The Puffer Forum

I have a F8 which a few days ago was spinning like a bullet, or barrel roll.
It would bump into objects as it did so. It seemed unintentional.

This was in the evening and although I didn't time it must have went on for an hour. It was sad to watch and I was sure it would be dead by morning.

The next day it seemed normal. Since then it has seemed normal and has been eating well, until today when it started spinning again.

Color is good. Belly is white and neither bloated, or concave.

The tank is a 20gal with the only tankmate an Orange Chromide, which appears healthy.

Water changes are 50% every 2 weeks.
Feed is frozen krill and an occasional snail.
Marine salt at 1.008
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10
PH 8

The tank is well mature at ~2 years.

Any ideas and assistance appreciated.

Wow, that is definately strange.

Water changes are your first step, there's always a chance something is getting in the water (hair spray, cleaning product, air freshener?) or that some level is off. Generally we suggest doing 50% changes every week, but any time you see a problem like this doing them more often is definately better.

It could be a swim bladder issue starting up, or possibly some sort of constipation that is throwing off his swim bladder.

If its constipation, you could try feeding him peas...

Sounds a lot like what was happening to my GSP: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/vie ... php?t=7275

Phaedrus wrote:Sounds a lot like what was happening to my GSP: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/vie ... php?t=7275

There definitely are similarities.

Now he is hiding and breathing hard. It's much like the first time.
Hopefully the "event" has passed and this is recuperation, but it's just wait and see.

If a similar recovery happens I'll try some greens in the diet.

It didn't make it.

It stopped the spinning, but struggled and floated around for a few hours.
Then it found a quiet corner, had labored breathing for a while and expired.

Sorry to hear that.

I'm sorry. I'm starting to believe that fish also have things like epilepsy and other problems that humans get. Wouldn't be all that surprising really, dogs and cats do.

Sorry for your loss... Don't let it discourage you.