Sad, sad Morning

[JustinReef]

I woke up to find my 2 year old Lined Dogface Puffer, Spider, on the floor half puffed and all dried up. This has been the most devastating loss in all my years of keeping fresh, brackish and saltwater fish. He really meant a lot to me and will be missed. I have not even been able to look at the tank yet without him.

Not sure what the point of this thread is other than ALL fish can jump. I have been so nervous since I set up my tank without a top but he was the last fish I would have ever thought of jumping. I wish I knew what stressed him enough to feel the need to jump...

This is probably the first time I have really considered getting out of this hobby for a while.

 

[LisaD]

Justin,

I'm so sorry. He was such a great fish. I've had a few instances where I lost fish to jumping, even fairly well covered tanks.

Do you still have your other puffer? I can't imagine you getting out of the hobby and giving that one up.

I am very attached to my puffers, so I really do know how you feel.

 

[Grouperhead]

Bummer man, it's hard for some people to understand how attatched you can get to a fish. I'd be in a wreck if I lost my undy, so I know how you feel.

I once lost an orchid dottyback I'd had for 2+ years to jumping also, so I know how it feels. You feel helpless and it's extremely discouraging. I hope you really aren't contemplating getting out of fishkeeping...you have some great looking stuff and always add a lot to the forum.

Hope the rest of your day is better.

 

[55gSW]

Justin, I'm really sorry to hear about Spider! :sad2: They really do become pets just as much as a dog or a cat. I know exactly how you feel. My lionfish died after the tank he was in split a seam. I came home to wet carpeting, sand and rocks all over and my beloved Pinhead dead on the floor. I almost gave up on the hobby that day too. But that feeling passes and I'm glad I'm still in the hobby. Hang in there, you'll be glad you did!

 

[mrwilson]

I am really sorry about this. That was a cool fish, as is your other puffer. Your very unique tank set-ups are among my favorites on RC, and I enjoy your comments (and artwork) as well.

 

[JustinReef]

Thanks everyone...

I do not have the porcupine because he would have got too big for my tank and I wasn't sure when I would be setting up my 210. I gave him to my brother who has a huge tank. So he is kind of still around but just not in my tank. I have a Burrfish though who also means a lot to me but nothing like Spider did.

It really hurts.

My brother has offered me his baby Guinea Fowl Puffer because its a little small for his tank and hes scared its going to get hurt but I am really not sure. I feel like I would be replacing Spider...

I guess in a few days or weeks I will decide what to do. I know I can't actually get out of the hobby though because I have too many other fish to care for.

As for the rest of the day, Im building a canopy.

 

[LisaD]

Justin, give it a little time. I really do understand how you feel. Maybe you can find a rescue/project puffer - which IMO is not like replacing the one you lost, but helping another one you have room for. I wouldn't normally EVER advise anyone to do fish rescue, but your dedication and skills are such that you'd do a great job.

My puffers are like little slimy dogs to me, especially the dogface. I have stayed up all night with that fish when it's been sick (water changes to DT, netting for fw dips and medicated baths, then back to DT, every day for weeks).

 

[Grouperhead]

Give it some time....things will get better. I think the baby guinea fowl would be sweet, but it's your decision. Like I said, hope the rest of your day has been better.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13186020#post13186020 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LisaD
Justin, give it a little time. I really do understand how you feel. Maybe you can find a rescue/project puffer - which IMO is not like replacing the one you lost, but helping another one you have room for. I wouldn't normally EVER advise anyone to do fish rescue, but your dedication and skills are such that you'd do a great job.

My puffers are like little slimy dogs to me, especially the dogface. I have stayed up all night with that fish when it's been sick (water changes to DT, netting for fw dips and medicated baths, then back to DT, every day for weeks).

Actually almost all my puffers have been either rescues or ones that looked terrible in the LFS. Spider was in VERY rough shape when I found him. He was about an inch, covered in ich, sunken belly and wouldn't swim. My LFS did not want me to take him but I insisted and after about 3 months of QT, he was healthy and happy. He grew to about 9-10" which is a little small for his species but I think his rough start to life was a big factor in that.

