RIP Duncan the Porcupine Puffer...

[AaronReef]

Son of a... Got home today and my seemingly healthy puffer is no more.

The lone survivor of the "great boiling of 2010" he lived in 94 degree water for at least a day this summer when several other fish and a bunch of soft coral didn't. No obvious sickness or signs, I guess the incident must have caused him more harm than I thought.

All of the other livestock seems fine, so I guess I won't worry about it. If anyone is familiar with common causes of death for these fish let me know, I'm curious about what I could do different next time.

"There are good days in reefing, and bad days... I just had myself a bad day!"

 

[Johnsy85]

Sorry for your loss man.

 

[solRNY]

from last we spoke duncan sure sounded special, so sorry to hear.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

sorry for the loss.

Duncan was being fed silversides or other food(s) containing fish and fishbones?

 

[AaronReef]

Thanks guys! Yes, Gary, relatively large silversides, is that not a good idea?

 

[aquadonkey]

Sorry about your fish Aaron - we can get really close to these guys sometimes

 

[museumguy]

Sorry for your loss man. How long did you have him for? From my experience and some research I did these fish are very finicky and easy succomb to disease so it probably wasn't your fault. We had lost a few of these at the museum before I convinced everyone to get rid of our aggressive tank.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Thanks guys! Yes, Gary, relatively large silversides, is that not a good idea?

Silversides were good for Duncan.
I'm with Tad on this. Puffers can be tricky long term.

 

[talon4x4]

Sorry to hear!! Those porcupine puffers have such a great personality. They always look like they are smiling and happy.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

sharp chompers!

sharp chompers!

I know of one that ate a fake (plastic) coral and it killed the fish.

Any chance that Duncan was a galloping gourmet, Aaron?

 

[aguz1126]

sorry for your loss, i had a large 10inch porcupine do the same thig. He was slightly lethargic one evening and dead by morning.

 

[AaronReef]

Good to hear that it most likely wasn't my fault! He was a violent eater, so it's possible he mowed down something he shouldn't have.

It should also be noted that I added a small trigger and a juvenile red snapper to this aggressive tank (yes, I know I have about two years before I need a much larger tank!) about a month ago. The three fish were about the same size, so I don't suspect bullying or anything like that. Do you think this had something to do with it (imported disease, etc.?)

Puffers in general are my favorite fish, but have proven to be difficult to keep. I added this tank specifically for this fish, about a year and a half ago, so it's kind of a bummer.

Is there a better chance with older, more established fish that are adopted, or does luck favor the juveniles?

Thanks to everyone for their advice and input!

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Is there a better chance with older, more established fish that are adopted, or does luck favor the juveniles?

i can't answer this one- sorry!

 

[Pufferpunk]

Sorry for your loss. I could try to help:

1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity. This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.

2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. I need to know what you have and how big the tank is.

3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank.

4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.

5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it?

I want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis of what might have happened to your friend. Puffers are basically hearty fish if kept correctly & usually don't just up & die.