The Puffer Forum

Hi, well it was Midge birthday yesterday as well as Mine, but what a birthday Midge is lying on it's side with a lump on the side that is not touching the sand, I am very stressed and upset, so please no negative response.

I recently moved him to a much larger tank, (150 Gallons), the Ammonia = 0 No2 = 0 and No3 = 0 PH = 7.3 Temp = 78% Water changes every 3rd day 25% Tank the set up has been over a year only change is tank size. Tank mates are Dwarf Cichlids x 6 and 2 Discus.
So far I have added Epson salts and I always add salt to the water. Treated at the beginning of the week with Fluke Solve as his poo was string like, this has happened before but within a 2 days he is fine.

Observations
Slow breathing , sometimes with a burp
Fins are not clamped all the time
Movement has got worse
Noticed the eye that is on the sand is cloudy
Colour is fine top and bottom
He still moves hi eyes
when this 1st started it was like he was drunk banging in to the glass
Not eaten now for 4 days fed on Muscle out of shell and in shell Prawns cockles fed every3rd day one week the every 2nd day week after

Its now 01:23 UK I am worried sick Please help Thanks

Hi there sorry to hear your puffer isn't feeling well. I was wondering how large the mbu was at this moment and if you could get a much larger tank asap cause mbu's need 1000g tanks as a minimum. He is probably sick because the bio load inside the tank is to much for him to handle.

As puffykid said you need a 1000 gallon tank, and that's with no tankmates. With everything you have your tank is very overstocked.

What type of kit are you using to test your water? Can you post us some result pictures?

You said the tank has been setup over a year? What was it cycled with?

I definitely agree with the tank size suggestion, however his water parameters show good numbers. I say diet is likely to be at least a contributing cause, and this actually sounds very similar to a post not too long back about a fahaka. Bioload *may* not be an issue, but the small tank could possibly have had some ill effects related to stunting, but that is not absolute.

It sounds like possibly IP's or something related to his diet, I'm very sorry I can't help, this isn't something I'm very familiar with.
Epsom salt is a good thing to add, but you also mentioned that you always add salt. What kind of salt and how much? It is unfortunate that the addition of salt is so regularly suggested as it unfortunately can have some awful effects on certain freshwater fish.

I hope someone will be able to help you, good luck.

good points seven I never even thought about that.
+1 to your comment about the salt I was just about to ask myself.

But he also hasn't told us what kind of test kits he uses yet and so the readings he is giving us could be skewed, and with a tank that overstocked idk how he is getting such good readings actually..

puffykid wrote:good points seven I never even thought about that.
+1 to your comment about the salt I was just about to ask myself.

But he also hasn't told us what kind of test kits he uses yet and so the readings he is giving us could be skewed, and with a tank that overstocked idk how he is getting such good readings actually..

TANK IS NOT OVERSTOCKED STAY WITH THE PROBLEM

Mikeyburnsey wrote:

puffykid wrote:good points seven I never even thought about that.
+1 to your comment about the salt I was just about to ask myself.

But he also hasn't told us what kind of test kits he uses yet and so the readings he is giving us could be skewed, and with a tank that overstocked idk how he is getting such good readings actually..

TANK IS NOT OVERSTOCKED STAY WITH THE PROBLEM

and he is not sick because of the BIO load

The tank is overstocked but we'll still help you.

What type of test kits are you using as it's very rare to have 0 nitrates. Could you possibly take the water to a store and have them test it with a liquid test kit? It sounds like it could be nitrite poisoning but since your results aren't showing that I'm at a loss. Personally, I'd do a large water change and see if it helps a bit.

Ok, I found the thread that this reminded me of, but please don't let it discourage you, as your puffer may pull through whatever it is that is ailing him, but the discussion covered a lot of aspects that may relate to you.
I mentioned thiaminase as a possible link, but I believe cockles may be the only shelled bivalve that does not contain that enzyme, so that's one good thing. Also do you use any vitamin supplements on his food? This is a great way to help ensure the diet isn't deficient. Vitachem was suggested to me, you can order it online.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=26852&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... ick+fahaka

Ya to be back on topic showing 0 No3 means that there is something very wrong with the water.

I know that you are stressed out and worried, but don't take it out on us.

TANK IS NOT OVERSTOCKED STAY WITH THE PROBLEM

This really is unnecessary, and rude, I promise everyone wants to help you as this is a very caring community. Please keep an open mind, and try not to get defensive, it makes it much harder for us to help you.

puffykid wrote:Ya to be back on topic showing 0 No3 means that there is something very wrong with the water.

Not necessarily, a heavily planted tank could keep 0 No3 indefinitely, and most times it has to be added to the tanks because of the high consumption rate of the plants.
Also, if it's the API nitrate liquid test, you really have to shake the Bob Saget out of the second bottle or it will read zero.

I was basing the fact that it probably wasn't a very heavily planted tank on one of his previous posts where he showed a picture of his tank download.php?id=3937&mode=view but maybe thats enough plants to keep No3 at zero. I'm still pretty nooby at puffers, learning though!

and he could have added more plants since that picture was taken.

The quickest way to get help is to let us know what test kit you're using. What is his exact diet? How often is he fed? Where do you buy your food. Also, the question about what type of salt you're using needs to be answered.

What's everything you put in your tank normally? When and how often? List things like medicines, conditioners, supplements, anything.

The quickest way to get help is to just be cooperative. Like seven said we're truly a caring community.

He did say that he recently moved him to another tank, so that may be a picture of his old tank.