The Puffer Forum

Ive got a mbu who is about 18months old- he lives in a 1000l 6ft tank, and for the past 6 days he has not eaten anything apart from two river shrimp.(he normally eats around 5 cooked mussels every two days) He is just laying listless on the bottom, occasionally on his side. I am so worried because it is not normal behaviour for him. I tested the water myself, and although the nitrite and ammonia were showing as 0, ph as 7.6, the nitrate was showing as 120ppm. I took a sample to an aquatics shop, but they said the water was fine, and the nitrate was normal- I should just keep doing 10% water changes daily and he should perk back up. I have also noticed that he has not pooped for at least 6 days, but that might be because he hasnt eaten, or could he be constipated?? Im not sure whether he does look a little bloated round his belly area, none of his colours have changed, but I have noticed he is keeping his fins flush to his sides.I am at my wits end with worry, as he is one of the family now, and I hate to think of him in pain. When he has laid on his side, Ive gently held him upright, and he has swum away to the other end of the tank, but then just crashed back to the bottom. The last 40 % water change was on Saturday, and then Ive done 10% daily since- I did add some nitrate remover to the tank on Saturday also, apart from that nothing has changed in the tank. Please can someone offer me some advice and clues as to what is happening?
many thanks

Don't add anything to drop nitrates...do water changes and vacuuming. Lots and lots of water changes.

If I had a mbu in a 1000l tank, I would do 50% water changes several times a week. Sadly this fish just puts out too much bio load for a tank that size.

When you do water changes do you vacuum and do your nitrate readings drop at all?

+1 to the above. A 1000l tank is overstocked with the mbu alone. Don't add any nitrate remover just do multiple 50% waterchanges daily. Your Lfs are idiotic to tell you 120ppm is fine it needs to be below 20ppm to keep him healthy.

I always vacuum when I water change....its only Saturday that the nitrate went up, but Im not sure if my test kit is reading accurately, as the aquatics shop confirmed it was a normal reading. I also tested my tapwater just in case anything had changed there, but the nitrates were fine in that.

What the pet store considers normal is not what most fish keepers consider normal.

Since you tested the tap water and that was fine, I am inclined to believe your test was accurate on your tank. What are the readings now?

First and lastly, lets follow somewhat of a scientific process and eliminate a problem variable to further narrow the possibilities. Do not feed him cooked food. Only RAW food in his diet

Get your own test kits, they're cheap enough. Do not depend on your FS for this.

Start doing 80% WC every day, until the nitrate is <20. Use Prime to condition the water. Move every single piece of decor out of the way & vacuum under everything. If you don't have a Python, get one--you're gonna need it!

Its showing all the symptoms of NO3 poisoning!! WC,WC,WC!!

50% WC/day I would say is the minimum. I would even go as high as 70-80% if it can handle it. I do min 80% on mine at least every week. Do it till it drop to constant max Nitrate 20ppm but be carefully with the large WC if its not used to it.. I would OD on prime to prevent the new water from killing my good bacterial.

Couple of things.

I read u had been feeding cooked mussel.. ALWAYS feed RAW.

What was the no3 before the WC? What kind of filtration and how often its clean? Poor maintainence on filter is one of the main cause of high No3.

Mine, once he ate, he will poop the next day. If I dun feed, I dun really see him poop till the next feeding.

Yes, I'd be interested to hear about your filtration systems. I assume you have multiples on there?

I have two large eheim canisters, and Im just in the process right now of putting in a third. My other half did a 50% WC today, I have just come home and Mince Pie is laying on his side and breathing heavy- Im absolutely panicking now- I dont want him to die a painful death. Hes definitely got a swelling on his right side, but everytime I try and straighten him up, he swims away only to fall to the bottom again. Ive also just tested the water again, the nitrate is still 160ppm, and now the nitrite has suddenly gone to 0.25ppm (it was 0ppm yesterday), ammonia is 0ppm. Ive jut put some stress zyme in as well.

also regarding his food....it was the aquatic store I bought him from told me to feed cooked mussel, thats what they feed all the babies on. He also eats river shrimp when I can get hold of them.

dolphin wrote:also regarding his food....it was the aquatic store I bought him from told me to feed cooked mussel, thats what they feed all the babies on. He also eats river shrimp when I can get hold of them.

No more listening to that fish stores advice from now on. They just want your money.

Do a large water change now. You are at emergency status.

sorry if you already answered this but, how long has your tank been running/cycled?

the tank has been going for two years- even though a 50% change was done this morning, is it ok to do another now?