Need help: Golden Puffer breathing heavy after aclimating

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gtdarock

Guest
Hey guys ! Hope all is well ! I just picked up a Golden Puffer about 6 in long last night. I have a problem with him, and I am very worried. As I was taking him home, he was jumping up a lot in the bag, when I was ready to float him he stopped, but was breathing very heavy. After about a 2 hour process of adding a cup of water every 15 mins, I introduce him into the tank and he went straight to the bottom, and continue to breath heavy.This was about 12:30 am. After about an hour he started to move around pacing back and forth. Then 15 mins later, he went into the same spot when entered the tank and started to breath heavy. So I guess he was in shock, so I went to bed. So this morning before I left the house he was still at the same spot and still breathing heavy, and this was about 7:30 am. So my question is-? Is he still in shock,after 7 hours-? I don't want to lose this guy,especially after spending $ 195, and he is the most gorgeous fish I ever seen. I did check my water readings the previous night, and everything was fine except my nitrates were at 20ppm. By the way, my tank is a 175. What should I do guys-? I am so nervous. I hope he is doing ok. I won't be home until 7:30 tonight. Anyhelp would be great, thanks !
 
ws6envy

ws6envy

Member
something very similar happened to me a few weeks ago with a tusk. I am unsure of what caused these actions but i did notice some abrasions near his fins. I'm thinking i could have saved him if i qt'd him, but i couldnt get him. I would try to qt him asap.
 
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gtdarock

Guest
oh man, I am stuck at work. I won't be home till 7, My little brother checked on him, he moved to another spot, but he doesn't see any movement from the gills or mouth. I am fearing he might be gone. Unless he playing dead-?
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Assuming your water tests OK; ther isn't really much you can do (IMO) except give him some time. This isn't real unusual behavior and anything you do would just stress the fish further. I've seen many fish bounce back from similar behavior. No promises, but sometimes all it takes is time.
 
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gtdarock

Guest
Hey guys. I lost him yesterday.

He was dead when I got home from work. I couldn't believe it. His colors was amazing. He was breathing heavy from in the
bag, even when I started to float him. I am thinking I had him in the bag for too long-? A little over an hour. I did check my readings before floating him, and everything was fine except the Nitrate was 20ppm. So after the death, I call the fish store and they said to bring a sample of my water and fish. So I did, and it took them a good 20 mins to test the water, which I think is very long. And came up with a low PH.And he also asked me what kind of test kit that I use, and I said API liquid, so he said they always use powder, because its better and gives the best reading. So I didn't argue with them, cuz I was already so depressed. I am just coming to the conclusion that I had him in the bag too long. I definitely learn a lesson from this experience. If I ever get one again, I'll probably just float him, then put him in. I think he was just too big to acclimate. That just my two cents. I appreciate all the feedback guys.
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Sorry to hear that. Nitrate of 20ppm is absolutely no factor; fish can easily tolerate much higher levels. How much diff in PH? If he was properly bagged, with oxygen; that shouldn't be a factor either-- as soon as you open the bag it gets some fresh air anyway. Online purchased fish can easily spend 24 hrs in a bag. As to size, smaller fish do acclimate easier; but, a 6" puffer should be fine. I don't know for sure, but if your lfs is trying to get out of a guarantee, I don't buy it; a big reason why I buy all my fish online. A fact in this hobby is that some fish just don't handle the transition from reef to tank. (many more are lost in transit than by the final buyer) IMO, most losses like yours can never really be explained. BTW; i think SWF .Com's acclimation procedure is a real plus..even for locally purchased fish. Don't beat yourself up, fish die and that's a sad, but undeniable part of this hobby.
 
crimzy

crimzy

Active Member
Puffers can often ingest oxygen during the transportation and release process. This may have been the cause of death in this case.

It's too bad though to lose a fish like this.
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by crimzy
http:///forum/post/2571155
Puffers can often ingest oxygen during the transportation and release process. This may have been the cause of death in this case.

It's too bad though to lose a fish like this.
Just curious, Crimzy, why puffers? I've never heard this, but sure ain't too old to learn!
 
crimzy

crimzy

Active Member
Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/2571163
Just curious, Crimzy, why puffers? I've never heard this, but sure ain't too old to learn!
Well, during the process and the stress, they often begin to inflate. If they inflate with oxygen it's very bad, although I can't explain the physiology to you.
 
stdreb27

stdreb27

Active Member
Originally Posted by crimzy
http:///forum/post/2571179
Well, during the process and the stress, they often begin to inflate. If they inflate with oxygen it's very bad, although I can't explain the physiology to you.
But if they did that they'd be floating on the top of the water when they relaxed.
I don't know why it happened, but I'm a bigger fan of the drip method. I recently moved my 7 inch dogface to a different tank and dripped him over the course of about 3 hours with no problems. I did put an airstone in with him because he was breathing very heavily. 20 ppm of trates shouldn't have affected the puffer at all. I'll bet you the lfs's params are worse than that.
Try again, but go with a dog face or something that does get quite that huge. The tank will get a bit cramped when a golden puffer is full grown.
 
vgl12

vgl12

Member
very sorry to hear... im about to get my 29g ocanic biocube fired up and do u guys think i could have a vallettin puffer in it? sorry to mentchen this after what happened to your puffer
 
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