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FAQs about Freshwater Puffer Disease/Health

Related Articles: Freshwater Puffers, Alone But Not Lonely: The Importance of Keeping Puffers Individually by Damien Wagaman, Freshwater to Brackish Puffers, Puffers in General, True Puffers, Family Tetraodontidae, (Big) Pufferfish Dentistry By Kelly Jedlicki and Anthony Calfo Small Puffer Dentistry By Jeni Tyrell (aka Pufferpunk), Puffer Care and Information by John (Magnus) Champlin, Things That My Puffers Have Told Me by Justin Petrey,

State of health declined / AW: Pufferfish, MBU, with lump - 05/06/08
Pufferfish, MBU, with lump - 06/02/08
Hi Marco & the WetWebMediaCrew,
<Hello Lars.>
Some weeks ago Heike emailed you about our MBU (+50 cm size) with a lump on the left side next to his mouth.

Back then - apart from the lump - the fish was in good shape (active, eating regularly etc.).
<Did you find out what caused the lump, was the lump sampled (e.g. syringe = a hollow needle) in cooperation with a vet? I understand this sounds difficult and potentially dangerous to the fish, but it is done with Koi, and large puffers also have been sedated successfully in order to cut their teeth. Those samples could have been cultured and you would have known if it was a lump caused by a bacterial infection.>
Unfortunately the state of health declined by Wednesday/Thursday this week, when he (or she) stopped eating. He is not moving and/or eating anymore.

Attached please find a picture from today, showing the MBU laying in the water on his back.
Heike gave the puffer a massage and some air
<Did he swallow air (increase oxygen content of the tank water in this case)? Or did you see gases that were produced by bacterial processes inside the fish?>
went off his body already (he/she started swimming a few minutes). She is keeping up with the massage which hopefully help ...

If possible, please provide us with additional tips that will help to save our beloved brother (or sister).
<I suspect (from description, this is not a fail proof diagnosis) a bacterial infection that originally caused the lump and now has spread to other organs. You can try an antibiotic treatment (only in cooperation with a vet and in a separate tank to avoid a kill-off of filter bacteria), I fear it is too late for sampling and a bacterial culture now. You know/have called the Koi Vet in Stelle (Fisch-Reha-Zentrum Nord), east of Bremen? Or Annette Bley a vet in Bremen?>
Best, Lars.
<Good luck to you and Klaus, even if I have to confess it does not look good for him. Marco.>

Sick Dwarf Puffer 11/23/07
Hi,
I recently bought a 1/2 inch dwarf puffer to kill off the bazillion snails that are taking over my guppy tank (5 adult guppies/10 gallons). I removed the guppies, heated the tank to 80 Fahrenheit, and made sure it was ammonia-free.
But rather than doing some snail extermination, the little guy has just been laying in the sand with his tail curled since I bought him two days ago. He jumps up a few inches whenever a snail tries crawling on him, but then he spirals back down.
I don't know what to do. I'm hoping you might help...otherwise, I'll have to exchange the poor little guy.
Thanks,
Jessica
<Hello Jessica. Pufferfish are basically hardy animals provided their twin needs for correct water chemistry and good water quality are met. So the things to check here are water chemistry and water quality. Dwarf Puffers -- Carinotetraodon travancoricus -- are freshwater puffers that appreciate pH 6.0-8.0 and moderate hardness. Water quality must be good: zero ammonia, zero nitrite, and nitrates less than 20 mg/l. Water changes need to be around 50% per week. Your water temperature is a bit too high: aim for 25C/77F. As water temperature goes up, oxygen content goes down, and pufferfish are intolerant of stagnant water. Pufferfish need a varied diet, not just snail. Bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia and even small amounts of plant material are required (in planted tanks they will take bits out of the leaves occasionally, but otherwise supply things like tinned peas). Now, talking of snails... pufferfishes aren't the solution here. Snails turn excess organic matter into more snails. It's a simple equation. If you put too much food into the tank, or take too little organic detritus out, the snails will eat that surplus and make more snails. If there isn't anything for the snails to eat, they obviously can't multiply themselves (contrary to popular misconception, snails don't magically break the laws of physics and make baby snails out of nothing!). So anyone who confesses to a plague of snails is actually saying they overfeed their fish and don't clean their fish tank out properly once a week. Denying this is akin to a fat person saying they don't eat that much. If they ate the right amount, they wouldn't be fat! Likewise, if you control the amount of food going into a tank and remove organic wastes from the tank regularly, the snails won't breed rapidly. In a balanced tank the snails can only eat algae, and that might allow them to survive, but not much more, so you end up with a steady, small population of them you can remove by hand if need be. Cheers, Neale.>

My fish... Mis-mixes... FW dis. issues 11/23/07
Hi WWM crew
I have 5 fish tanks at the moment all freshwater. I had 4 but I had to buy a new one because my big convict cichlid was picking on the littler one.
Was this a waste because I could have put my little convict in (1.5 inch) with my grey bichir but I decided since my grey bichir (4 inches) is my favorite.
could I still mix them and have an extra tank? or should I just leave them be.
Also on my goldfish I noticed a black spot on his fin is this bad or should I just ignore it? Thanks for all of your help.
<Ave! Mixing a female Convict cichlid with Polypterus senegalus could be possible, though it would depend on the temperament of the two fish. An aggressive Convict could harass the Bichir. Polypterus senegalus is a very mild-mannered species that does best in quiet aquaria. A couple of days ago I visited an aquarium store in London where the retailers had mixed Polypterus senegalus with a variety of Mbuna; the result was that most of the Polypterus senegalus had their pectoral fins nipped right down to the bone. Very nasty. So, in a biggish sort of tank (at least 30 gallons) with plenty of hiding places for both fish, I'd try it out and see what happens. A female Convict will probably be fine with the Bichir. As for the black spots on the Goldfish, these could well be Black Spot, a relatively uncommon disease that is caused by larval flukes. Normally the infection clears up by itself and causes no problems to the fish. So for now, just keep an eye on things. If you notice a large increase in the number of black spots, that would be more serious, and you should then treat with an anti-helminth of some sort. Jungle Labs 'Gold Care Parasite Care' is said to treat Black Spot Disease, and there may be others. Cheers, Neale.>

Re: Sick Dwarf Puffer 11/24/07
Hi again,
<Greetings!>
Thanks for the advice, but water quality wasn't the problem. I vacuum out around 10% every week and use carbon and Zeolite in my filter. I'll replace 50% now, as you suggested. I double checked the water--nitrates/nitrites, ammonia, pH, hardness, and chlorine/chloramine content are all safe. Since you mentioned ammonia being a serious threat to dwarf puffers, I purchased a detector that hangs inside the tank. I lowered the temperature to 77, too.
<OK. Removing 10% per week is completely inadequate even for generic fish, let alone puffers. So I find it hard to imagine the nitrate levels were low. Carbon is useless in this sort of tank and so is Zeolite, so remove those and replace them with more biological media. To cut a long story short, carbon removes things water changes dilute anyway, and Zeolite removes ammonia which is being used up by the filter bacteria more efficiently. So neither does any good. Their main purpose is to remove money from the pockets of less experienced fishkeepers. Simple as that.>
I admit I was definitely overfeeding the guppies for a while to ensure that their fry got enough food near whatever rocks they were hiding under, and God only knows how much my mother gave them while I was away at school.
<Hmm... overfeeding is never good.>
So I decided to feed the growing snail population algae discs to make them nutritious enough for a dwarf puffer (and to get them to leave my plants alone).
<Won't work. Snails will either completely ignore plants (e.g., Malayan livebearing snails and Nerites) or view them as a salad bar no matter what you feed them (e.g., Apple snails, pond snails). Putting aside extra food for your snails is simply going to cause the snails to feed and breed more rapidly.>
It turns out that my puffer was killed by an unknowing pet store worker. A much more knowledgeable worker told me today that the symptoms I mentioned are from the puffer having puffed air, which is fatal, which he must have done while he was being caught and transferred to the bag.
<Nope. Pufferfish are perfectly able to gulp air and puff themselves up safely. They do this when captured by terrestrial predators like water birds. It certainly isn't fatal! What sometimes happens is they can't deflate themselves. This doesn't kill them directly, but means the fish can't stay underwater, and its gills dry out, and it suffocates. So unless the Pufferfish was floating upside down at the top of the tank with its belly out of the water, air wasn't the problem, and I have no idea where that store worker got that idea from. The "cure" when puffers do this, by the way, is to hold them head-upwards by the tail so the air can bubble out. This problem is exceedingly rare. Almost all, REPEAT, ALMOST ALL, pufferfish deaths in captivity are caused by improper water chemistry and/or water quality. They are otherwise extremely robust and easy to keep animals. So please, make sure you do large, regular water changes using a good dechlorinator and, in summer, if it gets too warm provide extra aeration to prevent the water becoming stagnant.>
I received an exchange puffer, and this little guy is having all sorts of fun chasing snails and a couple fry that I had missed when I moved the guppies. Thanks for suggesting other foods for him--I ordered bloodworms and blackworms online today.
<Very good. He will off course attack the Guppies, so not a good idea mixing them.>
Thanks again for your help!
Jess
<Cheers, Neale.>

Re: Sick Dwarf Puffer 11/24/07
Hello once again,
<Indeed, Hello again!>
Sorry, I actually clean 20%-- two gallons out of 10. Sometimes more, when I've got an empty cat litter container I can use. I don't do the math thing very well sometimes...

