gavin423

I just posted on here like a week ago, maybe less that I had to get rid of my aggressive puffer - leaving 2 dwarf puffers in a 10 gallon together. But once the aggressor was gone, the other one that had been fighting quit eating. After a few days, I posted that he had in fact begun eating again. Well, now a few days later, he's been eating and acting fine. Tonight, my husband walked by and noted 'man he's fast' as the little man took off darting across the tank. I know it was him, cause when he said that, I saw that the other puffer was off hunting a snail. Literally, NO MORE than five minutes later, I went to feed them and he was DEAD. He was floating upside down on the top, not moving. What in the world could have happened?

*They've been de-wormed
*ammonia 0
*nitrite 0
*nitrate 5

Also, I'm a little worried for my other puffer. I just noticed this afternoon that the one that just died had a drastic color change over the past couple days, he'd turned a real deep gold color. Then poof, he died. Well, the baby we noticed has made a big color change today - his face is taking on a black mask, I dont really know how to explain it. Could color change indicate something?

The only thing that I know could have been the culprit is me being stupid and listening to my LFS. I just picked up 2 ghost shrimp about 4 days ago and LFS screens their fish well and quarantines and everything and said it would be fine to just put the shrimp in with the puffers as I don't have a quarantine tank. Could they have transmitted something to the puffers? The shrimp are still alive and healthy looking.

I'm sorry for the HUGE post but please, if you have any ideas, let me know. Should I be worried for the remaining puffer?

Thanks,
Tiffany

pinkfloydpuffer

Color change can often indicate stress in puffers, especially if it's a darkening.
I do not believe that ghost shrimp themselves carry diseases that can transmit to fish. However, the water they were in could definitely be filled with lots of nasties.
Do you think it is possible that the puffer ran into the tank or some decor at such a speed to kill himself?
This is quite a poser...

gavin423

That's a possibility. The tank is mostly plants but there is a 'tree' type thing attached to a rock that is hard (obviously, lol) I suppose that could have been the case. So it's possible the color change and the death are two different things?

Because yesterday, I did rearrange my tank (I got more gravel and was able to correctly plant the tank instead of letting the plants all float wherever). I'm sure saying it stressed them out was putting it mildly.

Thanks Pink,
Tiffany

pinkfloydpuffer

They could be connected, and they could be pure coincidence. Rearranging the tank could definitely have caused stress to the little guys, causing the black coloring on your remaining puffer, and the eratic behavior of the other one. It's not really possible to be certain though of course.
I've found DPs to be rather shy puffers compared to some other species. Mine is still weary of me even though I've had her for a week already. They seem to get spooked easily.

gavin423

The one that just died has always been a little shy and then became a little more of a hermit when I removed the agressor. However, the remaining puff has been very clingy from the get-go. If I am even in the room, he has to be right at the front of the tank waiting for me. But since yesterday (I redid the tank the night before right before lights out) he's been really erratic and easily startled so I'm PRAYING the color change is only from stress and not from illness and that the stress won't do him in. I feel really bad about the one that died but I'm gonna feel so horrible if the baby dies as well, I feel about as bonded to him as you can be to a fish, lol.

Is there anything I can do to help relieve the stress a little for my remaining little man?
Thanks again, Pink!

pinkfloydpuffer

You're welcome. I'd leave his lights off, and keep all movement near the tank to a minimum. Let him have time to relax and calm down. I know how wonderful it is to have a puffer attached to you like that

gavin423

Ok, last question for the night, I Promise How long should I leave his lights off? Should I not even turn them on tomorrow at all?

pinkfloydpuffer

Lol
I think your plants should be ok for one day with the lights out. I blacked out my planted tank for 4 days once and they survived. You should keep an eye on him. If he seems calm, adjust him slowly to the light, making sure the room light is on before his tank light.

gavin423

Ok thanks so much! I'm crossing my fingers that little Spongebob (son named him, lol) is alright!

Tiffany

pinkfloydpuffer

Haha, that's cute. Ambellina is pulling for him!

MeGustaUnaPez926

Hey, it might help us out here if you could get a picture of the remaining puff? Pink gave you really good advice, but a pic could help, maybe we could spot something in there you didn't.

gavin423

Okay, the top one is of the puffer that died tonight and it was just taken literally like an hour before he died. He WAS a much paler coloring up until the last couple days.



The next two are the best I could do of the remaining puffer. When I turned on the light he was less then thrilled and took off behind a plant -- it actually looked like the plant stem had to support him for a few seconds, I'm hoping it was because he was sleeping!




Hope that helps! That's the best I could do without completely stressing Spongebob out.

Thanks for all your help!

pinkfloydpuffer

Poor guy... When the puffers are stressed I've noticed that they almost seem to lose their spots. It's hard to tell really what's going on, I'm hoping it's just stress problems and that he'll calm down.

agabr123

i'm sorry you lost your puffer i can't offer any other advice but pink can help you through this one

DPmom26

Sorry about you losing a baby Me and my two babies Jack and Sally are pulling for little spongebob hope he feels better soon.

MeGustaUnaPez926

Yeah, I can't see anything in the pictures to help diagnose another illness... I'm so sorry, I hope he makes it, hes so cute.

gavin423

So far he's doing alright, it seems. He's still a little jumpy and so he got light yesterday long enough to eat then lights out. Today I turned the light on but we're keeping room activity to a minimum for him. His color is still a bit dark in the face but he's eating normally and he's acting a little differently but I'm hoping it's just because he now has a whole tank all to himself. Thanks for all your help and support guys!

pinkfloydpuffer

I hope he keeps getting better for ya

gavin423

Thanks so much, especially Pink - you've been so helpful to me since I started my tank!

pinkfloydpuffer

You're welcome. I love puffy babies