C. irrubesco not eating and less active
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2021 7:53 pm
1. Water Parameters:
Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate: 0/0/0 ppm (API Master Test Kit)
pH: 6.4 (Hanna pH Checker)
2. Tank:
20 gallon long
1x female C. irrubesco (the sick one)
1x male C. irrubesco
6x kohl loaches
3. Maintenance:
Tank is fed snails, live white worms, and Fluval color enhancing flakes every other day
15% water change once a week with 50% RO water, 50% tap water
Seachem Prime
4. Changes:
Added about two gallons of blackwater one week ago. Blackwater was made by putting peat in a back into a bucket of RO water
5. Cycle
Tank has been running for about three weeks. I did not cycle the tank itself, but I added a cycled Aqueon 20 HOB filter that came from a 10 gallon that had been running for 1.5 years. I moved the filter quickly, it spent about 45 seconds not in water. No diseases in the 10 gallon. I tested the water every other day for the past three weeks to ensure that the tank is cycled.
I bought a male and female C. irrubesco from my lfs about three weeks ago. They were both healthy and eating. I never saw outright aggression between the two puffers, but they would sometimes both go after the same worm/snail. Roughly two days ago, I noticed that the female has been more shy. This morning, I discovered her swimming along the bottom of the tank. She ate 3-5 white worms but did not eat any more, even when I offered her snails/frozen mysis shrimp. She has what seems to be white growths on her back and caudal fin. She's not as active as she was before, but she still swims, albeit more slowly. I suspected that the male has been bullying the female so I put him in a floating breeder box for the time being. Right now she is hovering above the bottom of tank. I have attached pictures and a video for reference: https://imgur.com/a/vqwp7Od (Images were too big to be attached.) I have also attached a picture of the entire tank. I am waiting on some crypts to fill out the left side of the tank. I am hoping any behavior problems improve once I add more cover. I have two questions:
1. Does anyone know what is afflicting her? I think it may be bacterial but I am not sure.
2. How should I go about treating her?
I am entirely new to the world of puffers, and I'm really enjoying them so far. Any input is greatly appreciated.
Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate: 0/0/0 ppm (API Master Test Kit)
pH: 6.4 (Hanna pH Checker)
2. Tank:
20 gallon long
1x female C. irrubesco (the sick one)
1x male C. irrubesco
6x kohl loaches
3. Maintenance:
Tank is fed snails, live white worms, and Fluval color enhancing flakes every other day
15% water change once a week with 50% RO water, 50% tap water
Seachem Prime
4. Changes:
Added about two gallons of blackwater one week ago. Blackwater was made by putting peat in a back into a bucket of RO water
5. Cycle
Tank has been running for about three weeks. I did not cycle the tank itself, but I added a cycled Aqueon 20 HOB filter that came from a 10 gallon that had been running for 1.5 years. I moved the filter quickly, it spent about 45 seconds not in water. No diseases in the 10 gallon. I tested the water every other day for the past three weeks to ensure that the tank is cycled.
I bought a male and female C. irrubesco from my lfs about three weeks ago. They were both healthy and eating. I never saw outright aggression between the two puffers, but they would sometimes both go after the same worm/snail. Roughly two days ago, I noticed that the female has been more shy. This morning, I discovered her swimming along the bottom of the tank. She ate 3-5 white worms but did not eat any more, even when I offered her snails/frozen mysis shrimp. She has what seems to be white growths on her back and caudal fin. She's not as active as she was before, but she still swims, albeit more slowly. I suspected that the male has been bullying the female so I put him in a floating breeder box for the time being. Right now she is hovering above the bottom of tank. I have attached pictures and a video for reference: https://imgur.com/a/vqwp7Od (Images were too big to be attached.) I have also attached a picture of the entire tank. I am waiting on some crypts to fill out the left side of the tank. I am hoping any behavior problems improve once I add more cover. I have two questions:
1. Does anyone know what is afflicting her? I think it may be bacterial but I am not sure.
2. How should I go about treating her?
I am entirely new to the world of puffers, and I'm really enjoying them so far. Any input is greatly appreciated.