My New Puffers

[KatarinaH]

I was so happy to get 4 new puffers for my tank but it seems that one already is dying.

I'm sorta upset by this because he was (as the weakest one) being nipped at by the others. I moved him into my feeder tank away from the other puffers but don't think he's going to last as most of the time he doesn't even attempt to swim he just lets the current take him where it may.

If he does die overnight and my feeders try and eat him will they get harmed because he's a puffer? Their prickle things are supposed to be poisionous right?

[dan2x38]

Where did you get him? Take him back for a credit or replacement. They are scaleless fish so very sensitive to acclimate use a drip line. Are these Dwarves? Make sure your water is on the high side 82f is OK. Also the tank should be cycled. Don't use to cycle a new tank. Make sure the filter is seeded with used media. They often come with ich or develop it soon after bringing them home. Watch them closely. Don't let other fish eat them either. I love the little guys!

[KatarinaH]

I bought them from a person not a store.

The water is at the top of the green on an aquatic thermometer.

It's a healthy tank that I've had running for just about a year now. Disease free for most of the time minus Ick when it was brand new.

I used no filtration at first, then used an old filter for a day. After which I put in a new filter as the old one was pretty close to being shot anyway.

Yeah they are Dwarf Puffers and I've been dying to get them for a while now. The others seem to be doing great in the tank they are digging in the sand and exploring all the fake plants, and investigating the two 6 inch plecos that are some of the original inhabitants.

[dan2x38]

Need a filter no matter their size. Are they the only occupants? Use some old media in the filter to prevent a cycle.

[KatarinaH]

Them and two 6 inch plecos.

They only had no filteration while I changed the substrate from gravel to sand to prevent the sand from clogging the filter. Once the sand settled I used an old filter until it shot. Just replaced the filter yesterday.

[KLKelly]

You could put him in a big tupperware.  No current to tire him out and no fish eating at him.  You can change the water with tank water daily as he recovers.

For euthanasia you can buy clove oil from a natural food store.  For small fish they are knocked out within a few seconds.  I had a bad experience with a larger loach.  It only costs like 5$.

[irene]

Those were from me.  Sorry to hear the one is not doing well.  The others are OK though?  If he's still alive I'd do as klkelly suggested put him in a tub with dechlorinated water and no current.  You know they will not eat flake or pellet food right?   They take frozen bloodworms well, also live microworms and blackworms. 

Irene

[latios]

Just keep him from the fish and then feed him snails,microworm,and I think he'll do fine.

[Laura]

I'm glad the other guys are doing well, and I realize it's just the one fish having issues - but 12" of pleco (2x6") is a lot of fish for a 10 gallon IMO.  Are the water parameters okay?

[irene]

When you say you just replaced the filter yesterday, you mean it's a brand new uncycled filter?  If so you'll need to monitor your ammonia/nitrites.    Maybe you could get some cycled media for it from another member?

Irene

[KatarinaH]

I seperate the little guy in hopes to save him but I was too late.

He's gone 

He was still trying to survive lastnight but this morning when NetCop checked on him he was stone cold still.

On another note though:
The other puffers are doing great. They're taking well to thier new home and exploring everything around them.

I can't bring myself to seperate the plecos as they were a rescue mission so even though I probably should only need on in there I can't take out just one.

The original owner didn't like how much work thier was to aquariums and after I went over there to see her aquarium and saw she had a 10 gallon tank with a 15 gallon heater on high and 3 very lethargic fish (Betty Selene & Helios) if she hadn't have offered them to me he would have set them loose in the Ottawa River.

They were only about 3 inches at the time they were given to me. They've grown a lot since September.

[latios]

I'm sorry that he died . But at least the other puffers are ok.

[dan2x38]

Big question you hadn't answered - did you add new filter media or the same when you broke down the tank? If you rinsed the filter media what did you rinse it in tap water? You should only ever replace 1/1 the media at a time & rinse media in tank water you took out to change. If you rinsed it in tap water and/or added new media you need to add some old stuff to seed the new filter.

Irene's tanks are in great shape disease free I had 2 of her puffers no problems... they are not as sensitive becuase they are tank breed which is amazing they are not easy to breed!

I really hope you are kidding about releasing any pet into the wild from anywhere else??? It can upset the eco-system Big Time. It only takes one breeding pair... or invasive plants... these are HUGE problems created by the aquarium industry... Please Goggle this topic it can be a aserious problem!!! 

I am sorry you lost one of your little guys! It does happen though...

[KatarinaH]

I used a new filter when I changed it, I rinsed it in premade water that was preped for an aquarium water change. I didn't scrub the filter itself I left some bacteria in that as I know Too Clean is possible.

I also didn't clean off the fake plants nor rinse off the driftwood in the tank.

I wish I was kidding about the releasing the pleco's into the river, but he was dead serious about it. Which is why I took them in as a rescue mission. I couldn't let him do that to either the eco-system or the fish.