Hiding Valentini Puffer

[hobbesy]

Hi,

New to the forum so hi

I have a Valentini Puffer in a 28Gl (127ltr) nano cube, the tank is cycled and is home to live rock and two blue Damsels. We put a puffer in the tank 3 weeks ago and he was such a character from the start, he used to swim round the tank and eat brine shrimp and cockles and seamed fine.

A week ago he started to act funny and wasn't happy, he was swimming on his side and was hiding. I checked the water and the parameters are fine (did a water change anyway) and took some water to the LFS to confirm the readings were OK. Since then (about a week ago) we have confined both Damsels to a breading tank (just in case they were picking on him) and he's still hiding away behind the rock.

I can see him swimming around if I use the torch but he used to come out and feed on the shrimp and follow my round the tank when I went near.

So, any ideas?

Rob

[Pufferpunk]

How much LR is in there? Mine is out all the time.
Glad you move the damsels. That tank was overstocked otherwise.

[bertie 83]

+1 on the tank being overstocked. Are the damsels in a breeder box in the tank? If they have been bullying the valantini and he can still see them he will hide as the threat is still there. Welcome to the forum.

[hobbesy]

Hi and thanks

I have approx 10kg live rock. The damsels are in a breeder box in the tank, I can look at rectifying this tomorrow if he's still with me.

Came home tonight, ready to do a water change in the morning. The Valentini was hiding behind the rocks again looking sad but normal colour. We had some green algae on the glass (have been away 48 hours with neighbour feeding) which I brushed off into the water. An hour or so later I noticed the Valentini was now up in the top corner of the tank looking a funny shade of greeny/grey

Have done an immediate 10% water change as that was what I had ready to go. Am preparing another 20litres of water for the morning. Apart from the algae (which appeared around when he was first ill) the water is testing fine. Although I've been using test strips,I have a decent kit in the post and the LFS have been checking the basics for me with their kit until mine gets here. They agree it looks fine.

The damsels are only small, maybe half an inch (valentini is at least twice their size), I've only ever seen them follow each other round and not near the puffer. This makes me think perhaps its a water problem I'm missing rather than him being stressed. That said, we do have a cat? Never seen him dive at the tank but he does like to sit and watch them swim round, if he'd gone up to the tank quick it could have startled him? I'm clutching at straws here lol

With the colour he is now I'm not holding out much hope. I can't see anything obvious on him, its just the lethargy and now the colour change. A couple of times in the last week he's seemed to perk up a little, swim about and eat, but then it's not long til he's back hiding behind the rocks.

Thanks again everyone. This is such a shame after he started so well

[bertie 83]

Do you know what the hard figures are from the Lfs test? Or did they just say its ok? Test strips are a waste of time and money.

[purplecandle]

Could you tell us your numbers. Often the strips are inaccurate and what is fine for one fish is not ok for a puffer. The lfs may say your water is fine, and maybe it is fine for a tetra, but it might not be fine for a puffer.

What are your readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates?

[purplecandle]

If you don't know the numbers, that is ok, just go get a liquid test asap.

But, if you don't know the numbers just let us know...and then we can proceed to help.

[Pufferpunk]

How long has the tank been set up? Where did the rock come from? Can you post a FTS?
I'd add another 5-10 kg of LR.

[hobbesy]

Hi guys,

What is FTS?

Well he's still with us but hiding again, lost the damsels out of the breeding tank and into the main. managed to put him in the breeding tank and he was looking really sad and green, this morning he'd legged it into the main tank.

I have a Nutrafin master test kit on order but will take another sample to the LFS today, they use Salifert to test the main four, should I ask if they can test others?

The tank has been set up for over a month now and the water quality has been good but it does show signs of dirt (brown) on the sand and some green on the tank.

How do I keep the glass clean without causing water problems within the tank and upsetting the Puffer, I have one more big bit of rock but this has been out of the tank for a few weeks. Does this matter or can I add it to the tank and it'll just become live over time. Also where should I place the rock? at the moment its up the back of the tank or should it be placed more squarely so the fish can swim round it.

Should I do a large water change today (20ltr)

Rob

[purplecandle]

Hi guys,

What is FTS?

Rob

FTS, is a Full Tank Shot, a picture of your tank

Here is instructions on how to post pics

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=5411

Your tank has not been set up long, so I am worried about that. Go ahead and plan for a water change, and then the members here who are better at salt water can give more info

When you go to the pet store, tell them you want hard numbers for at least ammonia, nitrite and nitrate

[Pufferpunk]

FTS = Full Tank Shot.
How did you cure the LR or did it come from an established system?
I hang a Magfloat in the corner of all my tanks. A quick wipe every morning, keeps the glass clean.

[hobbesy]

Have uploaded a FTS into my album but can't find it when I go to the TPF Gall Img bit

The LR was from a mature system

[Pufferpunk]

You have to load it to a photo site like: www.photobucket.com.

[purplecandle]

Here, I'll help out

Here are hobbesy's gallery images

[Pufferpunk]

That's lovely aquascaping! I think he just needs time to adjust to his surroundings.