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Sick Dog Face Puffer 8/29/06 Hi, my name is
Beth, my husband and I have a dog face puffer, and I think
he's really sick; but I don't know what the problem is. <Hi
Beth, you have Justin with you tonight, one of the resident puffer
people.> None of the two local fish stores that we go to can tell us
whats wrong they just suggest to do water changes. We
have. We have had Pudge for about eight months
with nothing else but a crab. Please Help Me!!! I am really
sorry if you have already answered a question like this, but I've
done tons of research on your website and can't find any
answers. About ten days ago Pudge stopped eating and
swimming on the third day I noticed he was breathing very heavy his
left gill was opening very wide and when he did swim not aggressively
at all he would bmp into the live rock and the glass as if he
didn't even see it. <Signs of poor water quality generally>
We did a water change and added bio-Spira that night at about 10:00 he
was laying on his side and getting all these brown spots on him I
thought he was dying. With no suggestion from the fish store
as a last resort I told my husband to put the medication
Rally in his tank, within 20 min. the spots were gone , the next day
his breathing improved, the following day he was swimming around again
still with no signs of hunger. <Brown spots? can you get
a photo? do you mean that the puffer was turning blotchy, or
that he was actually covered in small black/brown
dots?> The day before yesterday I noticed what seems to
be mucus coming out of his mouth and his one left gill. Still not
eating. Yesterday I tried force feeding him but he
wouldn't take it. Today he just seems to be in the same
position he was ten days ago. This morning I put some more
medication in but it doesn't seem to be working he is breathing
heavy again with no energy at all. He is very dark brown but when I go
over to the tank it seems that he is trying to turn that grayish white
color he normally is but cant and he gets these white spots all over
him almost like a leopard. I don't know what to do I
feel helpless. I hope you can help me. Thank
you so much for your time.
Beth
<Beth, without knowing key things about your setup such as tank
size, size of the puffer, water parameters (Take your water to be
tested or if you have a test kit, use it and reply back),
and what type of blotches you are seeing, it is hard to tell you
anything you can do. your LFS is right that water changes
(50%) will be very helpful, but Im concerned with the adding medicine
and spots disappearing, that sounds like black spot disease or black
Ich, which is a parasite. If it is black Ich, (small black
spots all over the body/gills) fresh water dipping and gravel vacuuming
your entire tank will help remove most of them, however please read on
WWM about black spot disease to get a better feel for if that is what
is actually happening. At this point do the water changes,
and try adding garlic juice to the puffers food to entice it to
eat. Answer the questions above and reply back and we can go
from there.> <Justin> SW Puffer Systems/ Possible Disease - 3/24/2006 Hi Crew Thank you in advance for any advice you can offer. <<I will try.>> I have kept a large dog faced puffer (now 11 inches long) in a 100 gallon (UK) tank for five years, after spending hours and hours reading your site I decided to introduce live rock about a week ago. The water parameters are: Nh3 0 ppm No2 0.1 ppm <<Should always be Zero.>> No3 30-40ppm 10% water changes per week required! <<Puffers are very sensitive to such things. I do 50% weekly changes on my puffer tanks.>> Ph 8.3-8.4 alk 12dkh ca 370 phosphate 0.1 silicate 0 temp 78 - 80 s.g 1.022 The tank has a bare bottom, now with live rock, huge circulation (60X per hour) and an AquaC Remora pro skimmer imported from America - on your site's recommendation. I am very pleased with it <<As am I, with mine :).>> Also 2 large Eheim 2028 externals. I supplemented the calcium when I introduced the live rock with Tropic Marin Bio Calcium, because the reading was 310 and I would like to give the rock a chance to grow corallines. <<Ok. Be sure not to push it too high.>> I noticed 2 days after introducing the rock and dosing the calcium, that he has large white markings in his fins, they are not like spots more like splodges (hope that is a relevant term!!) <<I'm not sure it is a term at all! :)>> and they don't seem to protrude from his fins more like they are in the fins themselves, the marks are about 2mm in length and he has 5 of them in total. He had a case of Ich about 4 years ago when I introduced a Tang, I feel that this does not look like the same thing as they are much bigger and don't look as if they protrude, also in the past he has had one of these marks on his fins which came to nothing. To confuse matters more, he has also lost a little of the colour in his tail fin, he has however, recently taken to resting his tail on the Tunze stream pump, because this has now become the new area where he rests after I introduced the rock. This has left me thinking is this a parasite from the live rock (well cured), or could it be explained away with his tail on the pump- and dosing of the calcium somehow affecting his fins. <<I think you may have had some die-off in the rock, hence the nitrite reading. I wouldn't blame the pump, or the calcium for his marks. This could be little more than a small display of stress.