The Puffer Forum

1. pH 7.4, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 5

2) 10 gal tank. only inhabitant is the pea puffer. one 30 g aquaclear filter, 2 sponge filters. Temp 78

3) Feed him frozen bloodworms daily, snails as treat. Change water 10% daily. Use prime to dechlorinate water.

4) Have added 5ml Melafix daily for last week. Added 1/2 tsp aquarium salt 2 days ago. Have done several water changes since and not added any more.

5) Tank set up for 3 years. Used fishless cycle. Have had Puff Ball for almost 2 years.

Problem...about 2 weeks ago I noticed he was keeping to one side of the tank and seemed to have trouble seeing the food when I put it in his tank. About a week ago his left eye started swelling. He was still eating well. I started adding Melafix. His eye got worse, but he didn't seem sick otherwise. I added some aquarium salt two days ago and his eye got better. He seemed to be improving. Yesterday he was still eating but was laying on tank floor. Today, he is not eating, is being moved by the currents and laying on tank floor. He stomach is sunken in.

Any way to help him?

If not, can we put a different puffer in the tank right away or do we need to scrub and re-cycle?

I would scrub & recycle. With a single DP in a 10g, Safestart should work well.

Is it possible he's old? How's your source of worms? Do they look healthy when purchased & rinsed every day?

Poor guy. I keep thinking I will see him "smiling" at me when I walk by his tank.

I got him when he little. So he was probably just over 2 years old.

The worms were from a reputable fish store. However, I did not rinse them. Didn't know I should. Now I know.

Since only one was eye was popped, i imagine it was physical trauma. I just can't figure out why the sudden sunken stomach and death when his eye was getting better.

I feel a little shell-shocked. He was my favorite fish. My son wants a new one asap, but I can't do it. It will be good to take some time and clean his tank, re-cycle, etc.

Be sure the worms have no dead ones in there & smell fresh when purchased. Rinse daily in a brine shrimp net. Keep in a shallow container with holes on top, with just enough water to cover them, in the fridge.

They were frozen...is that okay?

Oh, sure! I thought they were live. I hope your puffer gets well.