The Puffer Forum

Hi,

I've just collected my first Figure 8 puffer from my LFS who ordered it in specially. They had it there for a few days where it came down with ich and also jumped out of the tank but managed to survive. It's been eating frozen bloodworms and started treatment. I've brought him home and he's on his own in a 48l freshwater tank, with aragonite substrate, ph 8 and fully cycled. Have tried to feed him tonight with frozen bloodworms but completely ignores them so I've sucked them back out.

I just have a few questions:

1) is it normal not to eat for a while until settled in new home?
2) should I start the conversion to brackish now or after he's settled in and ich problem is resolved?
3) I've bought an ich treatment (waterlife malachite green if I remember right). Is this ok to start using or would conversion to brackish treat the problem?
4) I have attached some photos, if anyone could tell me if he looks healthy - he does have a lot of flaky bits coming off him and he swims up and down the glass a lot so his fins are constantly flapping quite hard. I'm not sure if he's thin or just normal?!

Thanks very much in advance.

Please do NOT use ich meds on a puffer!
Keep the water pristine, (80% every other day WC are best), raise the SG to 1.002 & the temp to 85: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=28113

Thank you! I'll do that right away. I was going to turn the setup to brackish don't way so is it ok to use instant ocean salt rather than normal NaCl, or is that best?

I take it I don't need to worry about it's feeding yet as it's still not interested ?

I've added photos as I forgot to last night.

Thanks again.

I thought, from previous posts I've read, that Protozin was OK to use?

Huge +1 to Pufferpunk's comments above!

I've had him about 24 hours now and he's constantly pacing up and down one place against the glass, and occasionally swims around but let's himself be carried in to plants/decorations. Have put food right up to his mouth but no interest. Should I be worried?!

Have you done all I've suggested & NO meds? What foods are you offering?

Yes, thanks. No meds just heat and salinity.

Have tried frozen (defrosted of course) bloodworms, which the LFS said he was eating fine there. Also tried brine shrimp and there are some small snails in there with him. Just seems fixated on pacing, seems oblivious to everything around him :/

Give him some time to adjust to his new surroundings. Also, they won't eat if they're ill. Do you have access to any live worms?