hey, I have a 210 gal tank that has been going for about 8 months now. Just recently got ick and brought the salinity down to kill off the ick and everyone is doing great except the puffer. He wont eat at all, although he acts like he wants to. Any suggestions?
pourcupine puffer wont eat
- Thread starter cerps
- Start date
he will come out like normal when you put the shrimp in there but then just turns away and swims off. I have even tried soaking in garlic but its not working. I dont know how to tell if his teeth are okay. Before this last week he would eat like crazy.
You'll want to get a good shot down his mouth. What has he been eating? At a guess, the salinity drop is making him unhappy--you may notice a darker tummy, and less 'bright' coloration as well. Puffers are tough to treat for skin ailments, but increased temp and salinity usually works. If you haven't, I'd bump the temp up to about 86-87, keep it there for a week, and start returning the salinity to normal right now. The temp will take care of the parasites as well, and the return to 'normal' salinity should get the puffer eating again.
No crunchies? That's bad. Porcupines need a lot of crunch in their diet to keep their teeth worn down--things like mussels, cockles, crab legs. With only shrimp, he's not getting the wear, and those teeth may be growing too long for proper eating. Shrimp shells just aren't that effective at wearing down teeth. You'll have to check--should be able to get a shot down his open mouth--the teeth should be far apart, with around 1/2-1 inch between top and bottom.
The cloudy eye is likely a stress reaction to the lowered salinity and ich.
The cloudy eye is likely a stress reaction to the lowered salinity and ich.
I would suggest moving it to a large quarantine system asap.
I suspect the salinity/temp route has not actually eliminated your parasitic problem, and if you don't have one now is the time to set one up.
For your large system, a 40 gal QT would be about right. It doesn't have to be fancy, but IME it's essential to your long term success.
I suspect the salinity/temp route has not actually eliminated your parasitic problem, and if you don't have one now is the time to set one up.
For your large system, a 40 gal QT would be about right. It doesn't have to be fancy, but IME it's essential to your long term success.