Best way to move puffer in TTM without exposing it to air?

[GroktheCube]

I'm currently helping my girlfriend QT a few fish for her 65, including a Toby puffer.

When I've transferred fish in the past, I have corralled them into a plastic container, drained all the water, and then popped them in. My understanding is that puffers should not be exposed to air, as they may have a tough time expelling it if they "puff" some in.

This leaves me with a bit of a dilemma, as I'm not sure how to transfer the puffer without also potentially transferring ich along with it. My current thinking is that I catch him, drain most of the water, put him in another container filled with clean water, drain most of that, then hope for the best.

How do people usually handle this?

 

[sleepydoc]

Hmmm - Best idea I can think of would be to use a 5 gallon bucket as an intermediary; transfer the fish to the 5 gallon bucket, then transfer to the 2nd TT tank. Any parasites that may be in the water that comes with the puffer will be diluted out in the 5 gallon bucket, so when you transfer to the 2nd tank there should be virtually none.

 

[GroktheCube]

Thanks, that's a good idea. I'll mix up an extra 4g or so of SW when it's transfer time.

 

[NTP66]

I honestly don't think you'll have a problem with a Toby. I did TTM with my Blue Spotted Toby (c. papua), and he was perfectly fine throughout the entire process. In fact, the only time I've ever really seen him puff up is when he's attempting to annoy my trigger.

Also, I found that using plastic colanders worked extremely well for TTM. I think I paid something like $6 at Wal-Mart for a set of 3.

 

[snorvich]

Also, I found that using plastic colanders worked extremely well for TTM. I think I paid something like $6 at Wal-Mart for a set of 3.

I agree. They work absolutely great. The fish oriented products, which essentially perform the same way, cost much more. Usually using a non-hobby product for hobby use is more cost effective given the same functionality.

 

[GroktheCube]

Good tip. I've been using a reef gently acclimator. It works well for fish that swim into it, but stuborn ones can be a pain.

Nick, you had your toby exposed to air with no issue? This guy definitely has ich, so I'd like to be as careful as possible about clean transfers.

 

[NTP66]

Yep, but for less than two seconds at a time (that's how long it took me to transfer him between tanks sitting next to each other). For me, the key was to go real slow when catching him, that way I didn't freak him out. He did wriggle around a little bit in the colander, but nothing bad at all, and I wouldn't hesitate going through TTM with him in the future if I had to.

They don't puff up like traditional puffers, either. It's almost like they flatten themselves out making them bigger (but thinner).

 

[GroktheCube]

Yeah, I've seen him do his threat display at me, pretty funny.

The tanks are in a double deck iron stand, so transfer is quick and easy.