Porcupine Puffer

[loralie]

Hello i am new here and am having a problem with my porcupine puffer. i have had my puffer for over a year and had no problems until recently.

At my job we have been on mandatory over time for a long time and i have only one day off so haven't had lots of time to do proper water changes and yes i should have made time but have just been way overwhelmed with work and kids.

I have been done 2 20% water changes 2 weeks ago then i did a 40% water change last sat and will do another 20 tomorrow. My nitrates were well over 100 but i have gotten then down to 40, my ammonia was also high but it is now 0, the ph is 8.2 and the sg 1.023. this is a fish only tank with a koran and 2 green spot puffers. The green spots have nothing at all wrong with them but i have heard they are very tolerant of water changes. The Koran has lateral disease but i am taking care of that by feeding it properly was feeding it aquadine and it ate the krill with the other puffers. Theprocupine will only eat the krill but not if it has been soaked in anything have been trying to soak in vitamins before feeding but he will not touch even if i let him go a few days in between feedings.

The problem is that it looks like his skin is coming off on his head it is solid white so my lfs guy said it was probably my nitrates being so high but i just wanted to see if it could be something else causing the problem like some kind of disease or parasites.
Would greatly appreciate any advice given.

I also do know that all these problems are from poor water quality and improper feeding which all stem from me!!!

 

[seffieuk]

Welcome Loralie

I think you have answered your own questions here - as you so rightly said you have got to get your water stats under control and quick - your SG is a little low as well, I would raise it slowly to 25/26

Good luck and let us know how you get on

Seffie x

 

[ben1987]

nitrates of 100 isnt hermful to fish iirc, ammonia reading deffinatly would though. Ideally they both should be as low as possible.
1.023 sg should be fine for fish only too i think, higher sg is usually brought in for corals.
im sure someone will come along and put me straight if im wrong there.

welcome btw

 

[andywg]

My guess would be that the ammonia has caused issues and there may be something else.

If you can, change your skimmer so it skims wetter and match this with more water changes and you should see it through. If you don't have a skimmer then consider it as you have some very messy fish there.

 

[loralie]

Thanks!!

As far as i have been told by my fish store my sg is fine because the tank is fish only but i have been told several times that i don't need a skimmer because i have asked but by all means if i need one i will get one. Didn't get a chance to do another change today but will when i get home from work tomorrow..

Thanks for the help i really appreciate it..

loralie

 

[andywg]

You don't need a skimmer, but it will mean you won't need as many water changes which means you save a lot of money in the long run on salt.

 

[SkiFletch]

Agree with andy, and the skimmer will help prevent your nitrates from getting that high in the first place

Your best bet on the puffer is to keep it well fed and hope it pulls through

 

[loralie]

Agree with andy, and the skimmer will help prevent your nitrates from getting that high in the first place

Your best bet on the puffer is to keep it well fed and hope it pulls through

update on my puffer. i purchased some denitrate and placed it in the biowheel once I go the nitrates down and they have stayed at zero now and my puffer is getting the skin back on the top of his head. I think that the main thing i did wrong was not cleaning the sump out thoroughly. Guess u do and learn!!!

Thanks again for all the help!!!

 

[seffieuk]

that is really good news, thanks for letting us know

Seffie x