So carbon and Zeolite are useless?
<Not useless, but rather they have specific functions in freshwater aquaria. In the average tank, neither is essential and indeed wastes space in a filter that could be put to better use.>
A few sites said that Zeolite was okay if I cannot find Bio-Spira, which I can't.
<They don't do the same thing at all, so I have no idea what those sites were babbling about. Zeolite is an ammonia remover; nothing more, nothing less. You use it *instead of* biological filtration. Suppose you had an aquarium at pH 5.5 for acid-loving Apistogramma, you'd have to use Zeolite, because filter bacteria won't live at this acidity. Bio-Spira is a culture of filter bacteria used to jump-start a new aquarium's biological filter. You add it as per the instructions when setting up and (in theory at least) the tank will be near-instantly matured, read for adding fishes.>
I used to have some, but all the stores in the area have stopped selling it. Do you know of a good alternative or a site for information about it?
<This one, for a start. But regardless, once an aquarium has been running for more than 6 weeks, the filter bacteria will be more or less fully established. So Bio-Spira becomes completely redundant.>
The point of the extra food was to make the snails breed more. Once I had decided to get a puffer, I wanted to have lots of healthy prey for him, and a forum suggested using a few of my pleco's algae discs. I know the fish will kill guppies; that's why I moved most of them. I missed a few fry, but losing two out of 30 is not a big deal. Besides, they're good food for the puffer, I hear.
<They're not good food for the puffer at all. No captive pufferfish needs to eat live fish. Some people enjoy feeding live fish to their pet fish, and that's a different issue. But there are absolutely no advantages whatsoever to feeding live fish to vast majority (99.999%) of aquarium fish sold as pets. Quite the reverse in fact. In any case, the natural diet of your species of pufferfish, and indeed Carinotetraodon spp. generally, are insect larvae. If you look at their mouths, they are slightly upturned and are used for snapping up small insects they find around and among water plants.>
I know that larger puffers can puff air, but every site I've gone to says that dwarf puffers will nearly always die if they do.
<Some aquarium sites are great, some not so much. All I can tell you is that the writers at WWM know what they're talking about. Go look at a copy of this month's 'Tropical Fish Hobbyist' and you'll see an article by me all about freshwater pufferfish including your species and its maintenance. But let's suppose air somehow "killed" your puffer -- the symptoms would be obvious. The pufferfish would be floating upside-down with its air-inflated belly sticking outwards. Its gills would be unable to get below the waterline easily, and that's how they die, they suffocate. Unless your pufferfish did this, air wasn't the issue. End of story. Simply lifting a pufferfish out of a tank and putting it into a bag won't kill it. If the fish was swimming underwater when it arrived in your aquarium, then it hadn't inflated with air, and air wasn't the issue. So, was your fish floating upside-down or not?>
Another person on here had one with the same symptoms as mine, and the helper didn't know what was wrong. I was just hoping that maybe someone else would know...
<Not sure what your symptoms were. You may need to remind me. If we're talking about "the fish was kind of unhappy in my tank, it didn't eat anything, stayed at the bottom, and then died" that's almost certainly a water chemistry/water quality issue.>
Maybe it's nobody's fault and he was simply stressed from being shipped to the store, stuck in a tank full of other puffers, chased by a big net, not very carefully tossed into a bag, and driven for half an hour.
<Nope. That's not enough to kill this species at all. I've done far, far worse to pufferfish and they've settled down afterwards just fine. I just rescued a species about a month ago that was emaciated, had no tail-fin, and couldn't eat because its teeth were overgrown. It's fit as a fiddle now. Pufferfish are really and truly very robust animals. I'm not saying that things can't go wrong, but if you do this precisely by the numbers, there's no real difficulty keeping these fish, and they're certainly well worth keeping.>
Sorry for being a nuisance and thanks again for all your help,
Jess
<One last thing. Do check your Dwarf Puffer actually was a Dwarf Puffer. Sometimes brackish water species -- and even marine species -- get sold as freshwater fish. The name "Dwarf Puffer" really applies to Carinotetraodon travancoricus, but sometimes a variety of other puffers get sold under this name. Different species have different requirements. When I was at university, I picked up two "Dwarf Brown Pufferfish" from a freshwater aquarium store. Imagine my surprise when I discovered these were juvenile marine pufferfish (Arothron hispidus) that grew to more than 40 cm in length! This is why experienced hobbyists sooner or later abandon common names and stick with Latin names -- it's simply so much easier! I hope this helps, Neale.>

Nile Puffer losing color and becoming listless 9/16/07
We've had our Nile puffer for about a month. Tupac was doing great in the 20 gallon tank he calls home, until we did a water change two days ago. We emptied out about a third of the water, replaced it with water and conditioner and biological treatment. Since then he's been pale, appears to be ?breathing? in a labored fashion, hangs out at the bottom of the tank behind the décor, and doesn't interact with us as he usually does. We had the water tested yesterday, and there's a slight trace of ammonia, although (we've been told) not enough to bother him. Because of the ammonia's presence, we added a bit of a different conditioner yesterday and today, and plan to do the same tomorrow. But Tupac still remains unhappy. What can we do? Please help. We have very little experience with this type of fish and have become very attached to him.
<Greetings. Tetraodon lineatus are -- like all freshwater puffers -- very sensitive to ammonia. The reason yours is "out of sorts" is almost certainly because of this. In the long run, the fish will die. A pufferfish aquarium should have consistently zero levels of ammonia and nitrite. There's no safe levels of either other than zero, this point cannot be stressed too strongly. Let's recap the basics. This is a big pufferfish (around 30-40 cm in captivity) that needs a suitably large aquarium (around 300 litres, 75 US gallons being about the minimum). Filtration should be appropriate to the size of the fish, producing not less than 4x the volume of the tank in turnover. In other words, for a 300 litre tank, the filter should have a turnover of 1200 litres per hour or more. Water changes must be generous, around 50% per week, if not more. A suitable dechlorinator should always be used, and if your local water board uses chloramine in the water supply, choose a dechlorinator that neutralises chloramine as well. Water chemistry is relatively unimportant as this species is found in a variety of fresh (and to a less extent brackish water) habitats, but ideally you want neutral to slightly alkaline, moderately hard freshwater. These are difficult to look after, and I'm afraid failure to cover any of these bases inevitably ends in the death of the fish. I hope this helps. Good luck, Neale.>

Re: Nile Puffer losing color and becoming listless 9/20/07
Very helpful info. Thank you so much for your help. It appears we were overfeeding poor Tupac. We cleaned the tank and filter and have cut him back on the munchies. Your quick response was reassuring and helpful.
<Cool. Just keep on top of water changes, and make sure ammonia and nitrite stay at zero. Do that, and your fish should recover quickly. They're nice fish, but difficult to keep. So do things "by the numbers". Cheers, Neale>

Ich-look-alike? Skin parasite on Dwarf Puffer – 06/17/07
Hi Crew,
I really need your help with my male dwarf puffer. First, the vitals:
two dwarf puffers, heavily planted six gallon tank, one Amano shrimp tankmate. Water tests with a consistent 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrites, 5 Nitrates (which is how it comes out of the tap in these parts). Weekly 30% water changes, and their diet is 80% Grindal worms that I raise on a high-quality dog biscuit and 20% snails from my large planted tank.
About six weeks ago, he began developing a handful of white specks that looked to me like a classic case of ich.
<These are almost certainly Cercariae...>
I thought it fairly strange, since I've had him & his female tankmate seven months with no additions to the tank. But I began a heat/salt treatment right away, bringing the temp to 82 with the addition of 1/2 tsp of salt per gallon of water.
After two weeks's time and no change whatsoever in the appearance of the spots, I began thinking I was mistaken. Perhaps these were just skin flaws of some kind?
<Mmm, no. Please read the second, third ref. here: http://www.google.com/search?q=cercariae+on+puffers&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7PCTA>
I have treated many cases of ich over the years successfully with heat & salt, and have always seen that familiar dropping off of the cysts after a few days of treatment. So I brought the heat back down and waited. A few more weeks went by with no change, and then in the course of a week the spots began to increase. I tried again, this time with the temp at 84 for two weeks. No change. Heat back down to normal. Spots are now increasing slowly but steadily. The poor boy is at least eating and remains active, but I am seeing occasional flashing so I know this is bothering him. Whatever it is, it's spreading, and I am stumped. The female is totally unaffected by the way.
Any ideas? Is this some kind of ich-look-alike skin parasite? There are no visible worms, no red spots, no clues of any kind. I am in terror of using anything stronger than salt on such a sensitive fish as a DP, but the heat and salt are obviously doing nothing.
I've attached a couple really poor photos which will likely be too blurry for a diagnosis of any kind but will at least give you a sense of scale and placement.
Thanks in advance for your help.
<Will need to use an anthelminthic... My choice? Prazi/quantel... particulars are posted on WWM. Bob Fenner>

Ich-look-alike? Skin parasite on Dwarf Puffer – 6/19/07
> >> I really need your help with my male dwarf puffer...
> >> About six weeks ago, he began developing a handful of white specks that looked to me like a classic case of ich.
> > <These are almost certainly cercariae...>
> >>Thanks in advance for your help.
> ><Will need to use an anthelminthic... My choice? Prazi/quantel... particulars are posted on WWM. Bob Fenner
Bob, picked up PraziPro on Sunday and began treatment (bath, following label instructions). Two full days now and no change at all in the cysts. If anything he seems to be getting weaker. Recommendations? Is there anything else it could be?
<Yes... and I absolutely hate this guessing... Do you have a microscope? A way to send along pix from such? BobF>

Re: Ich-look-alike? Skin parasite on Dwarf Puffer 6/20/07
>> >> I really need your help with my male dwarf puffer...
>> >> About six weeks ago, he began developing a handful of white specks that
>> >> looked to me like a classic case of ich.
>> > <These are almost certainly cercariae...>
>> >>Thanks in advance for your help.
>> ><Will need to use an anthelminthic... My choice? Prazi/quantel...
>> particulars are posted on WWM. Bob Fenner
>Bob, picked up PraziPro on Sunday and began treatment (bath, following label instructions). Two full days now and
>no change at all in the cysts. If anything he seems to be getting weaker.
Recommendations? Is there anything else it could be?
><Yes... and I absolutely hate this guessing... Do you have a microscope? A way to send along pix from such? BobF>
No, not anymore. Years ago I could've gotten you a lovely scanning electron micrograph.
<Look into the cheapy but great QX-3 to -5 units... on the Net>
What to do? Malachite dip?
<No... perhaps a regimen/one-shot treatment with Flagyl/Metronidazole... but this is only speculation... starting from the more likely to be efficacious to the outright guessing... B>
Thanks again.

