The Puffer Forum

1) Your water parameters -
pH 7.8
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrates - 10ppm
* Took water to the LFS last night and I cant remember if it was nitrite or nitrate that was 10ppm we were talking and he was swapping vile around and I cant remember but he specifically said nothing to worry about. so please forgive me on this one. I have an RO system on the house that removes everything. Last month we had the outside unit checked and water comes out at 7.0ph and 0's across the board


2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. 210Gallon tank, Fluval FX5 (12"-14" Fahaka Puffer, 8 assorted random 1.5"-2" ciclids, 1 OC algea eater)
Yes he has no issue with the ciclids in the tank. Always swap around with them we had a few guppies in the tank that have been in since we set this tank up a few months ago and he wants nothing to do with them.

3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank
Feeding - 1 Freshwater Clam every 2 days
30% water change every week
Water temp 82 degrees, Epsom Salt 1 teaspoon per 10g added 10-3

4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
Added epsom salt and bumped temp to 82 degrees usually leave the heater off since I live in Texas
Did move decor around 2 days ago and he is now hanging out in his new cave. He outgrew the last one.

5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it?
Setup in July/August,
RO System on house
Filter purchased from Dallas North Aquarium already had bacteria in it because it was a used filter taken off one of their show tanks. (Watched them remove it) Had small issue getting it cycled and added the instant cycle stuff. worked great and everything settled down no spikes and water has been great ever since.

Problem:
He hasn't gone to the bathroom and looks either bloated or stopped up.
Was advised to kick the heat up to 82degrees and try epsom salt to relax him.

Any suggestions on this? He swims around just a little but really he looks like a blimp bumping into things. Not normal puffer activity.
Usually greats me always begging for food. Very energetic
I feel so bad for him.
If anyone has any tips tricks please let me know.

I cant remember if it was nitrite or nitrate that was 10ppm

You need to know this! Please get your own test kits--they're not that expensive. Check for a Master Test Kit on Amazon.

Add 1 tbsp Epsom salt/10g. Change up his food, puffers need a varied diet.
library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/

Pufferpunk wrote:

I cant remember if it was nitrite or nitrate that was 10ppm

You need to know this! Please get your own test kits--they're not that expensive. Check for a Master Test Kit on Amazon.

Add 1 tbsp Epsom salt/10g. Change up his food, puffers need a varied diet.
library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/

I wish I could get my own test kit I am completely colorblind only see black white grey brown.

The 10ppm was not harmful

Already added the salt last night in section 3 of the data provided.

Any other ideas by chance?

Feed him/her peas

May or may not eat peas per se but certainly might eat ghost shrimp gut-loaded with peas or algae wafers.

May or may not eat peas per se but certainly might eat ghost shrimp gut-loaded with peas or algae wafers.

Nitrite tests do not read as high as 10ppm. It would require dilution(s) to give a reading at that level, and no LFS could/would/should say it was fine. If they do, get water tested elsewhere, and never buy fish or anything else from a shop which says 10ppn nitrite is fine.

I did a couple water changes over the weekend took another sample in and everything was at 0.

He didn't like the peas and didn't go for a ghost shrimp, frozen shrimp or a crawfish

Last night he would start to try and swim and then move a little then crash into the sand.

He spun around and I got another good look at his rear end.
Its not pushed out almost looks puckered.
It has a little white piece in the middle. Hopefully he passes it and if its IP then the aquariuam salt and the heat should help correct?

Anything else you guys can think of that I can do for him to make him comfortable?

Salt/heat is for ich, not IPs. Are you adding Epsom salt?
They need to be eting to treat: library/hospital/internal-parasites-pre ... treatment/

Pufferpunk wrote:Salt/heat is for ich, not IPs. Are you adding Epsom salt?
They need to be eting to treat: library/hospital/internal-parasites-pre ... treatment/

I haven't added more salt since the water changes this weekend.
We added the Aquarium Salt Friday did the water changes Sunday.

Tried getting him to eat and use Metronidazole soaked into his food but didnt work.
Looks like I might have to go down the tube feeding route.

Don't use aquarium salt. You don't know what's in it. Table salt is fine. Not sure why you're using any salt at all actually? I suggested Epsom salt for constipation.

Have you tried soaking his food in garlic? Please re-read that link on IPs.

Pufferpunk wrote:Don't use aquarium salt. You don't know what's in it. Table salt is fine. Not sure why you're using any salt at all actually? I suggested Epsom salt for constipation.

Have you tried soaking his food in garlic? Please re-read that link on IPs.

I used API Aquarium Salt.. I thought table salt was bad for them?
Or am I totally confused?

I will try the garlic tonight

Sorry for the grainy picture

Well we are in week three of this mess and he still hasn't eaten anything. We had some small snails in the tank but i think the ciclids picked them off.
He wont touch shrimp, clams, krill soaked in garlic or a live crayfish. I am going to try earthworms/red wigglers tonight.

He was stopped up we believed he passed whatever he had in him last week.

Any suggestions would be great.

Tank Size 210g
Water parameters
pH 7.6
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrates - <10ppm
(API - Liquid Test Kit)

Good idea on the earthworms, that has always gotten my fahaka eating.