The Puffer Forum

My F8 puffer isn't doing well he's been declining in the past couple days. I tried to do research and figure out what was wrong but I just can't find the answer.

Ive had him for about a month. He was a very happy, curious, lively little guy the whole time until a couple days ago. I watched him carefully because i was stupid and put him in a tank that hadnt cycled. I found out later that was bad. I used tetra safe start plus when i set up the tank. He's in a 20 gallon. With 3 bumblebee gobies. There were 2 ghost shrimp that he didn't mess with but I moved them to my snail breeding tank.
Ammonia: 0ppm
Ph:8.2
Nitrites: 0 ppm
Nitrates: less than 5 ppm
Temp: 80f
Sp gravity: ~1.004
I treat with prime and I started a parasite med by Prodibio, after seeing him scratching on one of his caves. I'm following the instructions still with that. And I did a 50% water change yesterday per those instructions. I have an stone and water sprite to help with the oxygen. My gobies are perfectly fine and happy. But my puffer is just hanging out near the top of the tank, laying in the floating water sprite. He looks like he's breathing a little harder than what I would call his normal. His colors on his back are still bright and his belly is white. He can move he just doesn't want to and he refused to eat today. Help!!!

Did this behavior start after you added the anti-parasite meds?

It was before.

I was too late he died.

Unfortunately puffers aren't as hardy as other fish and your gobies would withstand an uncycled tank much better than your F8. You could try daily partial water changes and hope he gets better but i fear it may be too late.

That said hard breathing could be a sign of over eating so if he has a massive bulging belly then it could be that?

Sorry he died. Lesson learned.