Floating Puffer (Carinotetraodon travancoricus) 5/16/07
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I found my pea puffer in an odd position, floating vertically with her nose at the surface of the waterline. I've never seen this before and she stayed like that for several hours yesterday.
<Is it possible she swallowed some air at the surface?
See: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/library/hospital/help-my-puffer-is-air-filled/ >
I didn't see her eat any bloodworms or little snails that we added to entice eating and her belly doesn't have the roundness that it usually does. Today, she is only in the surface position intermittently and does swim around and contemplate for a few minutes before returning to that odd position.
<It is possible she could have internal parasites.>
We added 3 small mollies to help with clean-up
<Mollies prefer brackish water.>
and completed a water/filter change as we always have over the past 2 years but no other change was made. Do you have any ideas about what may be wrong and how we can fix it? It is so disconcerting to watch our puffer in this one position for so long, with very little interaction or curiosity. Thank you for any advice to help
our Puffy feel better.
<If it is indeed internal parasites (Maybe brought in by the mollies) & the puffer is not eating, you can try treating with Flubenol 15: http://www.flubenol.co.uk/
You can also try enhancing appetite by soaking it's food in garlic. If after eating again, it's still skinny, you can soak it's food in Levamisol: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7
I hope your puffer is feeling better soon! ~PP>
Puff-n-Diablo

Auriglobus modestus with Lip Problem 3/29/07
Hi there,
<Hi Leanne, Pufferpunk here>
I have written to you in the past about the 2 Auriglobus modestus I purchased at the end of August/06.
<Cool fish, one of my favorite puffers!>
Unfortunately one did not make it, he just wouldn't eat.

The other one has been doing great, until yesterday I noticed that he has a red bump on his top lip. It went away when I fed him last night but it is back again today. (He gets a diet of raw shrimp tails every other day and snails sometimes.) I gently cradled him in my hand to get a closer look at it. It is not a cracked tooth, they look to be in good shape and it is on his top lip, right in the center of his mouth and protrudes out and down so that you cannot see the top tooth unless you gently move it. It looks like a little bubble/triangle blister. I was wondering what it is and how to treat it. He is acting normal, swimming about happily and eats with vigor. Water parameters are as follows: nitrate 20ppm, nitrite 0ppm, hardness 120ppm, alkalinity 180, pH 7.5 and temp 79. I do weekly 1/4 tank (20gal tank) water changes and vacuum the gravel. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I have grown very fond of him.
<1st of all, I'd bump those water changes to 50% weekly & get the nitrates <20. Check out this thread: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8448
I'm not sure if it's the same thing or not but it wouldn't hurt to post at that forum about your puffer's lip. ~PP>
Thanks, Leanne

Pufferpoo 1/26/07 Mbu health
<Hi Shazza, Pufferpunk here>
I have a 5 month old Mbu Puffer, he has always been fine, eats well and happy. Today ive <I've> noticed a very large bowel movement coming from him,<.> its <It's> thick and lumpy, whitish with red veins going through it. I am very worried. It is still joined to him and is as long as he is (4.5 inches at least)<.> Please help<!>
Thanks<,> Shazza
<Please read your letter before sending, to be sure you have used the proper punctuation & capitalization. I corrected this one. These have to be posted in our FAQs. My thought about your puffer is that it may have a prolapsed rectum/intestine. You can try treating with 1 tbsp Epsom salt/5gallon. It may just be a superpoo. Epsom salt wouldn't hurt in either case. You might be overfeeding your puffer. In that case, the food is only partially digested & this may be what you are seeing. Here is an excellent Mbu story by a puffer keeper of close to 50 years:
http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=150
You are welcome to join in at that forum & post about your puffer! ~PP>

Mbu Puffer in Non-Cycled Tank 11/16/06
Hey,
<Hey yourself, it's Pufferpunk here.>
I own a 4 inch (not including tail) MBU Puffer and I've had it for a week so far. He had been introduced to a tank that had been matured for a month and he has a very healthy appetite, eating everything from cockles, mussels, shrimp, bloodworm but the ammonia, nitrate and nitrite levels in the tank sky rocket so high that I have to do a 50% water change every 2 days to stop him from dying!
<I'd raise that to 80% daily, until you can get that tank cycled or your puffer will definitely not make it. They are extremely sensitive to those toxins, because they are scaleless & have no gill covers. What do you mean by, "matured for a month"? If you just let the tank run for a month, that's not cycling the tank. Or were there other fish that would equal the bioload of that puffer in there for that month & the water parameters were perfect (0 ammonia & nitrItes, <20 nitrAtes), then removed, when you placed the Mbu in there? How big is the tank? That puffer will grow VERY quickly, needing at least a 300g tank in 2 years, upgrading even larger after that. If you don't understand the facts of cycling a tank, you may not be ready to house such an exotic fish like the Mbu. Please do a search for "fishless cycling". If you insist on keeping this fish & are prepared to buy it much larger tanks & huge filtration systems (including veggie refugiums, to keep the nitrates down), in the very near future, then you can instant cycle the tank with Bio-Spira. Do an 80% water change, before adding it to your filter.>
I have a fully functioning filter and I regulate the amount of food he eats (around 2 cockles or 1 mussel a day) but the water gets dirty so quickly that I'm worried about his health. What can I do to keep the levels stabilized so I don't have to change the water so often and why is this happening? I use Amquel to reduce the levels when I don't have time for a water change.
<You're going to have to MAKE time for this! Eventually, plan on a 1,000 gallon tank for this beautiful, 30" tank-buster. Forget about Amquel, it is just inhibiting the cycle. Bio-Spira is the only way you're going to save this fish. You may have to search around for it but more shops seem to be carrying it. To dechlorinate, use Prime.
Please read this Mbu story, written by a puffer keeper of over 50 years: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=150
I know it sounds like I'm being really hard on you but personally, I think these fish only belong in public aquariums or in the wild, where they have room to grow & swim. ~PP>
Thanks, M

Puffer fish ... ID, disease/env./sys. 11/16/06
Hi
<<Hello>>
I just bought 2 spotted puffers a couple days ago.
Did they look like this?: http://www.pufferresources.net/puffer_profiles/viewtopic.php?t=19>>
They were completely normal until yesterday when I noticed that one looked like he had ick. First of all what can I do about the ick. I am putting some medication in the water.
<<Please don’t before you know what kind of puffer you have, what ails it, and have them in a cycled, aquarium. If these are indeed GSP’s, (Tetraodon nigroviridis) then they need 30 gallons of water each minimum, and require full marine conditions as adults.>>
Second, the same puffer sits in this one corner all the time while the other puffer is swimming around the tank. Is this normal?
<<No. Please get back to me, and visit www.pufferresources.net.>>
Thanks
<<Glad to help. Lisa.>>

Nile/Fahaka Puffer, Tetraodon lineatus 11/14/06
<Hi Jo, Pufferpunk here. I have corrected all your improperly capitalized words, so we can present this email to our FAQs. Next time it will be sent back for you to correct!>
I bought a Nile puffer 3 days ago and was really badly informed by the shop. I wish I had looked on the internet first!
<Did they tell you it will grow as large as 18" & require a minimum of a 120g tank within 2 years? They grow fast!>
They told me it would be fine to fill up the new tank with water from my other tank with various tropical fish and put the puffer in the tank the same evening. I now know the filter wouldn't have matured and now my puffer has a cloudy looking eye and isn't moving much. I've tested the water and the NO3 is on 0 and the NO2 the others seem fine too. I'm not too great on the technical side so if you could explain in a way I would understand I would be very grateful.
<For cloudy eye (due to poor water quality--fish don't get sick in healthy water), add Melafix. The bacteria you need to cycle a tank does not live in the water. It lives on the surfaces of the tank. Mostly in the filter material but also on gravel, glass, decor, etc. You can squeeze the "dirt" from your older filters into your new filter to help the cycle along. You should be doing 50-80% daily water changes, until your tank is cycled. After the tank is cycled, do 50% weekly water changes. My best suggestion would be to add BIO-SPIRA to your filter, to "instant cycle" your tank. I highly recommend this. It really is not a good idea to cycle a tank with a puffer at all! They have no protective scales or gill covers. Very sensitive to ammonia/nitrites. How large is the puffer & what size tank is it in?
For more info on your fish, go to: www.thepufferforum.com ~PP>
Thank you, Jo

Lumpy Mbu Puffer 9/11/06
Hi,
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I have a MBU puffer fish called ASBO. He is not very old and has formed a lump on the right side of his mouth. I have looked all over the internet to see what it could be. The only thing I can come up with is a cyst or tumour. He seems to be eating fine and his mood is fine also. Do you know what it could be and is there anything you can suggest? I have tried putting Melafix in his tank. I did a seven day treatment then done a 25% water change. The
lump got bigger but now is staying the same size. I love my puffer fish and don't want him to die, please help. What can I do?
<I have seen most lumps like these are just cysts that get absorbed back into the fish. In some cases, it has been caused by a shell fragment stuck in their mouth. Have you been feeding him snails? Keep his water pristine--be sure you have extra-heavy filtration, large water changes are in order for these fish (50% weekly) & extra large tanks, eventually close to 1,000 gallons for these monsters! See www.thepufferforum.com for more info. ~PP>

