The Puffer Forum

Just got home from work and one of my puffers is sitting motionless at bottom of the tank. I have them living a small (5.5g) QT tank temporarily until I get my 33g totally cycled. It is only the 2 puffers in there, and the water is at 1.003SG. Details:

1) Your water parameters - PH 8.0, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, and Nitrates .5.

2) Feeding and water change schedule.
Feed daily, 50% PWC weekly.

3) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so.
None

4) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it?
Been running a few years, its my QT tank, the fish that used to live in there are in a bigger tank now.

He is breathing but will not swim or even look at food. He is just sitting there, I thought he was dead at first. I dipped in the net to see if he would react and move but he moved like and inch and thats it. In the last week I noticed the puffer was not very active, usually light colored hanging out by the heater most of the day.

The other puffer looks great, very active, good color, eats like there is no tomorrow.

How do I diagnose Zizi? He looks like he about to die anytime What should I do?

what is you temperature of the tank. 2 puffers should be in a bigger thank then that. is it set up for breakish or freshwater. the tank might not be cycled engough for them. do you feed them everyday and how many times a day.


stephen

Temp is at about 77F. The puffers were just in there temporaily until the 33G was totally ammonia free. The water is brackish, 1.003SG. I feed them once per day. The sick one was eating but not much. He just takes bites out of stuff while Sammy wolfs everything down as fast as he can. Zizi doesn't look too good, he is leaning over on his side now =(

What kind of puffers? You can instantly cycle a tank w/Bio-Spira.

F8 puffers. I have some bio spira in the mail right now, I got the email that it was shipped today.

The tank they are in is cycled though and I tested it today, it's free of ammonia. He has been looking kindof sick since I got him, it's weird because the other in the same tank is fine.

Both gills are moving ok and he doesnt look like there is any ick or anything on him. Just is faded in color.

There was a dead F8 in the tank I got the puffs from, it's possible he has whetever sickness that dead one had.

When he eats does he look really skinny and during the day does his belly look like it is caving inwards. bring the temp to about 80-82.

stephen

He always looks pretty skinny, I think because he doesn't eat much. I will raise the temp, thanks.

he might have a case of internal parasites

you can also try diffrent foods and do a water change. Does he have a darkish gray color to him and around his belly.

stephen

I did a PWC last night. Both of the puffers bellies turn dark periodically, maybe they both have some sort of parasites but only 1 is sick so far. What should I get to treat parasites that will be avail in a LFS? I have to go get some more salt tonight anyway. I will likely lose the sick puffer, he really looks bad, doesn't move at all. But if its parasites I still want to treat them both just incase Sammy has the same thing.

i would just go to your lfs and see what they have for internal parasties. Try to get something that is good for both fresh and salt water. There are a few kinds out there but i have had trouble finding them in my lfs. Your going to have to ask someone in your lfs or just read the lables of some parasite medicine make sure it is internal though. This same thing happened to my two puffers. One got sick and really dark and then the other did and then they both died.

stephen