Porcupine Puffer Not Eating

[rinconmike]

Hi. I have a 8"-9" Porcupine Puffer in a 150 gallon FOWLR Tank. I have had the puffer for 8 years. Also in the tank is a 6"-7" Harlequin Tusk I have had for around 3.5 years and a 24" Snowflake Eel I have had around 8 years.

Around a week ago, puffer seemed to not want to eat. During feeding, he did try to grab some and got some but seemed like he was missing it. In the last few days ago, does not seem interested. Today he is breathing heavy sitting on the bottom. He does swim around, but is more on the bottom than I noticed in the past.

No signs of ich or flukes. I have noticed that recently the tusk is a little aggressive towards the puffer. That is why I am getting back on a better feeding schedule.

The eel and tusk are fine.

Last time I added anything to the tank it was the tusk.

I used to change 35 gallons of water weekly, then monthly, and in 2017 every 2 to 3 months. Last water change I did was 2 months ago (40 gallons) and today I just changed 45 gallons.

I also have not run carbon or GFO in the last year. Today I put carbon and GFO back online.

I tested (before today's water change) the water and have:

Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 100
Phosphate high. My phosphate tester maxes out at 2.5
Specific Gravity is around 1.0225
Temps fluctuate from 77.7 to 79.1 (I have a chiller kicks on at 79).

I feed a mix of silver sides, prawns, squid, clams, mussel, octopus. Up until a few months ago, I would feed 3 to 4 times a week. Last few months it dropped to twice a week. in the last week, i started getting back to feeding 3 to 4 times.

Any ideas on the puffer? I am thinking stress from the tusk, but not sure.

I do not have my QT running, so not looking to pull him out.

thanks,

Mike

 

[Dmorty217]

Silversides typically have a bad bacteria that will make fish and anemones sick and stop eating, I would stop feeding silversides and see if the water change will help the puffer. If not you may need to rearrange some rock work or take the Tusk on a “car ride” and reintroduce to see if it helps the puffer.

 

[Pslreefer]

Silversides typically have a bad bacteria that will make fish and anemones sick and stop eating, I would stop feeding silversides and see if the water change will help the puffer. If not you may need to rearrange some rock work or take the Tusk on a "œcar ride" and reintroduce to see if it helps the puffer.

Really? Can you show evidence that silversides harbors bacteria that make fish sick? I've never heard that in the decade of being in this hobby s d feeding silversides as part of a diet to fish, eels, and sharks.

 

[rinconmike]

Well the puffer died. I did contact WWM too. They noted that one possible issue was a vitamin deficiency. I use to treat the frozen food with selcon or vitachem but have not in the last couple of years. Not sure of that was the cause. I will start treating again. Also feeding the Tusk Spectrum pellets now.

 

[Dmorty217]

Really? Can you show evidence that silversides harbors bacteria that make fish sick? I've never heard that in the decade of being in this hobby s d feeding silversides as part of a diet to fish, eels, and sharks.

Plenty of threads on it on this forum and I'm sure on others... I'm not making it up.