The Puffer Forum

First, to answer the Q's above:

1) Water parameters: pH = 7.8, Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = 0, Nitrate = slight (using API drop kit), temperature = 80F
2) Tank size & inhabitants: 5 gallon tank, just the DP
3) Feeding/wc schedule: I got the DP yesterday, and have not fed yet. I plan to do 50% weekly water changes.
4) It's a new tank.. it has sand as the substrate as well as some river rocks and gravel from my established 75gal goldfish tank. There is a stump decoration with caves for hiding and a fake plant. Will be adding live plants soon.
5) It has been running for a day. I seeded the filter with media from my 75gal, as well as added some gravel.

The little guy was fine last night. A little stressed, as to be expected, but it seemed like normal "new fish" behavior. This morning, he's just bottom sitting and breathing hard. He will get up and swim for a bit, but he just sits back down again. He looks very stressed. I'm tempted to change the water, but as params are good, I don't want to risk stressing him out more for nothing. Does this sound like normal new fish behavior?

Sounds like you're doing everything right. Great job in setting up amn instantly-cycled tank! I'm not sure what's going on with him though... Any chemical/aerosols sprayed near his tank? Was it cleaned out with anything?

Thanks for your quick reply! The cycle seems to be ok so far.. but I will keep checking params to make sure the seeding was successful.

Nothing has been sprayed near the tank. I sterilized it like how I always sterilize my QT tanks--I used bleach and hot water. But I am very, very thorough when it comes to rinsing and drying. The whole process took a few hours at least, most of it was just rinsing with hot water. This is the only thing I could think of, so I did a large water change (~70% I'd say), and this seemed to improve things. He came out from under the stump to watch as I siphoned the water out, and began swimming in higher levels of the tank as I refilled. Now he is sitting at the bottom again, it's only been 5 minutes since the water change.

I don't want to keep picking at him if this is just normal stress. What do you think?

Is he still gasping?

for future reference, Oxyclean is safer & just as good as using bleach. Breaks down to harmless H2 & O, in water. Quick rinse & you're dome.

No, he's not really gasping anymore. He is swimming around a bit, actually. He's mostly hiding though. I think he's going to be alright..

I had no idea about the oxyclean! Thanks for the tip

He may have just been sleeping. My last little DP I had in QT for six weeks would always sleep on the bottom in the corner. It would take him an hour or so to wake up when I turned the light on. My other DPs always sleep up in a plant somewhere. My new guy is now in the main tank and he sleeps in plants too.

Except for the panting part...

It would be nice if he were just sleeping, but I don't think this is the case

He is still hiding under the stump, breathing quickly. I don't know what else I can do for him.. So this is definitely not normal new fish stress?

Yes, possibly...

welcome to the forum. someone here should be able to help. i wish i had some input.

It may just be stress. Keep an eye on the parameters and on him and keep us informed of any changes. It's early days

That's what I'm hoping.. I'll keep a close eye and have my test kit handy

Unfortunately the little guy did not survive the night I think it will be a while before I try that again...

Sometimes we just get a sick one that can't recover, no matter what we do. You sound like a great puffermom, try again!

+1 I would try again you may have just had bad luck