MBU Puffer

[ollyambrose]

Hi there

I'm new to the board and would very much appreciate it, if someone would be able to give me some advice. I bought a MBU puffer just over 3 weeks ago, he was fine for the first couple of weeks, however about a week ago he started displaying a number of symtoms.

First of all i noticed he was not eating his food, which was very unlike him. He then began to roll on his side, there was also rapid gill movement and sometimes he would swim frantically to the surface as if he wasn't getting enough air, which led me to believe he had a swim bladder problem. He was also yawning alot.

I decided to isolate him in a container near the surface of the water close to the filter, so he could get enough oxygen. He improved slightly and he no longer seems to have any difficulty swimming. He has a very good colouring, however i did notice whilst he was in the smaller tank, his left eye is cloudy and there is a slight white discolouration to his right fin.

I spoke to the chap i bought him from and he suggested an immediate 50% water change, extesive clean of the gravel. I've done this and also tested the water for Nitrite, PH, Ammonia & Nitrate. Please see results below.

Nitrite: 0
PH: 6.6
Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 100
Temp: 72

Note: I believe the high Nitrate level was due purely to the water change (all the other tests were carried out prior to the change), i have bought a nitrate pouch that goes in the filter, which should lower it over the next 48 hrs.

I usually perform a 20% water change every 3 weeks, i add stress coat and PH balance when i do this. Since he's been ill i have added Revitalising tonic and aquarium first aid (Anti-Bacterial) in small doses. I have cleaned both my Juwel and Fluval filters, not at the same time.

The tank is a Juwel 260 and i keep 2 Ruby Sharks, 4 Clown Loached, Neon's, Sword Tail Platies (which have been breeding like wildfire), Sucking Loach, 4 Plec's (1 Mango, 1 Vampire, 1 Gold Nugget and another which looks slightly like the Vampire)

I'm really at a loss what else to do and i didn't want to treat the tank with chemicals until i was sure what he was suffering from, as symtoms have changed. I released him back into the main tank last night and he seemed quite active, although he hasn't eaten for 5 day's now and i'm pretty sure he won't live too much longer if he doesn't eat soon.

 

[bunjiweb]

you keep a mbu with neons and platies? You realise that soon it will start snacking on your fish and I would have said everything except the plecs and possibly the clown loach will at some point be eaten.

Also a Rio 240 is aboute the absolute minimum you would want to keep a mbu in with maybe 1 or 2 plecs, let alone the ammount you have. You should either get a 2nd 4ft tank, the wider the better, and have just the mbu and a plec in that tank.

Ben

 

[CFC]

The nitrates are the problem, MBU's are highly sensative to nitrate and should not be exposed to levels above 40ppm. Nitrates should go down after a water change, not up, if your tapwater is pushing your nitrates up then you seriously need to think about getting a R/O unit installed to pre filter the water before you use it.

MBUs can reach 30 inches in captivity so you are going to need a MUCH bigger tank in the future, a 8x2x3' is the smallest recomended size for an adult MBU.

 

[The-Wolf]

I bow to CFCs superiour knowlage of this species and it's needs

 

[CFC]

MBU's are also highly sensative to medications so i would advise not medicating the tank just yet, get the nitrates down to a reasonable level as quick as you can and see if the puffers health improves before you go dosing the tank with something you may not need.
All the symptoms described are classic signs of poor water quality.

 

[ollyambrose]

Many thanks for all your comments, i did know i would need a new tank at some point and i was looking to phase out the other fish apart from the bigger plec's. He's stil quite small at the moment.

Regarding getting the nitrate down as soon as possible, what's the best product to use, i bought something called Zerb Orb? i think, which is a pouch that goes in the filter, any suggestions?

If that doesn't work i'll try the anti-bacterial treatments (formeldahyde and Malachite green) by NT labs, however have not seen this product before, is it widely available, i've only ever bought the one's that are numbered 1 to 10 to treat specific symtoms.

Once again many thanks for you help, i'll keep you updated on his health.

Cheers

Oliver

 

[CFC]

Usually the best way to get nitrates down is water changes, test your tapwater to see how high the nitrates are and if they are ok then do 20% water changes daily until you have them down to below 40ppm, once you reach this level it should be easy to maintain it with weekly or twice weekly 25% changes. If your tapwater is unsuitable then you will have to either buy a R/O unit or buy ready made R/O water from a lfs that sells it.

I personally wouldnt bother with the nitrate absorbing pouches, they can actually only soak up very little nitrate before they are spent and need recharging or replacing.