Auriglobus modestus 8/31/06
Hi there,
<Hi Leanne, Pufferpunk here>
I recently purchased 2 Auriglobus modestus (aka. golden or bronze puffer) from my LFS, one is 2.5" and the other is 3". They seemed very active in the store and ate with vigour. The second day home they seemed to lose interest in food. I have tried frozen brine shrimp, freeze dried krill, live rams horn snails and (because this is what the LFS was feeding) live feeder fish.
<Get those diseased feeder fish out of your tank! Your puffers are mostly crustacean eaters. On food for puffers: http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/puffer/food.html >
They showed a bit of interest in the krill this morning (day 4) and the feeder fish has a little of his tail nibbled on, the only other tank mate (besides the feeder fish) is a tiger barb who has resided in that tank for over a year.
<As soon as your puffers get comfortable in there, the barb will be toast.>
They are in a 10 US gal tank, temp 73F, water parameters are:
nitrate 30ppm, nitrite 0ppm, hardness 120ppm, alkalinity 180ppm, and pH approx 7.2.
<I'd get those nitrates <20 with some water changes. Temp should be 78-82F. They really need 20g each. I kept one quite happily with a large royal pleco, in a 50g tank. Be sure the tank is heavily decorated with lots of broken lines of sight, to prevent intraspecific aggression.>
LFS said to add 1/2c. aquarium salt to lower the hardness but it was my understanding that these are full freshwater puffers and the directions on the box said 1 tbsp/5 gal so a 1/2c. Seems a lot.
<That makes absolutely no sense at all. Adding salt will make your water harder. They need no salt.>
I have been doing daily water changes of 1/3 to 1/2 in attempt to lower the nitrates but they haven't moved, LFS said the
levels are high because of all the rain we have been having. Could
the nitrates be the reason they are not interested in feeding? If so how can I lower the levels, would bottled distilled water work?
<Your nitrates are high but really aren't at toxic levels yet. Are you cleaning the gravel & filter media? The puffers are in a tank that is too small for them & may just be sulking (puffers do that a lot). It takes a few days for puffers to adjust to a new environment.>
The substrate is small gravel (the kind you can buy anywhere in any color) and I just added a sword plant yesterday. They seemed alot happier with the plant in there, they circle around it or rest in the leaves. Any suggestions you have that will make my puffers happier would be greatly appreciated.
<Here is a profile on your puffer: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/ug.php?g2_itemId=48 Check out that puffer forum too. ~PP>
Leanne

Deceased Dwarf Puffer-Hoping You Can Help Me Understand 8/24/06
Dear Crew,
<Hi Shellie, Pufferpunk here>
I was hoping I would never have to write you one of these letters but the time has come. I purchased two dwarf puffers for my son's 10-gallon tank. Since the goldfish were in it, I have kept it cycled in order to avoid a wait time for new inhabitants. One puffer seemed full grown while the other is rather tiny. My water numbers were all within the correct ranges (sorry I cannot be more specific for you)
<Always helpful to post exact numbers in a letter like this.>
and there are tons of plants for them to hide among, preventing aggressions. They were bought three days ago and the bigger one crossed to the rainbow fish tank after less than two days.
<Sorry to hear that! :o{ >
I have looked all over the web for what might have ailed it and cannot seem to find what might have happened. It will not bring my poor baby back but it might help me understand. I have had a lot o reassurance that he or she was sick when I got them for the fish to have died that quickly but I will always wonder if there was something I did wrong. The larger Puffer, DJ, seemed to have two seizures early Monday afternoon. Since there are so many plants I assumed he was having trouble getting out of the spot he was in. Until later that day there were no other signs of the problems to come. That evening I noticed that his body was very stiff when he swam and his tail stayed curled. For a while he could stay afloat regardless and I still had hope. I lost the hope about the time he would head for the surface with his curled tail and then fall back down in a swirling motion due to the curl. I watched, horrified, as the poor thing laid there in the sand breathing but unable to go anywhere. Every time he tried, the same thing happened. I prayed to whatever fish God there is and was up until two A.M. reading your site and the Dwarf Puffer forum to no avail. In the morning he was gone. Despite that being yesterday and only having him for two days, I am still very upset. As you know from my care of the goldfish and their tank, I am extremely conscientious with my tank cleaning. The little one continues to thrive but I am anxious every morning and constantly scan the tank for the tiny fish.
<A couple things come to mind. The 1st being, if you didn't completely clean out your tank after raising GF in it, there could have been some pathogens that the GF might have been carrying. GF are very dirty fish & can carry a lot of diseases that tropical fish can't handle. My other thought is that your puffer could have had internal parasites & come to you sick.>
On another note, I have managed to get a Puffer to eat something besides live or frozen and maybe this tip will help others. He has Omega One pellets (protein), freeze-dried brine shrimp and freeze-dried bloodworms. I put a little of each in a baggie and smash it to nearly powder with a meat tenderizer. Amazingly he does eat this since it is so tiny the current swirls it like live food. I do intend to get him snails and some black worms but I wanted to let people know it is possible to get them to eat other things.
<Yes, in rare cases puffers will even eat flakes! Some of mine ate algae wafers too. A varied diet is best for them.>
I apologize that I cannot seem to send you a short post. Hopefully this is not too long and the point was not lost in the length. I hope you can help me and DJ, although he is beyond help.
<No problem, I'm glad to hear your whole story & I hope you have more luck with your lil puffer (& your new one). Check out www.thepufferforum.com, for more puffer info. ~PP>
Thank you again, Shellie

Re: Grieving the Loss of a Puffer... 8/27/06
Dear Pufferpunk,
Thank you so much for your reply. I was very careful about cleaning the tank since it was for goldfish and actually had to go through quite a process to get it ready for the Puffers. I know actual numbers are best on test kits but I still have those darn strips until the first of the month. I apologize for that. I am still sad about the lost Puffer but Lightning is helping. He is definitely a delight and always curious to see what we are up to. It's hard to find him in a 10-gallon tank yet often he finds me before I find
him. For now he's a lone Puff and he seems happy that way. I did purchase his black worms and frozen bloodworms yesterday with the result being a tiny pot belly. I will quit worrying about what I did wrong in the case of the bigger one and simply enjoy the little squirt. I am finally content I did everything I could and just had the bad luck to purchase a sick fish.
<I'm sure you did your best. You still have room for 2 more... Just try to be sure you keep the 1m-2f ratio. ~PP>
Thank you, Shellie

Losing Battle with Dwarf Puffers 7/27/06
Crew,
<Hi Roy, Pufferpunk here>
I need some help! Although I have been in the hobby since Axelrod was Innes and have kept all manner of both fresh and marine tanks (I currently have 2 thriving Nano-reefs), I am at a loss as to what is killing my Dwarf Puffers.
The tank is a 20 long, lots of silk plants and caves and hideaways.
Cycled with the addition of Bio-Spira and with the occasional thawed mysis shrimp for about 25 days. The tank parameters after cycling are:
 pH is 7.2
 Temp 80
 Ammonia 0
 Nitrite 0
 Nitrate 5
 They were the same this morning:
 pH is 7.2
 Temp 80
 Ammonia 0
 Nitrite 0
 Nitrate 5
I measured after another DP turned up dead!
About one month ago I placed 5 Dwarf Puffers (and a Dwarf Albino Cory) in the completely cycled tank. I did not quarantine because the tank was new and all occupants were together in the LFS. I have been feeding them a combination of live enriched brine shrimp,
live black worms and freeze dried bloodworms once a day. I have been loosing one a week; only one remains. The Cory seems fine! The only thing I can think of (short of them being ill when purchased) is that I overfed them.
<Hmmm... tough one! I would think if you were overfeeding, there would be much higher nitrates. Either your tests are off (try testing again at your LFS), your puffers were from sickly stock, they had internal parasites or you had all males. Check: www.dwarfpuffers.com & www.thepufferforum.com, for more info.>
Any insight would be appreciated.
<Sure sounds as if you're doing all the right things with your puffers. Sorry for your loss! ~PP>
Roy

"Pea" Puffer ... health, sys. - 06/30/06
Dear XXXX,
<It's Pufferpunk here.>
About a month ago I bought 2 pea puffers and they have been doing pretty good. But it seems like there starting to lose some of the color on there spots any tips.
<what size tank are they in? How well is it decorated? What are you feeding them? Water parameters (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH)? Without really knowing what's going on in your tank, it's hard to tell. See www.thepuffeforum.com & www.dwarfpuffers.com ~PP>
Thanks, Austin

Lackluster Dwarf Puffer 5/20/06
So, I have a question.
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
Just recently we set up a tank with three pygmy (dwarf) puffer fish.
<How recently? Did you cycle the tank 1st?>
For a while the newest fish (Seiko) and the oldest fish (Yasu), hung out together and played while the other one (Kichi) hung out by itself. However, a few days ago Seiko got sucked into the filter and died unfortunately.
<Sorry to hear that. Is there a strainer cover on your intake tube?>
So, we brought home yet another one (Aku). Now, Aku and Kichi hang out together all the time and Yasu has been acting strangely. Yasu hangs out on the bottom of the tank and just lies around. Yasu lacks the energy he had and doesn't really play the way he used to. Do you have any idea what would change the fish's mood or if he is sick.
<Info on water parameters would help. Ammonia, nitrites & nitrates. If those are good (ammonia, nitrites 0, nitrates <20), then maybe the 2 that are getting along, have paired off & left out the 3rd. Be sure your tank is large enough (at least 10g for 3) & there is plenty of decor. I suggest visiting www.dwarfpuffers.com & www.thepufferforum.com for more info. ~PP>
Thanks, Samantha

-MBU in trouble- - 04/10/2006
Hi Bob,
<Justin with you today.>
fortunately we've found your resource on the web (hard to find more detailed info about the MBU anywhere else here in Germany).
<Well we will do what we can.>
We're the owner of a small MBU (10 - 15 cm) since end of last year.
We have serious problems with him for the last 10 days:
- He is not eating anymore (we've offered him mussels, prawns etc.)
- He often turns upside down and remains there for minutes (sometimes hours), but recovers and returns to normal position afterwards
- Sometimes his belly blows up near the tail fin
- His anus stays open sometime and it looks like (at least something similar to) a worm is visible
- Small white dots are visible on his fins and the body
<Well to cover your list so far, He has trapped air in his body. most likely at this point it is in his intestines, you can try to help him by burping him (read here :http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/puffer/airpuff.html). He has ich which needs to be treated with Saltwater dips or with anti ich medication like formalin in his own quarantine tank. He may not survive if the air has entered his bowels as that is what it sounds like has happened. but there is not much at that point you can do short of taking him to a veterinarian who specializes in fish.>
Some additional info:
- He is living in a 450 ltr. tank together with other fish
- We medicate him with antibiotics (separate tank, 15 minutes per day, Nifurpirinol)
- We medicate all fishes with drops against the dots (although no other fishes seems to show up with dots at this moment)
<This is acceptable for now, however if this puffer survives this it will grow to somewhere north of 3 feet long or close to 1 meter. it will need a 1000 gallon tank and serious filtration. The is not a puffer for the general public. you might look into a fahaka or another smaller freshwater puffer.>
Attached please find two small pics of our MBU: <<Rats... file not moved/saved, seen by me for this. RMF>>
- They have been shot yesterday and today
- One shows up with the white dots
- One shows up with upside down position and blown up belly.
It would be great, if you would be able to share some ideas.
It's hard to see his torture, weï¿½ll see him better again ...
If you provide me with a phone number in the US, I would love being able to give you a call. We're lost with ideas how to help this poor guy ...
<Just follow the article and keep offering food. That is unfortunately all you can do at this point. Keep the water pristine and keep other fish from bullying it. www.thepufferforum.com has quite a bit on this puffer as does www.fishbase.org . I recommend you read up on here and at both those places.>
<Justin (Jager)>
Thanks
Lars

