The Puffer Forum

I've tried to get answers before, and PufferPunk is a great help!! But I've just found this forum, and I hope you can help me.

I'm still learning with this puffer, even though I've had him for a year.

Currently the 10 Gallon Tank Conditions Are:
SG - 1.02
Nitrate - <20
Nitrite - 0
Hardness - just over 250
Alkalinity - 180
pH - 7.2

One of my First concerns was a white spot on the puffer's head. It looks almost like a flesh wound, but has gotten bigger and bigger. Now a seperate spot is developing just forward of his left fin. It kind of looks like a snowflake, with an almost crystal like apearnace.

Second, he had Swim Bladder problems last 2 weeks, but seem to have passed, as he swims with ease although he likes laying on the gravel and looking out the window.

I haven't seen him agressivly go after food in a long time. his teeth are about 1/8" long, and seem to be holding his jaw open, which seems "swollen" but could just be from long teeth. Most of the dentistry on here seems related to GSP's, and was wondering what to do for Figure 8?

Also I tried feeding him a snail, some kind of black mystery snail, which seems to have died? Does salt kill snails relativly quickly? it has almost be 24 hrs now.

My overall concern is his general depressing state of laying aorund, and lack of intrest in food. this has been going on for about 2 months since I moved, and had to move the tank. I have been trying to keep the SG at 1.08, but recently ran out of salt during a water change, and have been tight on funds. ( I also have a poor memory when I'm at the store). I figure if I could fix his teeth, and the spot on his head, it would probably ease the stress, and he would become health and happy again.

Thank You in advance!! - Chris

I think you mean 1.002 & 1.008, correct? That's a big drop in SG--very stressful for you fish & tank bacteria. Also, your pH should be higher--around 8. Best done with aragonite or crushed coral substrate.

Add Melafix & see if that helps w/the spot on it's head.

Dentistry is the same for all smaller puffers, as it is walked thru in my article.

Snails will die quickly in salty water. They must be removed, if not eaten.
Try feeding live blackworms (well rinsed). Put into a cone feeder.

always so wise!!! changing the water n 10g's makes it hard to maintain a decent sg. and yes i did mean 1.002.

i think i'll look into increasing that pH using the methods above.

I've got clove oil on order at the drug store...

and i'll have to look into different foods as mentioned in posts on here.

thank you sooo much!!

The low pH alone is not significant. The lack of alkalinty would be except that you show ~180 ppm or just over 10 degrees, which is non-trivial and inconsistant with pH 7.2. Either the pH kit is way off or you tank is loaded with organic acids or nitrate hiding in the substrate or filter or some combo of both, which is not a good situation. Something is off-center with the tests or with the tank.

What is your substrate and how deep is it?

How often is it completely and full-depth vacuumed?

What is your ususal water partial schedule and what % is changed each time?

What is your filtration and how is it maintained?

I have gravel about 1" deep. Would sand or live sand be better?

I try to do about 20% every weekend. In that time I will full depth vacuum different spots every week, because I've heard doing the whole thing all the time can cause it to cycle.

I have a HOB filter, I dont have the origional bio filter from it, so I bought the Top Fin filters with built in bio filter, (which hasn't been changed) and I change the carbon sack every month.

I forgot to add, that the tank also has some kind of green bacterial algae growing, I don't knwo what it is called, but know what it is, and I recently found out how to cure it, so as of today I think I'm going to black out the tank until tuesday... Could that be throwing off the test results?

Live sand won't work in a BW tank. You need crushed coral or aragonite. All newish tanks go thru an "algae" problem. Keep feeding to what they can eat & clean up after your fish's leftovers.

I do 50% weekly water changes, vacuuming every inch of the gravel.

I don't use carbon on my FW/BW tanks.

I think that you need larger water changes with more gravel vacuuming and more filter cleaning - rinsing the elements in removed tank water is conservative. Most of the biofilter will be in the filter, and in any case, bateria do not detach from gravel in vacuuming - they are far more likely to be suffocated by mulm/debris in the gravel.

I'm attempting to cut his teeth tongiht... and I will definatly start vacuuming much better. thanks for all of the great info!! the tank is also now on melafix...

wow, triming teeth is quite intresting!! I got all worried i was taking too long. and it was kindda scary to see him slowly stop moving, but neat to see him start back up. took a few mins, but he looks happier!!

well, it's been a few hours, and it looks like he doesn't even know anyhitng happened. but his belly is greyish, and i tried to put some food in, he still didn't take any intrest in it. I seriously haven't seen him eat in at least 5 weeks. i feed him bloodworms, and brine shrimp. my lfs's seem to have a crummy selection of stuff to feed him.