The Puffer Forum

My 7 month old suvatti are in a 90l tank (new 260l arriving this week:)
They have seemed happy enough in there until this past week when one has started acting oddly. The other is perfectly happy and normal in his behavior. I'm a bit confused as to the problem.

The smaller of the 2 has taken to floating face down, tail up next to flu-val 1..this is not the primary filter in this tank, but an extra sunk half way down one wall of it to create more of a current for them, as being river fish in the natural habitat they might like a bit of extra water movement.

His under belly is flashed up all black and white and his co louring has darkened on top and has remained this way for a while.

He is totally off his feed. While his tank mate is happy feeding , this one has refused food both of the last feeds offered. Even though it was his fave prawn both times to try to tempt him. There are snails in the tank for him to chomp on should he change his mind, but he isn't touching them.

I have seen him move only to sulk a bit under the surface of the water motionless for a few hours at a time, I thought maybe the water parameters and air might off , water tests show everything is normal...and his buddy isn't doing the same thing at all.

The only thing i can think of is he has seen his reflection in the side of the tank next to where he has taken to hanging out and got a little love sick, lol.He is looking fairly healthy, not thin and ill, he just isn't himself and behaving normally for him...which is clearly a concern.

Any ideas on what might be up with him?

What are your water parameters? Sometimes they will effect one puffer more than another. Also, have you seen the sickly puffer poo? White poo and stopping eating are signs of internal parasites.

It won't be internal Parasites in this case though.

Two things with juvenile suvattii's that I have noticed.

Alot do hover nose down. Its as though they are actively watching the bottom for food. However I would expect them to take the food you offer.

My second thought would be a sligt case of constipation. This often causes them to float with their tail in the upright position.
How often and what are you feeding them. I have had a little problem with regular prawns and constipation.
I would feed them once a day and have one feeding a week sometimes two missed.
If it becomes a problem where the puffer is struggling with bouyancy then get back for more info.

the water test i did was for ammonia 0, nitrate 0 nitrite 0 and pH which came out at 7.6 which is a little higher.

I have been feeding bloodworm, prawn, and Mussel with the odd snail thrown in, never the same meal twice in a row and every other day.
Edit to clarify* i did try feeding everyday for a while and the food got ignored mostly, which is why i went with every other day as it seems to be more in keeping with there natural metabolism.

Seen no puffer poop out of these too ever , i think they have a problem with being seen having a poo to be honest, not something I have ever observed in them. But he is looking a little round......Rocker, how do you deal with constipation in your savatti? got to be worth a shot, id like to see him doing better before he goes to his new home shortly.

Thanks guys...always good to pick your brains:)

out of the puffers I have the suvattii seem to 'deal' with it the best. there is no chance of it being IP's so I would just observe for a little while and keep us updated.

Odd that your nitrates are 0.

You should be picking up some nitrate with your test unless it is old.

Would an epsom salt bath work Rocker?

PP I rarely have nitrates either, but then again almost all my tanks are heavily planted

manutius wrote:You should be picking up some nitrate with your test unless it is old.

Would an epsom salt bath work Rocker?

it would as a last resort. i would bide my time and if it is constipation let nature take it course. I have often had the little ones suffer for a day or two but no longer than that. they sort themselves out.

Well he is still not eating, but he has come down from his spot at the top of the tank and gone back to his cave. Hopefully he might start feeding again soon.

Unfortunately I came downstairs this morning to find Cheech dead on the floor of the tank. He was not the one with the odd behavior this week, but my bigger, and i thought healthier Savatti.

Chong is now sitting in cheeches fave spot sulking and I'm mortified. That's my first puffer lost and I have no idea why. I am far to squeamish to open up the body and see whats what inside!

Shame as their new 260l arrives today...now i might have to put my tropicals in it and put my surviving puffer in the 180l he wont look so lost in there till i can find him a new mate i guess.

So RIP Cheech, you will be very badly missed.

Sorry to hear that Leigh. Its eems trhat quite a few puffers have lept out of their tank recently. How sad

This is terrible news. I feel like I have lost one of my own.

How is the other one at the moment?
How big is the one you have left?

Are you serious about wanting another?

Yeah Rocker I'm serious, she looks so miserable on her own. ( I say she I'm guessing here) She has never shown any aggression to her tank mate, and i doubt she would to another.

She is only about an inch and a half long , very thin now after a week and a bit of not eating. I have managed to tempt her with a few small snails this morning and a little frozen blood worm and brine shrimp, but she is only picking at her food, and only then when the lights are out.

Will be starting on her new home tonight, maybe a change of scene will perk her up.

Just a quick update to say she seems fine now, i have caught her out and about hunting snails in her tank twice today, gave her a little bloodworm as she seems to have her appitite back tonight, and thats been demolished.

New tank is up and maturing, it already had mature filter media from what was in there before so cycling should be faster for this tank. Going to get it some more plants at the weekend and im hoping to move her over soonish.