Its just weird to look at the tank without him and to think when I did a water change yesterday he wouldn't leave the siphon alone, so I held him in one had while siphoning with the other

I was just "petting" him last night too

We think the cat, who likes to jump up beside the tank may have scared him. He jumped out right in the spot where the cat sits and we have seen the cat scare him before by doing this. Obviously I will never know for sure but I have a feeling thats what happened.

I should have had a canopy or so kind of top though...

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13186056#post13186056 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Grouperhead
Give it some time....things will get better. I think the baby guinea fowl would be sweet, but it's your decision. Like I said, hope the rest of your day has been better.

Thanks...its been ok, I am just going to home depot now to buy some wood for a simple canopy. It just feels kind of late now but I don't want this to ever happen again. I feel so stupid for taking the chance.

 

[reefer334]

Justin

That is terrible!!!!!

I feel your pain I had a 12 inch Red Coris wrasse jump out of a 1 inch slit in my tank and die.

I to was very attached to him.

I have had my cat pull puffers out of tanks before,
they get hooked on there claws very easily and when the cat pulls his paw back the puffer lands on the ground.

Mine has killed 2 puffers that way.


I hope your next puffer lives a long time for you.

Chris

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13186127#post13186127 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefer334
Justin

That is terrible!!!!!

I feel your pain I had a 12 inch Red Coris wrasse jump out of a 1 inch slit in my tank and die.

I to was very attached to him.

I have had my cat pull puffers out of tanks before,
they get hooked on there claws very easily and when the cat pulls his paw back the puffer lands on the ground.

Mine has killed 2 puffers that way.


I hope your next puffer lives a long time for you.

Chris

The crazy thing is that when this guy was small, my cat did swat him out of the QT tank. I was there for that one though.

 

[LisaD]

I had a really cool southern puffer I have posted about jump out of an uncovered tank and die. I hadn't even had that long to get attached to him, but felt devastated when I found him on the floor. At least that tank is covered now...

 

[Grouperhead]

Thanks...its been ok, I am just going to home depot now to buy some wood for a simple canopy. It just feels kind of late now but I don't want this to ever happen again. I feel so stupid for taking the chance.

I know it sucks, but don't dwell on a mistake or blame yourself...you gave that dude a better life than 99% of other people would have. He lived a good life.

 

[bluedevils32701]

^^^what he said!

 

[mrwilson]

You know, I suspect this sort of thing has been happening to more and more people lately, as the rimless/canopy-less tanks have become so popular.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13186761#post13186761 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mrwilson
You know, I suspect this sort of thing has been happening to more and more people lately, as the rimless/canopy-less tanks have become so popular.

Yeah I was just saying that to my fiance...If I had not got sucked into this rimless, canopy-less "thing", I would still have my puffer. I think that has been bugging me more than anything. In my old tank, he would have been around still. Im really kicking myself for letting this happen.

 

[mcbaes72]

Geez, that's tough, sorry to hear you lost a fish that meant so much. I've had fish carpet dive before from the smallest opening, so I understand. Maybe something else in the tank did spook it. In either case, glad to see you're gonna build a canopy for it.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13187184#post13187184 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mcbaes72
Geez, that's tough, sorry to hear you lost a fish that meant so much. I've had fish carpet dive before from the smallest opening, so I understand. Maybe something else in the tank did spook it. In either case, glad to see you're gonna build a canopy for it.

Well I am not sure about an actual canopy anymore because I do have mangroves growing out of the tank and I want to keep them but I will be adding a netting or something...I just have not been able to figure out how to do it yet.

 

[mrwilson]

I'm looking forward to the day when someone (or some equipment/aquarium manufacturer) comes up with a tank that looks as slick and streamlined as the rimless tanks, but with some kind of lowprofile or otherwise modern-looking canopy or netting (but of course accommodating the lighting somehow). Some people have done a nice job DIY-ing these sorts of things, but it would be nice to be able to buy it off the shelf, like one can with ELOS systems and the like.