>> I am resisting the urge to panic (although it is building!! ) because his behavior is normal, no scratching or labored breathing, and as I have mentioned I feel sure he has had a similar mark before. Any ideas you have would be appreciated. <<Increase the volume of your water changes, and keep an eye out for changing behaviour.>> Thank you for your advice past and present. Dave Squire (England) <<Glad to help. Lisa.>> Puffers and copper 2/6/06 It says on your site not to
ever treat puffers with copper. <Some folks say...> I
had my tank at better than 1.5ppm (CopperSafe) for 3 months
and my map and dogface are no worse for the wear as far as I
can tell. I just bought a starry puffer who was
doing great the first day but now seems a little lethargic and not
eager to eat. My copper level is at 1.0 (less than a
true therapeutic dose) but I'm concerned that it may be
effecting his health. <... sub-therapeutic doses do more harm than
good> I'm going to get all the copper out of my tank
once I get a golden puffer but I don't want to invite another
Ich infection before that. Your input would be
appreciated. Greg <Quarantine, don't crowd...
Bob Fenner> Poor Planning/Husbandry and Puffer Health - 12/13/2005 Hello - <Hi Francesca.> I noticed very recently that my Porcupine Puffer has been gasping/ labored breathing and stays around the top, as if 1) there's too much ammonia or not enough oxygen in tank or 2) some parasitic problem, maybe gill flukes? <This doesn't bode well for your tank. Has your Puffer been puffing at all (or ever). They are usually very good first indicators of poor conditions.> Just for background, I have a 30 gallon tank with a Clown, the Puffer, small Damsel and Yellow Tang. <This demonstrates extremely poor planning or a lack there of. Neither the Puffer nor the Tang are suitable here. They should both be removed to larger systems. This inappropriate stocking is a good part of your problem. Both will have stunted growth and die prematurely if they remain. The choice however is ultimately yours.> The Puffer's about 4 inches. I checked water conditions, Ph, <pH> ammonia of course, etc, and everything's fine. <I can draw no such conclusion here.> I like keeping my salinity level lower (not a reef tank) at 1.020, also hear it's good for preventing Ich supposedly, not sure? <Do read up on hyposalinity on our site for more info.> They seem fine though. <Obviously not.> Just did a water change too. I do these every 2-3 weeks, about 20% or so. <Being this overstocked you should be doing these much more frequently. Skimmer?> Every week I put in calcium supplements to maintain Ph (in particular Kalkwasser mix, and All in One Salifert). <Do you know what your doing with these? How much calcium is lost in your tank weekly? If not testing/regulating accordingly, please stop. Increase water change frequency.> I'm usually <Usually!?> careful pouring the Kalkwasser mixed with freshwater in it (I hear you're supposed to pour in slowly), <Only go on what you know and understand thoroughly. Going on what you've heard can be deadly and doesn't often apply in such cases.> but last week I may have poured it in too fast and 'burned' a bit of the puffer tail fringes. I'm wondering whether I may have slightly affected his gills too, thus the labored breathing. <Do you know the effects of a sudden pH spike? The effect it would have on any measurable amount of ammonia?> But that was last Thursday and it's already Monday. Or is it gill flukes? I hear that's hard to diagnose. <I doubt it's more than inappropriate care.> What should I do? I love this guy - his name's Piggy (aptly named of course). Great personality, good color and weight (not too fat). Even though he's acting like this, he still eats like a pig and is relatively active when I'm ready to feed him. <You'll need to start frequent water changes (at least weekly), study more on additives and their use/need and either buy a larger (100 gal. at least) system for these or adopt them out.> Thanks for your help, sorry email so long! I'm just at a loss what to do. <I know this was not at all what you wanted to hear and understand your attachment to your livestock. You must however consider what is best for them and how to best help them here. Just think how it would feel to constantly try harder (which can also hurt things if misapplied) only to watch them fade and slowly waste away (or become brain damaged, neurotic, Etc.). Besides, a little well intentioned "tough love" is what we all need sometimes.