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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/30/2006 4:12:09 AM
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Hello, I'm still learning how to try to post. I need help for my 3 year old all of a sudden lethargic porcupine puffer. He still eats O.K. Just lays around exept for feeding times.
M&C Lawrence
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Group: Moderators
Last Login: 10/7/2008 12:38:12 PM
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| Welcome to MarineDepot.com and this forum! To better help your diodon buddy, can you give us some information: Size of puffer: Tank size: Tank Mates: Any new additions: Water parameters: (pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate): What are you feeding the puffer: Any supplements/vitamins/additives: How is the puffer breathing: Any color changes/discolorations: Again, welcome!
Kelly
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/30/2006 4:12:09 AM
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Hello, Here is some more info on my poor porcu puffer. He's 3 years old and about 5-6 inches. He lives in a 225 g with a 12 inch stars and stripes puffer (best of friends). Also lives with a baby panther grouper, a naso tang, a koran angel and our origional 4-stripe test damsel. New additions are a powder blue, yellow, puple and sailfin tang, emporer red, and a racoon butterfly. PH is 8.3, salinity is .23-.24 and nites are good. He loves freeze dried shrimp and krill, and veggie flakes. He breathes fine, no color changes, but appears to be just a bit bloated on the right hip? Gets regular doses of liquid calcium, iodine, essential elements, and purple up for the grazers. We would appreciate any info at all. Thank you!
M&C Lawrence
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Group: Moderators
Last Login: 10/7/2008 12:38:12 PM
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| Were the new additions quarantined? Could have introduced a pathogen to the tank that the porcupine "picked up". Another consideration is the recent introduction of many active fish - tangs- sailfin, yellow, purple and powder blue to a tank with a naso. There could be some unwitnessed aggression between these tangs or the other new additions emperor red, racoon and the others that are "scaring" or intimidating the puffer. Some puffers do not handle change or stress well and do become "lethargic". What is the time frame between new additions and lethargy? Is the porcupine's diet mainly or soley freeze dried krill/shrimp ? There is a common problem that exists, especially with this type puffer, but not exclusive to puffers only. It comes with a diet that is mainly/soley freeze dried krill/shrimp. The fish will take this diet readily for months to years, then slow down and eventually will go off feeds. There is a vitamin/nutritional deficiency that affects the internal organs. Some theorize it could be iodine deficiency - but I have found no research report yet. In rare cases, if the the diet is changed (NO freeze dried food for several months and then only occasionally - once every week or two) the condition may be able to be reversed (depends on organ damage). It is comparable to feeding a person soley one item its entire life, the body requires many minerals, proteins, fats, etc. for long term longevity. Another problem could be intestinal worms. Have you ever dewormed your fish? Worms can live inside an animal for long periods of time without causing problems. Once the worm migrates outside the intestinal tract and enters an organ (liver, spleen, spine, brain, etc), they can not be treated. If the lump is on the puffers's right side of the body - it could be liver enlargement, gallbladder enlargement, intestinal blockage or a developing tumor. Do take the freeze dried food away for now. Try adding frozen peas and nori for fiber and may help if there is an intestinal problem. Try adding more "natural" foods to the diet - squid, scallops, prawn, crab, cockle, silversides, whole shrimp (not peeled). If this is an iodine deficiency, adding iodine to the tank can be dangerous and usually the fish will not "ingest" enough to matter. I recommend oral administration of iodine. This can be done by adding a natural source of iodine like nori/kelp or a good marine vitamin - I like Boyd's vita chem, and Ecosystem Garlic Elixir - but there are many other good ones on the market. Here are a few related threads that you might find helpful:
http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic30009-10-1.aspx
http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic23647-12-1.aspx
http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic22019-10-1.aspx
http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic33910-10-1.aspx
Please keep us updated. Best of luck.
Kelly
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/30/2006 4:12:09 AM
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hello, nothing too new but he seems alittle more swimmy if possible? Cut off freezedried but now full grown stars and stripes is being stubborn about eating because we give him green shell mussels for treats every now and then because someone said they will cloud and crazy the water pars. Any suggestions?
M&C Lawrence
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Group: Moderators
Last Login: 10/7/2008 12:38:12 PM
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| Have you tried adding garlic to the food - for some it may be an appetite stimulant. Vitamin B12 is also a water soluble vitamin that can stimulate appetites. Squid is a favorite of many puffers so is Prosalt's frozen prawn (it looks like frozen ghost shrimp). Frozen "Walking or swimming" crabs that are often available at Asian markets are a big favorite of my puffers. They are large whole body crabs. Watch water parameters as overfeeding these foods (and most any foods with predatory fish) without adequate water changes and aggressive skimming can cause problems. Gut loaded freshwater ghost shrimp is another thing to try and it gets vitamins, medications, etc in puffers as well. Keep us updated. Best of luck.
Kelly
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Group: Moderators
Last Login: 10/7/2008 12:38:12 PM
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| How is your porcupine puffer doing? Any updates? Best of luck.
Kelly
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