Re: Big problems with our Tetraodon MBU -Mbu in trouble 2- - 04/11/2006
Hi Justin,
<Lars>
thank you very much for your speedy reply.
<Sorry that it was too little too late.>
Unfortunately our MBU died two days ago (hopefully it was better for him to stop his torture).
Since he has been the dearest fish of our son, no ... not true ... the dearest fish for all of us (gentle, relaxed, friendly ...), it would be
great to know about other puffers that could make sense for a 450 gallon tank.
<In your previous email you said the tank was in liters. which is 120 gallons, however, regardless a Fahaka would love it. try www.pufferlist.com for a very complete list of the common to the trade puffers in freshwater.>
You've mentioned to think of an Fahaka, what other puffers would make sense to think of?
Nevertheless it would be important for us to know, why our MBU went seriously ill, since we did not experience something similar with all our other fishes.
<I believe that based on your photos he swallowed air, and was unable to clear it. that blocked its bowels and it died. Not a good way to go. Puffers don't do well in air and should always be moved in water or bagged in the water.>
Thanks for your help.
Best,
Lars
<I'm sorry you lost the fella. If you want another puffer try the pufferlist above and www.thepufferforum.com both of which have a vast knowledge base on the friendly little/big guys. >

Ich--Out of Control! 3/19/06
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I am in tears right now over my fish.
I recently set up a brackish tank because I fell in love with the
puffer fish. One of the first fish that I added into my BW tank was two zebra puffers.
<Colomesus asellus? See: http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/puffer/sapuffer.html >
I had some scats in the tank to cycle the water and everything was fine until I got a couple GS puffers and 3 F8s from another pet store.
<A lot of bioload to add all at once. Scats grow as large as dinner plates & require 50g each (adult size). Green spotted puffers grow to 6", require marine conditions as adults & 30-40g each. F8s like low-end BW (1.005), need 15g for one & 10 more for each extra puffer.>
I was then informed that the Zebra puffers were not BW fish.
<Correct.>
So now I had two fish that had no place to go. I do have a FW tank, but it is pretty full and I thought that I saw some ick on the Z puffers, so I did not want to spread into my other tank.
I decided to remove the Z puffers. Yes, they had ick...
<This species in particular, is very sensitive to ich. Must be quarantined & treated right after purchasing.>
So I am thinking that maybe they were stressed from the BW conditions and I moved them into a small, already cycled 16 gallon tank. I treated the ick in the 16 gallon with JUNGLE Ick clear, along with my BW tank. I saw a few spots on the scats and a couple F8s by this time. Well, I treated both tanks for 3 days and the ick cleared up in both tanks.
<Just long enough for them to become immune to the treatment. It's like not using antibiotics for the full recommended period.>
About 6 days later I noticed that the Z puffers in the 16 gallon FW had signs of ick again, so I immediately used JUNGLE ick and I had gotten 2 glass fish for the BW tank and I swear, by the time I got them home and dumped them in the tank - not more than 1 hour passed and the glass fish had ick spots, so I also treated that 40 gallon BW tank with JUNGLE Ick again also. Well, after 3 days of treatment, my Z puffers had not responded to the treatment and have gotten steadily worse. My BW tank has held its own but still no signs of improvement. I then put the carbon back in the 40 gallon BW tank (Fluval) and the 16 gal tank, waited 12 hours, did a 25% water change and switched medicine to Kordon Prevent Ick. I used that for 2 days in both tanks, cutting the medicine down a little bit because of the puffers being sensitive and all of my fish seemed to have gotten worse. So, I then changed medicine AGAIN with Kordon Rid-Ick. Now, after 3 days all of my fish that were infected are either the same or worse. The Z puffers look so bad - one is also starting to get fin rot, that I have thought about putting them out of their misery, ether by having a friend of
mine freeze them or me flushing them.
<Overdosing with clove oil is best (found in the toothpaste isle of the drug store).>
My BW tank with the three F8s seems to be getting worse and I just don't think I can see any more of my fish suffer so. I talked to a friend of mine at the pet store and he told me that there are all sorts of strains of ick, and that all medicine might not kill that strain.
<There is FW "ich" (Ichthyophthirius multifilius) & SW "whitespot" (Cryptocaryon irritans), with similar habits to freshwater ich.>
I do not understand how ick could be living in my BW tank with the
temp being 80, and the hydrometer reading at .006 - .008.
<You could be making the strain resistant to meds, with all the different meds you are using, for not a long enough time.>
So to sum it up I have a 40 gal tank with 2 scats, 2 knight gobies, 1 GS puffer, 3 F8s, 2 butterfly gobies, 5 Bumblebee gobies, 2 glass fish and 2 black Mollies.
<Waaaay overstocked! With that kind of overstocking there is always going to be constant stress & lowered immune systems--no chance of fighting disease at all in there.>
The 3 F8s are steadily getting worse and I am sure my fish are stressed from constant 24hr water changes along with new doses of ick medicine.
<Water changes are the very best thing you can be doing right now. Here is an article on Treating Puffers with Ich: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9 >
My 16 gallon tank has 2 Z puffers and 2 white mollies COVERED with ick. I do understand that it takes more than 3 days to clear up ick but I have had ick in the past in another tank.
<The parasite have a greater hold on scaleless fish.>
I have - a FW 40 gal and after 3 days the ick has always maintained the same appearance or gotten a bit better. So, if you are wondering why I have not waited before trying a new med is because every day, even with the ick medicine the puffers have gotten steadily worse. As of now I have put the carbon back in the tank and am going to try a new medicine called Super Ick Cure, by Aquarium pharmaceuticals Inc. I am still debating as whether to do another 20% water change before attempting this. I feel that the more water I take out and put in, the more stressed the puffers get. My Z puffers are suffering so, I know that I cannot watch any more of my fish get that bad so please, if you have any answers on how to get this under control - PLEASE write back. If I have to watch my F8s suffer like the Z puffers, I don't think I'll be able deal with having any more fish. :(((((
<I understand your affection for these wonderful fish! I'm afraid your tanks are in trouble with all the fish you have in there. Please read the links I have given you. You can also add Melafix to help with the fin rot--caused by the parasite eating off the fish. Look through the other articles on the species you have & consider many larger tanks for all your fish--if they make it. For now, leave the meds alone, heat & water changes, water changes, water changes. Be sure it is the same temp & use Prime to dechlor. ~PP>
Kathleen

A Modestus Puffer with Infected Tail 3/4/06
<Hi Jess, Pufferpunk here>
I have a bronze puffer in a 55 gallon tank. When I first got him I noticed a small pink spot on the tail. I asked the guy at the pet store what it was and he said it was like a scab and it would go away. Well it never went away, it just spread all over it's tail. It's tail is now really swollen and puffy and kind of a pink, white color and it looks like its fraying at the ends. It seems to be spreading up to his body. I'm wondering what medications I should use. He still swims a lot and eats but his whole tail is just a mess.
<Sounds like some kind of bacterial infection. Did you purchase the fish this way? I'd add Melafix, Pimafix & a tbsp salt/10g on the 1st day & a tbsp/5g the send day & keep those doses going. Make sure the water is pristine. Do large water changes (at least 50%/week). What are the water parameters (ammonia, nitrIte, nitrAte, pH)? Are there any tank mates?>
Please help. I want to save the little guy.
Thanks, Jess
<If he doesn't seem better in a few days, you will have to quarantine & use a stronger antibiotic. I hope he pulls through. ~PP>

Dwarf Puffer--Internal Parasites 9/21/05
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
After battling parasites in my main 30 gallon tank for the past 2
months I've finally won. Finally I thought I could begin to restock my tank. I learned my lesson so I've set up three QTs. I got three dwarf puffers and one appears to have a parasite. I'm not sure what kind of parasite it is. The puffer is just under 3/4" He's lethargic looking, extremely skinny, dark coloring. I noticed one worm hanging out around the anus (I guess that's what you'd call it). It was no thicker than a thread and is white and just under 1mm long. I've also noticed long stringy white bumpy feces coming from him. I have added Jungle's Parasite Clear to the tank.
<Internal parasites really need to be treated from the inside of the fish. I have had great luck with Discomed, by Aquatronics. Unfortunately, that company has been out of business for a while now, so you may be hard pressed to find that med.
See: http://www.thepufferforum.org/viewtopic.php?t=7>
I was wondering if you would recommend doing a copper dip? I would really rather do a dip than treat the whole tank for a month. Even if you don't recommend doing a copper dip for future reference what exactly do put in a copper dip, the chemicals I mean and the amount of each chemical.
<Puffers are extremely sensitive to meds, ESPECIALLY COPPER! You can add a garlic remedy to the tank, to help with appetite, as you will need to treat the puffer's food. I'd go ahead & treat all the puffers, if they came from the same tank. A good forum for puffers is: www.dwarfpuffers.com Good luck with your new friends. ~PP>
Thanks in advance,
Logan

