Puffer problem...

[Word up]

Star and stripe puffer breathing heavy, splotchy, but eats... Tank had ich did hypo salinity for six weeks. We are working under assumption ich gone because other fish had ich now better and no salt appearance to puffer or anyone else. He was fine in low salienity and I raised salienity too fast and he got splotchy and obvious labored breathing so lowered salienity back down. He gets better then heavy breathing hanging out away from current or hiding in rock. I left salienity for a week low now slowly moving up. He does better than back to labored breathing but has eaten throughout. Is this normal puffer behavior (labored breathing and just sits there all day waiting on food)? He does swim at night when I turn on room light to check his nocturnal habits out. The splotch appearance lets me know he is stressed but what do I do? I was at 1.010 now slowly moved to 1.016. Do I go higher to 1.022 over time or yank him out into hospital tank and treat for/ with what?

 

[seanothon]

What are your levels? I wouldn't raise the salinity, yet. Give it a few days without messing with anything and see if it improves. Could be stressed out from all the changes. An air stone may help out, also.

 

[Word up]

Thanks. I added air stone too early to tell but sounds logical good idea. I just did water change, sg1.016, ph 8.0, temp 79. Nitrate little high so hence WC but nitrite good. Tank 180 5 months old

 

[reefergeorge]

I would add some Prime to help with stress, and take care of any ammonia you may have. Then do water changes with tank water to bring the SG back up.

If your tank wasn't totally fishless and all fish treated with hypo, then chances are it will come right back when he is added back to the DT.