> Francesca <Josh> Porcupine Puffer 5/3//04 Thank you for your great and quick response. I am the person who asked you about the one puffer with the two blue damsels in an 80 gal tank. I will do my best to take care of my puffer, Spike. I guess I won't be getting more fish. My tank is too small. I want to take care of Spike the best I can and don't want to worry about so many other things. I don't want more damsels. I do have more decor in the tank. I just didn't want to list them all. I will get a protein skimmer today as well as a water cooler. The weather has been very warm here in CA and the water temp is now 81! I unplugged the heater two days ago after I had already turned it down. <I really don't think a cooler is necessary. Temps of 78-82, or even a little higher for a few days is fine. The only harm that could come to your fish is if it was kept at high temps for years, this would quicken it's metabolism & shorten it's lifespan.> Do puffers jump out of tanks? <Definitely! They are also excellent spitters. Check out this cute site: http://www.puffers.org/. ~PP> Irene Puffer Blinded by the Lights? (12/24/03) Hi! <Hi! Ananda here tonight...> The fish is still OK, but I forgot to mention the fact that I switched the lights off when she started acting funny and yesterday when I turned them on again, she started circling like crazy and acted really strange, as if she were trying to hide from the light. As soon as I turned it off, she calmed down. Apparently, it disturbs her. However, she was quite OK before that, when the lights were on, she never did seem to mind. <I would do something to reduce the light intensity for a while, then slowly build it back up. There is info regarding same on the WWM site.> As for the nitrates I am using a downdraft skimmer, but I still have to figure out what to do with phosphates. I am using JBL's PhosEx, but it doesn't work (or do I have to give it more time?). <Sorry, I'm not familiar with that product. Do try checking the company's website.> The source water is OK, I am using a reverse osmosis system. I'll try to find out more about balancing pH and do something about it, hopefully I'll succeed. Katja <The pH and alkalinity interaction can seem complex, but is understandable. --Ananda> Puffer Trouble! 3/17/03 Hey
guys!<Hey! Phil here, "Bozek" on the forums..
you're "Dissolution" on the forums right?> Purchased a
Dogface puffer Friday night.<My favorite puffer> He seems like he
got used to the tank fairly quick. Seemed ok. My room mate
did a water change with water that was slightly cooler (72 degrees)
because the moron didn't think to check the temp.<Not
good> Not only that - when he was taking the water out
the heater cracked because the water level went below it.<This is
sounding worse by the minute!> I had to do a 40min drive to the only
place that was open to get a new one. Now the water is at
the normal temp 78degrees.<good> The problem is that between the
water change and the temp drop he got stressed out. He just
sits at the bottom and occasionally moves to a new spot and chills
there. His color is off (like when some fish fall asleep -
then they get the colors back). I've been reading over the FAQs -
and it doesn't seem like a "horrible" behaviour - but I
know its not normal - and I'd like to get my new buddy all feeling
better. What can I do?<Make sure he's eating and keep the water
quality high! These are tough fish and should be able to
take this like a trooper! Please e-mail me back if there is
any change in appearance/ behaviour!> Thanks so much!<No problem!
Phil> Sick Dogface Puffer (03/10/03) <Hi! Ananda here tonight as
the puffer patrol heads for the ocean...> I have a dog face puffer
and he hasn't eaten the last two days. His face and lips
seem to be very swollen. His eyes do not stick out at all and are very
cloudy. He sits on the bottom and looks like he's having a hard
time breathing. He'll swim around a little but he runs
into stuff since he can't see very well. <My first suspect is
water quality. Have you tested the ammonia/nitrites/nitrates in this
tank? Ammonia and nitrites should be at zero, and nitrates should be
under 40. If you have *any* ammonia or nitrites, or nitrates over 40, I
would do a water change of at least 20%.> I also have a lionfish and
yellow tang in the tank. The tang appears
healthy. The lionfish also has cloudy eyes and hasn't
eaten in the last two days but he is stubborn sometimes with his food
and is still swimming around like normal. <Hmmm.
What did you add to the tank two days ago?> I did a 20% water change
today. Do you have any suggestions, I don't want to lose my
puffer!!! <Another 20% water change might be in order.
