Porcupine Puffer not eating

[frazin78]

My Purcupine Puffer hasn't been eating for over 1.5 weeks now. :sad: I've lost my Yellow tang 4 weeks as she decided to stop eating as well. I've had this tank set up for over 3 years now. My water parameters are the following:

Ammonia= 0
Nitritres= 0
Nitrates= 10 ppm (been constant for 3 years)
Specific Gravity: 1.023
Temp: 81 degrees

I feed him frozen krill from my hand every other day, the opposite days I feed him marine formula mixed with squid. He has been the biggest and best eater out of my tank for a very long time. He's approx 3 inches long and he's living ina 50G tank. His other tank mate is now only a Damnsel.

The only difference in my puffy's looks are that he is getting skinnier and that he has a few darker spots on him ( I've read that this is a sign of stress)

Any help is appreciated.

Thank you
Jc

I forgot to add that he still gets excited when I bring food near the tank. He tries to eat the aquarium glass but then when the food hits the water.. he just sort of plays with it. Squirts water at it.. then he fakes to snap at it and then backs away.

Here are the following foods that i've tried to feed him.

Krill ( bag I had and new bag from store)
Marine Formula
Squid
Feeder Guppies
Ghost Shrimp
Freeze dried Krill

[FloridaBoy]

Hmm, not clear on how long you had both the tang/puffer, but if you had them for a while and they suddenly stopped eating, you likely have a system problem; could be metals/metabolite poisoning... you could try a 25 percent water change weekly for the next 4 weeks and see if that helps, but meanwhile you might quickly move the puffer to a QT or local LFS and see if it starts feeding, you are running out of time; once they start losing body weight it can be hard to turn around.

[Mako]

I've heard of stray electrical charges doing this. I don't know how to test for them, though. Most folks just buy a titanium or stainless steel grounding probe and problem solved. Tangs are known for sensitivity to this (as are sw angels).

You could have an internal parasite/pathogen, or who knows?

BTW, if this puffer doesn't make it, I'd recommend NOT getting another spiny porc. They get to nearly 4 feet long (I've seen them this big, they have a couple in a 350,000 gallon pelagic tank at the SC Aquarium, bigger 36" televisions). A 55gallon, or a 125 for that matter, will not be enough to keep them happy. Lots of other puffer ideas out there (many burrfish are just as cool and don't get more than a foot).

[LittlePuff]

The Diodon hystrix gets over 3'
The Diodon holacanthus, 18"

Kim

[frazin78]

Thanks,

I don't know long fish are supposed to live for in an Aquarium, Hopefully for a long time considering we are trying to give the ultimate pollution free environment but it's not as big as the Ocean that's for sure.

This is my second porcupine puffer and they have been the longest living fish next to a Damsel in my tank. I will take strongly take your recomendation though on the Burr fish. Little guy is still alive I wish he could tell me what was wrong.

Jc

[MonoSebaelover]

I would definitely try doing a water change. First though it wouldn't hurt to bring your water sample into a lfs and have them test it to ensure yours is accurate. Also try some really nice fresh foods, like (from grocery store) fresh/frozen shrimp, imitation crab meat (or the real if you can afford it), fresh scallops, etc. Try everything in your power. At 1.5 weeks (he must be eating something otherwise he would be emaciated by now) he is getting close to shutting down if he hasn't eaten anything. Also try feeding closer to nightime as they are nocturnal fish in the wild. Anyway, hope this helps and good luck!

[frazin78]

Thanks for the advice... Puffy's gonna get some good food tonight.. :D...



I would definitely try doing a water change. First though it wouldn't hurt to bring your water sample into a lfs and have them test it to ensure yours is accurate. Also try some really nice fresh foods, like (from grocery store) fresh/frozen shrimp, imitation crab meat (or the real if you can afford it), fresh scallops, etc. Try everything in your power. At 1.5 weeks (he must be eating something otherwise he would be emaciated by now) he is getting close to shutting down if he hasn't eaten anything. Also try feeding closer to nightime as they are nocturnal fish in the wild. Anyway, hope this helps and good luck!