help with Golden puffer

[nureefer2008]

I got a golden puffer about 7 hours ago. After acclaimate it for about 2 1/2 hrs. I introduced it to the tank. Immediately, I noticed that it is not swimming. It simply sank to the bottom of the tank and had since moved around very little. It is breathing and not doing anything much... such as exploring its new home or stuff like that. Is this normal? It seemed to be breathing heavily and sitting still on the sandbed for the past couple of hours.

Some other facts: I have treated my tank with copper about 3 weeks ago. Is golden puffer sensitive to copper or lower salinity?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Mike5252]

Was the salinity the same? You said acclimate for 2 1/2 hours, so I'm assuming it was.

I have a dog faced puffer and a porcupine puffer. Each had a short "freshwater bath" as part of their quarantine procedure. I noticed they seemed to sink in the quarantine tank as if they were 'heavy' (for lack of a better word), as the salinity was significantly less. I'm not sure if this is what you are seeing.

My dog faced puffer does frequently "sit" on certain places in the sand and on certain rocks. He seems to have claimed these spots as rest points or whatever. Sometimes he rushes to these points if frightened. He's about 3 years old.

I would assume the behavior is normal. Just be sure he is eating. Mine gets a rotation of krill, shrimp, crab meat, and clams all soaked in vitamin supplement.

Hope this helps. Post an update with your status.

 

[plyr58]

It isn't unusual for puffers to "sit" in the tank after being introduced, although in my experience they are sometimes sensitive to copper. However, if you did 100 percent water change and changed sand, etc. this shouldn't be a problem. The more important question is why you added a fish only 3 weeks after a copper treatment and why you treated with copper in your DT.

 

[demonsp]

I hope you tested for copper befoer you added.Plus copper isnt even needed in a FOWLR tank.

You need O2 in your water. He is suffercating.
Whats used for water movement?
Tanks age?
Tanks size?
All equipment used in the tank?