The Puffer Forum

My smaller dwarf puffer was having issues and I wasn't sure why. I check the tank every morning and night but only saw strange signs 2 days ago. She physically looked normal. No markings/lacerations, enlarged body parts, pop-eyes, not even discoloring or a sunken belly. However, she was originally spinning, like a torpedo, in one place occasionally and eventually was "hanging" in the water head down/tail up (and curled). She would eventually move and swim away but was not interested in any food. The food test (a black worm-her favorite) failed. So I added some Kordon Fish Protector and a little Epsom salt before we ran our errands.

A few hours later I noticed she was laying still on top of one of my sponge filters. She almost looked dead, but still physically fine. So I put my feeding tongs in the tank to check. Luckily she swam away, pretty quickly. She isn't doing the weird swimming anymore.

The next day, she was still alive and not floating anywhere. Just not eating still. I found her at different parts of the tank and swimming, but mainly staying still. Still no other signs. I also did a WC to see if that would help as well.

Then I came home tonight and she was dead on the bottom of the tank...Any ideas on what just happened? It all happened so fast!

Tank info?

Water tests?

Whoops, forgot this forum doesn't post that in my info. It's a 10G, heavily planted, pH is slightly above neutral, mild hardness. I keep the temp around 77. Do weekly ~1/3 WCs. The tank has been up and running for a couple of years now. I've had the puffers for about a year. The other one is fine. No fighting, or stress of any sorts that I ever saw. She was eating and normal a few days ago. Nothing in the tank has changed in a long time.

Old age? We really have no idea how old they are when we get them, if buying as full-sized adults. I always try to start with juvies.