Tetraodon schoutedeni
Hello everyone,
<Hi! Ananda here today..>
Firstly, thank you for such a helpful site: I have found it to be invaluable!
<Glad it has helped.>
Now, to my question.
I purchased a T. schoutedeni at my LFS 3 days ago. I placed him in a 55 gal tank with a 4" Bala shark, 3 tiger barbs, 2 balloon mollies, a silver molly and a 6" fantail goldfish who is a real b**ch. This tank has been in operation for over a year and I've had it's occupants for no less than 10 months. The temp is a constant 78, ammonia 0, pH 7.6 - 7.8 and I maintain a tablespoon of salt per 10 gallons for health purposes. 1/4 water changes are done weekly.
<Okay>
My 2" puffer ate voraciously the first 2 days, (I fed him dried Tubifex worms and raw shrimp cut into small pieces) but today he only mouthed some food, spit it out and swam away.
<Hmmm. What did he refuse? The shrimp? Dried Tubifex? Puffers are fussy eaters and prefer -- nay, demand -- a variety of foods in their diet. Do check out the assorted Puffer Feeding FAQ pages for both marine and freshwater/brackish puffers.>
Then he began to dive and surface, dive and surface, ad nauseum in the corner of the tank while facing the glass.
He's behaving the same and it has been several hours.
<He's bored. What kinds of decorations do you have in the tank? I like to create a veritable jungle gym for my puffs... you want lots of stuff to break up sight lines in the tank so the puff can play hide'n'seek with the other fish -- well, even if the puffer is the only one who knows what the game is. And rearrange stuff a bit with each water change.>
I have read that a puffer's belly color is a good indicator of mood/health, and when I first arrived home his tummy was rather ashy/gray. It whitened up for a short period, but has since gone back to gray.
<Hmmm. He's stressed for some reason. What are your water parameters? Ammonia & nitrites should be zero, nitrates preferably less than 10...>
I know this is all rather vague, but any ideas or suggestions you might have would be wonderful.
<Get yourself over to the WetWeb chat forums at http://wetwebfotos.com/talk -- many people in the brackish forum have puffers and would be happy to chat about them.
Thank you, Michelle
<You're welcome. --Ananda>

Injured T suvattii 1/11/04
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2004 10:03:38 EST
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I have a Tet. suvatti, pignose/arrowhead/Mekong puffer.

Currently about 4" in body. Haven't had him long, few weeks. ph 7.0, pure freshwater, temp 80, all water tests clean, 36gal tank. Working on training him to non live food, a slow and frustrating process to say the least!
<How are you doing this? I just thread a needle & poke it through a shell-on shrimp (the friction holds it on) No knot, I'm not going fishing! I hang it over the tank into the outtake flow of the filter to get it moving. My suvattii now eats from my hand.>
Well after a week of turning down food I finally gave him lives I bred and fed well. Sometime yesterday he must have been going after one and run into a rock. His lower lip area has a white
bone like object projecting out about 1/8". It does appear slightly bloody around it. Now I have not pulled him and examined the "bone" closely as I don't want to stress him. However from close examination through glass I can discern it's not a fungus puff or other such thing. I cannot find much in the way of information on what is safe to treat this puffer with. So far I am just keeping the tank clean. <good> Is there anything safe to add to the water to promote healing and stave off infection? Thank you ever so much for your help.
<Mine got his lip pinched by a crab. It turned red & swollen. I added Melafix & salt & he is fine. I just feed him female crabs now.>
Also if you know of any sites/books that cover this species please do let me know.
<Several folks on this site have suvattis: http://puffer.proboards2.com/index.cgi
Have a wonderful day!
<Thanks & same to you!--Pufferpunk>

Puffer injury (1/8/04)
<Hi! Ananda here this afternoon...>
I have a Tetraodon suvatti, pignose/arrowhead/Mekong puffer. Currently about 4" in body. Haven't had him long, few weeks. ph 7.0, pure freshwater, temp 80, all water tests clean, 36gal tank.
<Hopefully this is the only fish in the tank...>
Working on training him to non live food, a slow and frustrating process to say the least!
<Worth it, though, in the long run. Have you tried "sewing" a raw shrimp onto a thread and bouncing it around a bit? Or even just putting it in the filter outflow so it moves around.... Do check out the WWM site, reading up on how to wean lionfish from live food for more ideas. The procedures should be similar.>
Well after a week of turning down food I finally gave him lives I bred and fed well.
<Kudos for using food you raised and is disease-free, but I think I'd've tried going a couple more days.>
Sometime yesterday he must have been going after one and run into a rock. His lower lip area has a white bone like object projecting out about 1/8". It does appear slightly bloody around it. Now I have not pulled him and examined the "bone" closely as I don't want to stress him. However from close examination through glass I can distend its not a fungus puff or other such thing.
<Good -- just let it be. I'm checking with Pufferpunk on this, as I know she's got one of these fish (normally, I'd let her answer this, but she's having computer difficulties). She says these fish have soft cartilage for a mouth, so what you're seeing is a bit of that cartilage.>
I cannot find much in the way of information on what is safe to treat this puffer with. So far I am just keeping the tank clean. Is there anything safe to add to the water to promote
healing and stave off infection?
<Pufferpunk's T. suvatti got nipped in the mouth by a crab. She added Melafix to her tank to prevent the injury from getting infected, and added a cup of salt to the 15 gallon tank the fish is in. If the area starts to turn "furry", then other medication will need to be used to deal with it.>
Thank you ever so much for your help. Also if you know of any sites/books that cover this species please do let me know. Have a wonderful day!
<Have you tried using Google and Dogpile to search on all the names this fish has? You might also check out Pufferpunk's forum: http://puffer.proboards2.com or the discussion boards at http://wetwebfotos.com/talk --Ananda>

Lymphocystis on Fahaka Puffer 10/24/04
Hello,
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I have a 5" Fahaka puffer with what I think is called "lymphotosis"?. It looks like Ich but will not go away with any treatment. I was told that it is a specific virus that will not spread to other fish. He also has a small Styrofoam looking yellowish ball on his anal fin. like one of those bean bag beads). It won't come off! Is he doomed to this or should I let him back into his 120. Right now he's in a 10g hospital tank.
<I know you posted this question at The Puffer Forum. I also answer most of the FW puffer questions here (sharing them with Linearchaos). The best I can do would be to have you search some of these disease sites: http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/disease/clinicalsigns.htm & http://www.fishdisease.net/
Since the virus isn't contagious, I highly suggest putting the fish into a larger tank. I'm afraid a Fahaka that size in a 10g tank, will definitely do more harm to your fish, than good. It will cause stress to the fish, lowering it's immune system, making it even sicker.>
Thanks, Mike

More Pignose Puffer (T suvattii) Problems
Hello,
<Hi, it's Pufferpunk again)
Thanks for your reply last week. I have the pignose puffer with the white spots on him. I figured out that it is fungus by looking at pictures of fungus online and comparing. So I bought MarOxy by Mardel and used the recommended dosage yesterday and again this morning. Now, though, the fungus is worse and it is growing off of him about a half-inch long. Otherwise, his behavior is normal. Should I continue with the medication? Should I change the water and change medications? I'm getting very worried. Thanks, your help is appreciated.
<Do you ever see him hanging out by the heater? This may have caused the initial problem. You might want to get a cover for it. See: http://www.aqua-addiction.com/forums/index.php?s=083f74272c7f36849e32b197851f9ff1&showtopic=6879 As far as getting rid of the fungus, I would continue with the Maroxy, but also add Melafix & Pimafix. If that doesn't work, use something stronger (sorry, I don't know a whole lot about meds). Make sure you keep the water pristine & do bi-weekly water changes, so as not to stress the puffer w/any waste build-up. I hope your puffer feels better soon. ~PP>
-Eric

Ick on Brazilian Puffer and Hatchet Fish
Hey guys
<Hey yourself, it's Pufferpunk here>
I have a 29 gal freshwater tank with a power filter that has all three filtration methods, heater set at 78 degrees. In the tank reside 1 1.5" Brazilian puffer, 6 serpae tetras, 5 hatchet fish, 1 blue crawfish, 1 weather loach, 2 Glo-fish, 2 butterfly loaches, 1 pleco and some ghost shrimp for the puffer. I did a 25% water change and promptly got the ick REAL bad on the puffer and somewhat on the hatchets. I have been treating with 1/2 dosage of "Quick cure" (for the tetras sake) for 3 days and the ick seems to be getting worse. What are your recommendations?
<I generally don't like to use meds for curing ich, especially on scaleless fish like puffers. The water change wouldn't have caused the ich, unless the siphon was used in a diseased tank. Generally it comes form a new addition to the tank. The puffer will be the most susceptible to this parasite, since it is a scaleless fish. See: http://puffer.proboards2.com/index.cgi?board=hospital&action=display&num=1086103674
In short, large water changes while vacuuming gravel to remove free-swimming parasite, high temps (86 degrees) & 1 tbsp salt/5gal.>
Thanks a bunch Dave

Parasites??? Please help my dwarf puffers! 1/26/04
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I think two of my four new DPs have parasites, although they don't quite match the descriptions I have read. The first one I noticed yesterday. It seems to have a large (almost 1mm in diameter and 1 mm in length cylindrical white lump (poo?)) which comes and goes from behind its anal fin. Since this puffer is still a juvenile, whatever is coming out is larger than it's regular poo (definitely not stringy). The other one I just noticed had a bit of white stringy poo coming out, but as they haven't been fed in almost 24 hours, perhaps this is normal? Both of these puffers seem fat and healthy and they stay fat for 24 hours after feedings.
<Your pufferpoo sounds fairly normal. If your puffers are not thin, I don't think you should worry.>
I have had these DPs (purchased from Petsmart) in a 10g planted tank with some otos and Amano shrimp for about 2 weeks now. The tank was new, but I cycled it with an entire package of Bio-Spira and all parameters seem normal.
<Sure sounds like you're doing everything right!>
I recently began feeding them live blackworms because one (the second puffer mentioned above) wouldn't take frozen bloodworms or Mysis shrimp, and the baby pond snails I am breeding haven't quite finished maturing. Is purchasing live blackworms a bad idea because they can contain parasites or is it more likely that parasites would have come with the fish from Petsmart? I know PetSmart breeds DPs, so they are not wild-caught.
<Another reason not to worry about internal parasites in those puffers. I have been feeding live blackworms to my fish for over 25 years. As long as the worms look healthy & are rinsed well, before every feeding, they should be great food for your fish.>
I have been looking for Discomed in case it becomes necessary, but with no luck. I can't even find it through Google. Are there other acceptable alternatives (Hex-Out or Hex-a-Fix) or do you know where to find Discomed?
<I have never had problems finding Discomed online. Just a quick search led me here: http://www.123fish.net/gc/getDetail.php?ItemNo=AQ1000 There were many more. Here is a discussion on the alternatives: http://puffer.proboards2.com/index.cgi?board=hospital&action=display&num=1093270673 >
On an unrelated note, I have read that a pH of 7.0 is ideal for a DP tank, but my tap (which I mix with RO) seems buffered to 8.0, which is where my tank remains. Is 8.0 an acceptable pH for DPs? Should I be using something like RO Right so that I can use exclusively RO water?
<I would not bother with RO water for a FW puffer tank. Most fish can adjust to most any pH, as long as it isn't fluctuating much. Here's a link to "pH mythology": http://puffer.proboards2.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&num=1105913797 >
Quick help on any of these topics would be greatly appreciated... I don't want to lose my puffers!
Thanks, Jeremy

