The Puffer Forum

My boyfriend and I have started a saltwater tank about 3 months ago...before that we had a freshwater then moved onto brackish water...anyway..we tried to get as much experience a possible before going saltwater....now my situation is...We bought a burr puffer and he is absolutely amazing. His eating habits were great. He fed on freeze dried shirmp and loves them..but about 3-4 days ago he started turning pale and lost his color along with his appetite. Then Sunday we were going to take him to the local fish store so they could cure him back to health. By the time we got home he was perfect again and ate a few shrimp. Then this morning I went to turn on his white light..( i use the blue light at night...and then turn them both on during the day) and he was laying there on the sand. Now he is trying to swim then just falls back down...he goes belly up and then swims again. We just did a 5 gallon water change so it wouldn't be TOO much for him. we treated the water and the salinity is perfect. I just don't know what else i could do. I really don't want to lose him he is very hard to find and acts just like a dog towards us..PLEASE HELP

P.S. we have a 28 gallon tank

We will need more information. Here are a few questions to get things started. Answer what you can and we'll go from there.

Please provide measurements for:
SG
Ammonia
Nitrites
Nitrates
Temperature

Describe:
Filtration
Live rock?
Type of substrate
Water change schedule
Any medications or other additives?
Tank mates?
Any recent changes to the tank?
Painting or other chemicals used in the area recently (don't forget yard spraying)?
How long have you had the fish?

Please provide measurements for:
SG
Ammonia
Nitrites
Nitrates
Temperature


Ok as for those...we just went to the local fish store and did every test possible said that our water is clean and maybe a little too clean. the only thing that i can think of that would make him sick was that my boyfriend put in 2 algon pads. He found these algea/fats/protein remover and used 2 pads instead of 1. As for the temperature is 78. I'm sorry i don't know the exact amount for the nitrates and ammonia level. But the lady said that everything looked good.


Describe:
Filtration: I have an AR-620 tank that came with a built in filter we do change the pads. and i have an internal filter. and some bubbles.
Live rock?10 lbs
Type of substrate: living sand on top of regular sand.
Water change schedule: this was the first one we have done.
Any medications or other additives? nitromax
Tank mates? 2 damsels.
Any recent changes to the tank? 2 featherdusters about 2-3 weeks ago
Painting or other chemicals used in the area recently (don't forget yard spraying)? no
How long have you had the fish? about 3 months

One 5 gallon water change in 3 months?

Yes I know that is very bad. We used to keep up every 2 - 3 weeks but we havn't spent as much time as usual at home.

I have just noticed he has open sores around his cheek area

How many gallons is that & how big is the puffer? Start by doing 25% daily water changes in the tank. Do you have a protein skimmer running on the tank? If not, get one.

My tank is 28 gallons. The puffer is about 3 1/2 - 4 inches. No the man at the fish store told us to use liquid gravel vac and algon pads In place of the protein skimmer he said it wasn't necessary,so that is what we've been doing. I'll go looking for a skimmer today after work.

do you know of any vitamins to put in for the puffer that will make the open mouth sores go away?

Start w/Melafix & Pimafix. Anything else will disturb your biological filtration. I'd prepare to be purchasing a larger tank, if he makes it.

well hopefully the pimafix will help thank you very much for your help...right now he goes to the top of the water when he sees his food can but then falls back down like he has no energy left. so hopefully he will make it

I also have one more question..i have a spiny box puffer...will he secrete poison when he dies...or even right now as he looks like he is dying...im doing another 5 gallon water change due to the high price of instant ocean salt here.

today Pluto ( my spiny box puffer ) has his color back.Althought he is still lying on the floor i hope that is a sign that he is getting better. I did another 5 gallon change. I tried to put a frozen shrimp in his mouth but he didn't take it. He started wagging his back fin when it was put in front of his mouth. I bought the pimafix as suggested and put it in the water right now. I just don't know how to feed him and i don't want him to starve. any comments please?

Seachem garlic guard perhaps to intice him to eat?