The Puffer Forum

Hi. I have a juvenile, about 2-3", green spotted puffer. Have had him for a few weeks, when we first got him he was very happy and active. Wouldn't touch the frozen blood worms but attacked and devoured any snails we put in. Also started feeding him live super worms (as that is what they were fed at the store) and he loved them! Would gobble them up as soon as they hit the water. But just recently he has lost all interest in the super worms and snails.. Tried giving him pieces of shrimp and he got excited, took one bite then left it alone. He is still fairly active, swimming around a decent amount but has had a black stomach for a few days and no longer recognizes or follows you at the tank. He also seems a bit over reactive and jumpy.

He is in a 75 gallon tank with lots of decor, 1 large & 2 medium discuss, a very large catfish and a large plecostomus. The water is brackish, levels are all fine, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate and very low ammonia. Just did a 25% water change and do one every few days.
Please let me know if anyone has any suggestions I really want this guy to get better :/ all other fish are fine.

Please, please, please move the non-brackish fish out of that tank or move the puffer to a different one!!! The discus & pleco need water the exact opposite of hard/high pH conditions of BW. They are soft/acidic fish.

I am moving this to the Hospital Forum, so you can answer all the Qs above, in red. The fact that there is any detectable ammonia at all & no nitrate is a problem right there.

Also, super worms have a hard outer shell (chiton) which is very difficult for a fish to digest & can clog their digestive tract. They are extremely high in fat.

Kudos to housing him in a large tank. Many have come for help on here have bought several of them and placed them in 10 gallon tanks or even Betta bowls! Along with what PP said about the tankmates, definitely do some water changes which will be beneficial in controlling toxic water readings. Fortunately, having a large tank versus a small tank and will be even more beneficial since the effects can quickly get concentrated and rise to deadly levels in smaller ones.

Also try to obtain some of this: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/vie ... =2&t=32416