Did Puffy Huff or Puff? Works on/w freshwater and brackish water puffers as well...
<Anthony Calfo in your service while Bob travels>
We have a spiny box puffer fish. He is pretty small still and we had him about a month. He has been fine and eating fine but we have noticed that he is swimming weird lately. He seems to struggle to swim and swims at an angle with his tail fins upward. He can dive to the bottom of the tank but it looks like he is struggling. Does this mean that he has swallowed air?
<possible but uncommon once established... usually occurs after netting out of water when sold/moved>
Since this swimming problem has started he does not seem to eat anymore either. We also have some larger fish that are bothering him. The fish who are the villains are a Sailfin tang, blue tang and a Heniochus. What can we do to help puffy?
<needs quarantine immediately. Ultimately may never work with current tank mates, but suffer and die if forced to do so>
If it is air, how exactly do we help him release it without getting bit or hurting him?
<gently net underwater with a soft nylon cloth net (not coarse green fabric). Securely grab the fish through the net and orient the fish tail-down/ mouth- upward. The struggle to get free will often massage a burp of air out if it exists. You should only need 5-10 seconds to complete if it will work at all. Quite frankly, it may not be air at all and the symptoms are general. Stressed by harassment from other fish, it could have a pathogenic infection... that is why quarantine for isolation, treatment and observation is critical to save its life>
Thanks for any help with our little guy.
<please write back with a success story! Anthony>

What is the title of your book? (and puffer lymph)
It looks to me like you have written a book on marine aquariums (from
some of the emails)
<Likely you're referring to "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist". Sold by fish shops, Amazon et al. on-line booksellers, many etailers:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marlinks.htm>
What's its title and where can I get it? I think I have two puffers
with lymphocystis,
<Very/too common>
but my fish have clear blisters on their fins, which
is a little different from the descriptions I have read of lymph. Is there
anything else this could be?
<Chemical, physical "burns", secondary bacterial (though often labeled as fungal) infection...>
They look like clusters of bubbles in
their fins.
<Oh, this IS likely lymphocystis. Look at pix here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/viraldislymph.htm>
Thanks,
Brenda
<Be chatting, Bob Fenner>

Puffer Question
I have two Spotted Congo Puffers. Or at least I'm fairly certain that is what they are from the description on your site. My tank is in good condition, all fish seem healthy and all readings are normal. The only problem is that last Monday I noticed one of my fish (not puffer) had ich. Which means all my fish have ich.
<Not necessarily... but your system does...>
So I bought Rid-Ich and used it as directed for a week. This seemed to get rid of the ich. But now I see that my two puffers are staying at the bottom of the tank, not eating as much, and are still rubbing up against rocks. They are not darting around however. My question is, does ich cause loss of appetite and non movement?<It can, but definitely the medication does.>
They used to be very active but now seem to stay in the same place. I don't see signs of parasites on them and their color is still bright, most of the time.
Do you think they have ich and I should continue to treat with Rid-Ich? Or any other suggestions.
<I would not continue the treatment at this point, but wait a good week or two, see if other (spotty) symptoms recur... then go the "elevated temperature and some salt" treatment route for two weeks, if so. Your livestock is better not chemically treated for now. Bob Fenner>
Thank you for any help,
Isaac Vollaire
ps. Sorry if I didn't give enough info or if anything is confusing.

Gray sores on my poor puffer
hello bob,
thanks for taking the time to read my question. I recently bought a young
leopard puffer AKA green spotted puffer. and have been doing my research on
how best to care for him. He lives in a 10 gallon with a few ghost shrimp
(which were intended for him to snack on), a juvenile Pakistani loach, a
Plecostomus (sp?) and female beta. He is rather shy and scared of the beta.
(I will be moving her soon) I have been gradually increasing the salt
content over the last three weeks. it is now up to 1.004. He eats frozen
blood worms and brine shrimp. I even set up a smaller tank so that I could
bread snails for him to eat. He acts healthy, has good coloration and eats
like a pig. The problem he has developed two dark grey-ish spots around the
bottom corners of his mouth. I have notices them for about four days now.
They are circular and the center of them appears as shallow open sores. they
are lighter in the center and darkish grey on the outside. do you know what
this could possibly be and how I might treat it?
<Are the colored spots sort of symmetrical... about equal on both sides? This may be "nothing">
I love this little guy. out
of all my fish in four different aquariums he is my favorite. please help.
thank you.
-David
<If it were mine I'd keep on the path you're on and not worry. What you have related that you've done thus far (other than the difficulties of this being a small system) looks fine. Bob Fenner>

CO2
I moved my figure-8 puffer into the new 45 gallon tank a couple of days ago. His color is quite pale and he is ventilating heavily. Is this just from the stress of moving or is it possible that the DIY yeast Co2 generator has saturated the water with too much Co2; especially given that I only have a few plants and very little lighting, just one bulb (N.B. my tank has 10 ghost shrimp and a bumblebee goby; the bumblebee goby made the move at the same time as the puffer and appears to be doing quite well). I think I will add an airstone right away to inject more air, is this a good idea? Also, should I disconnect this Co2 generator? A speedy reply would be appreciated. Paul
<Hi Paul, I highly doubt the DIY yeast Co2 could diffuse enough Co2 into a 45gal to harm the fish. This is most likely stress from the move. Check the rest of your water parameters to make sure they are all within range. An airstone could not hurt at this point. Eventually if/when you really get into the plants and the Co2, the surface agitation from the additional aeration might pose a problem, but right now the fish are your main concern, so I would go for it. Best of luck, Gage>

Possible Co2 poisoning in figure-8 puffer?
I put in an airstone and some duckweed and Poof seems to be doing much better, although he really isn't showing much interest in the ghost shrimp. Oh well, I guess they can just be tank cleaners then... Thanks very much for you help Gage! Paul
<Good to hear, I'm sure his appetite will return shortly.>

Figure Eights with Ich
Okay Okay...so here's the deal:
I'm a college student with a ten gallon tank FILLED with puffers, mean, I just love the goofy bastards. Okay, so, I had to go home for Thanksgiving break and I didn't know WHAT to do with the guys. I mean...I had to bring them home cause they needed to be fed...I mean what else was I going to do right. So perhaps this wasn't the best idea, but to get the home I drained the tank half way and sat with them in the back seat the entire car ride. So we were in the car for four hours, those poor guys splashing around and with no circulation like there was no tomorrow. So, I get the home, and I was in such a hurry to fix up their little home that I forgot to put anti stress coat in about half the water I put in. NEXT THING I KNOW...two of my little Figure Eights (the ones I know as Millhouse and Itchy) have these white spots on their back. Big old white spots. I don't know what's going on there, but it's really upsetting to me...a father of 6 puffers. They don't look like they're going away and I just don't know. There are 4 other puffers in the tank and they seem fine. JUST HELP ME! HELP THE PUFFERS. WHAT DO I DO...for the LOVE OF GOD WHAT DO I DO?
Some people say it's ich...how do I take care of that? Thanks for your help.
<Dude Bro, I hate to ask you to study while you are on vacation, but... I've got some reading for you to do. If it is ich you will want to begin treatment with a formalin based medication. Before you make the trip home make friends with someone at your local fish store, and ask them to pack them for the move home. These fellas will be needing a larger home as well, they are little fish with big attitudes.
disease - http://www.wetwebmedia.com/AqBizSubWebIndex/fishdisho.htm
moving aquariums - http://www.wetwebmedia.com/movingaq.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/fwbracpuffaqs.htm
-Gage

- Freshwater Puffer Woes -
Hi Bob,
<Actually, JasonC today...>
I was wondering if you could answer a few of my questions and concerns that I have regarding my green puffer. I have had this fish for a little over a year and it shares a 20 gal tank with a Labidochromis, a blue cobalt, a bumble bee and a pleco. The puffer has given me few reasons to be concerned about it, but recently it has been acting different than it has in the past. For one thing, the fish does not swim around as much as it used to. Now the fish either sits at the bottom of the tank without moving or sits on the various rocks that are set up throughout the tank and hardly moves. In addition, the puffer has started to close his eyes, almost like he is blinking. I don't know what this is but I have never seen the fish do this before. I don't know if the fish is sick or maybe just stressed from a recent water change. <Or both... these fish are sensitive to water conditions and I'm sure over the last year all the fish in this tank have grown, which would alter your bioload, and also your water quality if you're not on it 100%.> Any advise, help or some solution that may help would be greatly appreciated. <I would keep an eye on it, perhaps isolate it in a separate system if things don't improve. You should also read through the multiple pages of FAQ's on these puffers. This is a good place to start:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/fwbracpuffaqs.htm >
Thank you,
Chris
<Cheers, J -- >

- Freshwater Puffer Treatment -
<Greetings, JasonC here...>
I have two green spotted freshwater puffers. One has been in the 40 gal tank about a month now and seems to be having difficulty with his eye. He had ick (some on the eye as well) and was treated with Maracide for 5 days. It didn't work so I gave it a day and treated it with quick cure this seemed to get rid of the ick however while it was being treated for ick I noticed what seemed to be pop eye and so after quick cure I started the tank on Maracyn. Now after five days of treatment it still has a cloud in the one eye that had had ick on it. Any advice where to go from here? <Yeah... provided the parasitic problems are dealt with, I'd stop treating the tank. Give the eye time to heal on its own. Pop-eye is usually the result of injury/trauma to the eye itself so that treatments like Maracyn and the like will do little to nothing to solve the problem. I've also heard of using small amounts of Epsom salts to help the fish regulate its fluids, but I'd wait for a little while [a week or so] before giving this a shot. Cheers, J -- >

