Figure 8 Puffer Sick

[Hayleamorgan]

Hi I recently bought a figure 8 puffer fish and it was sold to me as being a freshwater tropical fish. After doing some research i found out they prefer brackish water and my fish was not looking great and not eating so i added some salt. before i bought the fish i checked all my nitrite, nitrate, ammonia and PH levels and all were good as i had expected as this tank had been set up for over 8 months previously with cold water fish in untill i moved them to another tank. a couple of days after i bought a load of plants as my fish looked bored and i had read that they need obstructions to stop them seeing from side to sid of the tank. After that my fish started getting worse so i checked my nitrite, nitrate, ammonia and PH levels again and discoverd nitrite and nitrate were terrible!! Could it be the plants?? I have done 50% water changes for the last 4 days and nothing seems to be working!! Please help me as i really dont want to loose my little Puffer!!
Thanks in advance.
Haylea

 

[WILDER]

Best to research the fish before you buy not the other way round.
You would be better off posting this thead here.
http/www.fishforums.net/category/48/Brackish-Forum/
How many gallons is the tank.
How many fish and which type.

 

[Hayleamorgan]

Hi
Just 1 Figure 8 puffer in a 45L tank. He is about 1.5inchs long.
Thanks
Haylea

 

[WILDER]

Can we take a look at your water stats.
Do you have another mature tank you could take a sponge from for the filter.

 

[Hayleamorgan]

So you dont think it could be the plants??
I have a cold water tank but the filter is different i have an old filter in a box do you think i should put that back in? Ammonia is 0, Nitrite is bright pink and nitrate in getting a little better going from red to orange.
Thanks
Haylea

 

[WILDER]

Is there a filter then in the puffer tank.
I would squeeze some beneifical bacteria onto the sponges from your mature tank.

 

[Hayleamorgan]

Hi yes there are filters in both. So i just squeeze some of the water from one sponge to ther other? Shall i do another water change tonite? Shal i put some of the water from my other tank in?
Thanks
Haylea

 

[WILDER]

Yes just squeeze a mature sponge to get some benefical bacteria onto the uncycled sponge.
You can take water from another tank as long as the temp matches and there no desease in the tank you are taking the water from.

 

[DarkEntity]

It sounds as if the tank wasnt Cycled at all before adding the fish, this is bad in general, but with Puffers very very bad, these fish are extremely sensitive to poor water. Get some Biospira if you can, or get some mature filter media if you cant, this will help combat the toxins produced by the fish (Puffers are VERY messy for their size)

Once you have the water stable you need to start rasining it to brackish using marine salt (nothing else will do)you can safely raise by .002 per week or so without damaging the bacteria. You only need to get it up to about 1.005 and he will be perfectly happy.

IF you add your location, you may be able to get some filter media off someone on the forum to help.

 

[Hayleamorgan]

Hi Thanks for the advice. I just cannot understand it this tank has been set up for over 8 months and previously had my fantails in for about 6 months. The fantails only moved out about 1 month ago after there bigger tank was ready for them. That tank reading are all good and it is a lot newer.

 

[WILDER]

Good luck.

 

[Hayleamorgan]

Morning All!!
Well i got home last nite and did as i was told. Squeezed all the stuff from one filter sponge to the other. Checked water quality just to make sure other tanks water was good before i put it in the bad tank and it was so i took about 75% out of bad tank and filled it back up with water from my good tank with some kettle water added to get the temp right.
Went to work last nite and when i got back offered him some food but still ignored it the little bugger.
When i woke up this morning he seems to look a bit better and his mouth has closed up so im going to go back at lunchtime and try and feed hime again. I JUST WISH HE WOULD EAT!!!
Haylea

 

[Hayleamorgan]

Hi All
Im so happy!! I can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel!! I went home at lunch to try and feed my little puffer and he finally took 3 live bloodworm!! He is looking so much better more sprightly and everything, i just hope he is getting better and its not just a trick!! After the blood worm he got his little tummy back. I am going to go and buy one of those salt thingys 2moro so i can turn it properly brackish as i have just been adding a little bit of marine salt as i have not got one a i thought a bit would be better than none.
Thanks everyone and i will keep you updated!!
Haylea

 

[WILDER]

Sounds abit more promising.
Have you checked your water stats.

 

[Hayleamorgan]

Hi everyone
Im finally getting somewhere with my water i went to the LFS yesterday and bought one of those bag things that suck in the nitrite and some Stress Zyme and it appears to be working my stats are coming down. I also bought one of those salt meter things as i have just been adding a little salt everyday and i measured it today and it says it is at 1.004 but how can i be sure it is working?
Thanks
Haylea