There are also some bacterial infections that can cause cloudy eyes,
but I would like to rule out water quality issues first. I know nothing
about your tank, so water quality is my first suspect.> Thanks so
much! Lea Puffer problems Hello, I am hoping you can help me? <Hi,
Ananda here tonight...> I am taking care of a friends saltwater fish
while she is on vacation. First, I know nothing about saltwater fish!
but she left me specific instructions, which I have followed to the
letter. <That's a good start, and emailing was another good
start... my apologies on the delay in answering.> The fish were fine
the last 2 days, today, I found one of 3 butterfly fish dead, and the
puffer has not eaten for 2 days! <I hope you removed the butterfly
pronto. Did she leave you instructions on how to do a water change?
Puffers occasionally go on "hunger strikes" for a week or so,
so that alone shouldn't be too big a problem.> and his eyes are
all white and cloudy! <Often a sign of a water quality
problem...> can hardly see his eyes anymore, he was swimming around
some, but never came to the top to eat. I checked the ammonia levels
which seemed fine and also the salt, which was also fine. <Ammonia
levels should be zero. If they are not, please do a water change.>
Any help or suggestions? Please contact me as soon as possible! Ginny
<The good news is that cloudy eyes are a symptom that should abate
when the water quality conditions improve. If you don't know how to
do a water change, do email back and someone can help you through it,
or post on the Saltwater Newbies board at http://wetwebfotos.com/talk and
explain your situation. Sometimes, there will be people on the boards
who can answer your question before the email servers can get a message
to you! --Ananda> Dogface Puffer Problem >I have searched through your site, but I have a couple different symptoms, although I fear it may be too late. I have a dog faced puffer (about 8-10") in a 40 gallon tank, which I have had for 5 years, I have been using the same bottle of prime for this entire time. Once the Prime Dechlor has been opened, does it have a certain amount of shelf life? >>I can only assume that it has a limited useful life, but I couldn't say that it would do anything worse than be ineffective. I'd treat it like certain toiletries, give it anything from one to three years (?), just a guess. >Since it always smells bad, its hard to tell if it's actually "gone bad". His usual diet is tiger shrimps and smelts (which I now realize is likely not a good enough variety. I used to give him scallops too, but his teeth started overgrowing, and his increased size also made it harder to feed them to him). He recently has slowed down on eating, over the last month to only about once a week. (I had been on holidays with someone caring for my tank, and when I returned there was a slight elevation in ammonia and nitrites, which was quickly alleviated with a water change) He seems to be breathing differently, and over night his eyes have sunken in. His teeth don't seem to be overgrown, although his lips seem to be 'pulled back', and I'm not sure about the lock jaw, he kinda holds his teeth open, but I think he can close them if he needs to. I usually do a water change of 5-6 gallons every 2 weeks, I had done one last Saturday, and am doing another tonight. >>First thoughts are that he's reached the limits of suitability in housing. I really think your fish needs a tank at *least* double the size currently housed in. Also, you can do larger, more frequent changes, they never hurt (as long as you're not going vacuum-mad on the gravel). >While I live in a city where there is no one that has saltwater knowledge, I visited a larger center today, and the sales rep didn't think i had anything to worry about yet, although at that time I hadn't noticed his eyes to be sunken. At the same time I bought a new bottle of Prime, and I think there is a slight difference in the smell - could this be the problem? I asked the rep if liquid vitamins would help if he has a vitamin deficiency, and he didn't feel they would do much good. >>It is my opinion that the sales rep was remiss for discounting the true importance of nutrition. I feel that you should use supplements, especially on this fish. There is one (available online) that is *very* good, called Selcon. Other folks also speak (and there does appear to be some proof validating the claim that garlic (or extract thereof) induces feeding response in poorly feeding fish. It is indeed known for the antibiotic properties of Allicin within garlic. You can crush it, and soak food in it, see if it inspires any increased interest in food. >If they would help, is there any substitutions since its unlikely any pet store here would have them? Would it be worth it to try to force feed him, or with the sunken eyes is it already too late? >>I'm honestly unfamiliar with anything other than malnutrition that would cause a fish to look like that. I might suggest a parasitic infection, for which garlic is also purported by some to have internal anti-parasitic effects. Since this message is a few days old, please email me back so I have time to do some research, and to see how he's doing right now, then we'll move on. Marina >Thank you for your help, Shawna Ogonoski |
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