puffers w/o mates do periodically dump unfertilized eggs. That is normal. It is not common for hobbyists to see them, as most seem to eat the eggs after dumping them.

Siphon them out before they decay if the female does not eat them quickly. That will help protect the water quality.