Pls Help Billy My New Puffer

[Curalingua]

Hi

I should know better but I bought a Green Spotted Puffer (he is a baby about 1.5 to 2 inches) on the spur of the moment as I had a cycled 30l tank set up and spare. The LFS told me only to buy one as they fight as they get older and that he would be fine in a 30l tropical tank.

I know I know........what was i doing listening to them.

Anyway he's home now and in the 30l.

Then I started doing the research I should have done before I got him!

Today I spoke to the LFs and they say he was bred and reared in a tropical set up. He has been fed on river shrimps in store (same as I bought from them for him) and no problems the his siblings. I know I could take him back, I got him Monday. But I have fallen in love with him and I know if I take him back he is being sold as a tropical fish and they are recommending he'd be ok in a 30l tank.

So what do you all think, should i keep him, here's my thoughts and worries;

I have a 130l tank empty...it needs cycling. I can set it up in whatever way you recommend with external Eheim filter (it is more than needed for the tank size) It will take 4 weeks to fishless cycle as no medium left to steal from older set ups. I could fish in cycle adding the fluval 2 at same time but am loathed to do the larger daily water chages that will still be needed, but would if recommended for Billy.

I also have a ready cycled 60l (it should be cycled as has been set up for over a year and has just yesterday been emptied of large stock of fish. I can move him to this immediately, if you think that a move to 60l then further move to 130l is not too traumatising, bearing in mind he has just moved from LFS.

Diary of events:

On Monday he seemed very happy when I transferred him to his new 30l tank. He spent hours going up and down everything. I added 2 small freshwater shrimps (recommended by LFS) he enjoyed the chase and gobbled them both up without a problem.

On Tueday, i checked his water and slight trace of ammonia and nitrite 0.25 or less. I did 50 % water change and changed the filter from fluval 1 to fluval 2 (using same cycled media and bit extra). Reading down to 0.
By end of Tue he was swimming round the surface like he was gasping for air. He did not eat on Tuesday, offered shrimp, snail, and bloodworm.

On Wednesday, water reading all ok but still did 30% water change and cleaned up gravel of wasted food he had not eaten. His behaviour was the same. Still not being tempted to eat and swimming around the surface.

Today, Thursday, no change in behaviour really except some swimming up and down in the same spot at the glass and caught him lying at one stage one bottom with tail curled round. Still not eating. Water reading 0.25 of ammonia and nitrite again this afternoon........did 75% water change. Parameters back to 0 and still there 6 hours later. I may be over checking and neurotic now.

Temp = 28 c
pH = 7.8
Water is med to hard

I don't know much about their normal behaviour. I now they have personalities and he may just be very unhappy about the move (dont suppose he likes the ammonia much either). Not sure of their eating habits and if he gorged on monday and now isn't hungry, though most of what i have read suggests they like their food a little too much. Any ideas on what might tempt him to eat?


Please ....what can I do to help him? Should i take him back?

Pls try not to tell me off too much.


Thanks

Fiona
ps. I have ordered a hydrometer and will get marine salt to do the gradual change to brackish water as I have read thats what he needs.

 

[iliveinazoo]

Hello Curalingua,
Unfortunately it appears that your 30litre isn't cycled, you need to add an ammonia source when cycling; either bottled ammonia or rotting prawn or something along them lines.

If your 60 litre is cycled then it would be best to pop him straight into there and start cycling your 130litre tank ready for the final transition.

puffers are very sensitive to ammonia and nitrite and he won't last long at all in an uncycled tank, large 80-90% water changes are all that will save him at the moment until you get him into a cycled tank.

Don't worry about going brackish just yet, when your tank is done and he's settled then gradually increase the salinity.

28 is quite warm; the hotter the water the less oxygen there is available so knocking the temp down to 25 will also help.

 

[Curalingua]

Thank you

I will transfer him to 60l and do fishless cycle on the 130l to move him to. I will change to Brackish over time as recommend.

I am keeping ammonia levels at bay with constant large water changes. He is a lot happier today and eating blood worm. He comes to see me when I do the water changes, I think he's got used to them.

Thanks for your advice.

Fiona

 

[Curalingua]

Hi
Just thought I'd let you know Billy is doing really well. He is eating well and trying out different types of food.
I am going to change him to brackish in the new year.

He is such a character already. I got him in a stupid ignorant way, but I am so glad now that he is okay (touch wood).

Thanks

Fiona

 

[Curalingua]

I think alot of people fall in love with puffers by accident, at least your reading up now and not ignoring it's needs life some keepers would.

130L sounds like a great home for him when it's ready.

Thanks for the encouragement.

 

[divegirl]

Hi, just to add....the tail curling is quite normal with Puffers....my Dp's do it all the time, not sure if my F8's do it as they tend to hide when resting....I mainly see them when they're begging [another lovable Puffer trait!!!!!]. If you GSP is surfing the side of the tank, add more decorations to make the tank interesting for him.....they are extemely inquisitive little fish!

Lisa x

 

[Curalingua]

Hi, just to add....the tail curling is quite normal with Puffers....my Dp's do it all the time, not sure if my F8's do it as they tend to hide when resting....I mainly see them when they're begging [another lovable Puffer trait!!!!!]. If you GSP is surfing the side of the tank, add more decorations to make the tank interesting for him.....they are extemely inquisitive little fish!

Lisa x

Thanks Lisa

He seems to be doing really well now. Eating fine and enjoying a good variety of food.

I think you are right, he is bored in this little tank. I got the refractor and marine salt today. I am going to set his new 130l tank up and start getting it cycled and brackish. I will very slowly start to change him to brackish in his little tank ready to go into the new big home when its cycled.

Fiona