Puff Daddy!
Hi there, Thanks tons for the advice on the puffer, I'm afraid it was too late though.
<Sorry to hear that. Sometimes, animals don't make it despite our best intentions, I guess>
I'm starting again, but I would like to know if I could put 2 green spotted puffers in a 55 litre tank with a bumble bee goby?
<I think that they would be okay for a while, but they may require larger quarters at some point. You'd want to keep an eye on the goby to make sure that the puffers are not harassing the goby excessively>
Would it be the same salinity and temp as was for figure of 8 puffers?
<That would be fine, IMO><<Low amounts of salts for Figure Eights, please. RMF>>
Cheers, Tom Hird
<Good luck with your new fishes, Tom! regards, Scott F>

Puffer Twitch
<Ananda here answering the puffer questions...>
I have a green spotted puffer which I just acquired today, my question is concerning the new one although, I must first tell you what happened with my former puffer. I had purchased one in early December and had him for 2 weeks till he died.
<Sorry to hear that.>
After a week of having Cazmo he developed this twitch like seizure like action. Soon after he started to be very disoriented and running into the gravel. Looked like a plane that was out of control.
<Can be a sign of something toxic in the tank... Are you using a water conditioner that treats both chlorine and chloramine?>
He had salt in the water for him, and he ate just fine before this got bad. So I looked at some web sites and came to the conclusion that he had some sort of internal bacteria of some sort. I read that Maracyn II (cant remember if that is correct)
<Probably Maracyn II>
would fix it. So i went to the fish store and they gave me a more generic version called tetra-cycline.
<Tetracycline is a completely different drug, but is also used for bacterial infections.>
I administered the drugs to the tank and at the last day of treatment he died. So I waited till after Christmas to try again with a new one. Today I put him in his new home, and he started to do the twitch.
<Did he start to twitch immediately when you put him in the tank? If so, it sounds like it is definitely something in the tank and/or filter. I would remove the fish from your tank to a quarantine tank -- or any other clean container he will fit in, if you do not yet have a quarantine tank. Then clean and sterilize the tank, filter, gravel, and all decorations. Read here for more details: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/AqBizSubWebIndex/disnfecgerfaqs.htm>
I can not figure out what is going on in my tank that is causing this problem.
<Whatever it is, it has stayed in the tank since your first puffer, thus the necessity of sterilization to get rid of as much of the cause of the problem as possible.>
The tank is fairly new, but it has been running for about a month and 2 weeks. He has no tank mates right now. And I had my water tested and it showed up ok. What is causing this? I do not want to lose this one too!
<It is difficult to say with certainty exactly what is causing this. If the puffer's twitchiness continues after he is in a cleaned/sterilized system, please let us know. --Ananda>

Puffer Twitch
I have a green spotted puffer which I just acquired today, my question is concerning the new one although, I must first tell you what happened with my former puffer.
<You should have researched enough to know that puffers, in general, are really not very hardy...particularly the green puffer You setting yourself up for failure>
I had purchased one in early December and had him for 2 weeks till he died. After a week of having Cazmo he developed this twitch like seizure like action. Soon after he started to be very disoriented and running into the gravel. Looked like a
plane that was out of control. He had salt in the water for him, and he ate just fine before this got bad.
<Just the pains of dying!>
So I looked at some web sites and came to the conclusion that he had some sort of internal bacteria of some sort.
<Who knows?>
I read that Maracyn II (cant remember if that is correct)
would fix it. So i went to the fish store and they gave me a more
generic version called tetra-cycline. I administered the drugs to the tank and at the last day of treatment he died. So I waited till after Christmas to try again with a new one.

Today I put him in his new home, and he started to do the twitch. I can not figure out what is going on in my tank that is causing this problem.
<Maybe not the tank...The fish is suffering from a terminal case of fragility>
The tank is fairly new, but it has been running for about a month and 2 weeks.
<It probably needs to be set up longer to stabilize. I assume that you have tested all of your water parameters and everything is as it should be?>
He has no tank mates right now. And I had my water tested and it showed up ok. What is causing this? I do not want to lose this one too!
<Good luck! These fish just aren't very hardy for anyone. Beautiful? Yes. Delicate and fragile? Yes. Die easily? Yes. David Dowless>

Figure 8 puffers (02/20/03)
I have two in a 10 gal tank. They were doing fine until we added two Monos and a Bala shark(?).
<Hmm. A Bala shark is a freshwater fish; if you're talking about a brackish fish, perhaps you have the "silver shark catfish"?>
Soon after adding the new fish, one of the puffers stopped eating. This has been going on for about 2 weeks, or we just don't see it eat. Then it started getting grey and black markings on its white underside. Now the other has grey on its underside, but not as much. This second one has also kept on with a healthy appetite.
<Do try to entice the fist puffer to eat, with snails, shrimp, bloodworms, other puffer treats...the grey is the calling card for puffer stress. The black markings are more worrisome. Do check all your water parameters and do a water change if you see any ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate.>
We set up a 40 gal brackish and transferred the Monos and shark to it, thinking the puffers would do better, but it did not seem to make a difference. I have absolutely no idea what I should be treating them for.
<Possibly something the monos and shark brought in... I would go back to the fish store and check their remaining stock to see if they are healthy. The presence of the other fish in their tank may have been the initial stressor -- do the puffers have hiding spaces in their tank?>
We did move the puffers into the 40 gal tank with the others thinking more room might help.
<It might, or not. If they do not improve, consider moving them back to their more familiar quarters.>
Your help is appreciated!
<You're welcome. --Ananda><<... this tank is too small, psychologically and physiologically... for this livestock. RMF>>

Re: puffer with black spots
hi.. your site has been very helpful. i have a green spotted puffer that looks like it got the ich....doesn't seem as energetic and also noticed where his white belly starts...black specs???? he's in a freshwater tank ph like 7.2 7.6... should i do a saltwater dip on this fish??? how would i do this..
<Hello, It is hard to say without a picture. If the spots are raised then it may be the Turbellid parasitic at work (Black spot). Possibly treat with formalin, but I would make a positive ID before any treatment. Check out the link below. Best Regards, Gage
http://wetwebmedia.com/parasiti.htm >

Puffer Color Change
Hello,
I enjoy the WWM site a lot...lots of good content.
<excellent>
I have a question...I have a green spotted puffer (Pepito). About a couple of months ago, he started turning kind of blackish/greyish colored. What might it be?
<Have you tested your water quality lately? Are you adding salt? What is the spg? These puffers are ok in fresh water while young, but as they grow older they should really be kept in brackish water. It could also be related to mood, diet, or just a normal color change with age. Check out the link below and related FAQs for more information. Best Regards, Gage
http://wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/fwbracpuffers.htm >
Thank you,
Kristine

New Mbu Review (03/21/03)
Hi,
<Hi. Ananda here today.>
We are the proud parents of a beautiful Mbu Puffer.
<And here we missed the baby shower.>
We briefly have put him in a 37 tall (he is 7 inches) we are having a 135 delivered and set up with an established filter system tomorrow.
<The 135 is a good starter tank for a fish this size... you are making plans for that 300+ gallon tank you're going to need when it gets to its full-grown length of 26 inches, right?>
My question is last night my husband was on the other side of the mirrored side of the tank. He adjusted the heater and this scared the Mbu, "Simon". Simon moved so fast across the tank I could not believe it.
<Despite the fact that they swim like tugboats most of the time, puffers can move amazingly fast when they need to.>
He bumped into the other side of the tank. He hit so hard. He then sat on the bottom of the
tank and I noticed blood coming from his left gill every so often. After about 1 minute this stopped.
<Ouch! Sounds like the fishy equivalent of a bloody nose.>
This morning and afternoon he is swimming and is colored up beautiful. Do you think this hurt him? This was really scary.
<For him, especially!>
Please let me know what you think?
<Keep an eye on him. If there will be movement near his tank when the people come to set up the 135, cover his tank with a blanket so he won't get startled.>
Also we have fed him mystery snails and shrimp..
<You don't have to use mystery snails; ordinary pond snails will work fine, too. You might want to set up a snail farm tank. Check out the article here: http://www.aaquaria.com/aquasource/snailsforpuffers.shtml>
My husband says its ok to take the shrimp out of the freezer and leave in the refrigerator for a few days and feed it to him.
<Sort of like leaving bread out on a plate for a few days before you eat it....>
I say no, its not safe. Better to take the shrimp out the night before and feed the next day..
<I just take the shrimp out of the freezer and drop them into the tank. (Though I have to chop them up a bit, first; my puffers are little guys.) Hard and crunchy foods mean more wear on his ever-growing teeth. Do vary his diet a bit more; check out the puffer feeding FAQs here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/pufferfdgfaqs.htm ...Also check the various puffer FAQs, including the marine ones -- your puffer is closer in size to marine puffers than to the more common fresh/brackish puffers.>
Help...
Vivian Rahman
<Have fun with your new family member. --Ananda>

Aquarium service woes... (03/24/03)
Ananda,
I write you with a heavy heart.. On Thursday the Aquarium Service came and were supposed to replace the heater and the eclipse filter on the Mbu Puffer's tank. The young man took it upon himself to put salt in the tank thinking he was salt or brackish. Mbu "Simon" was dead in 2 1/2 hours.. We came in at 6:pm and he was on the bottom his gills barely moving and covered
with white looking powder. We did a 3/4 water change he was dead before we got through. He has been so happy and colorful all day. I wish I had stayed home to make sure all had gone well.. He was 7 inches long..
The owner of the company will be compensating us. His employee argued with me on the telephone the next morning and told me that we did not know what we were doing, that all puffers required salt and the puffer died because we had him in fresh water. He did this in front of his co-workers, who were mortified. The owner called my husband and they both cried on the telephone. It was a very painful death for Simon and I will never forget what happened.
We are getting another Mbu Puffer this weekend. He is smaller 4 inches. He has a cute personality and he w