This is a long thread, so hopefully some people here can take the time to read it. I had this posted on another message board however no one could give me a good answer so I'm trying to expand any help I can get. Thanks guys.
Hi everyone. Just last week I added a spotted green puffer to my tank, the only other fish in there was a Columbian Catfish (black-fin shark). I originally had 2 however after a year, 1 died, and she was replaced with this puffer. Well all seemed fine, the 2 were getting along good. I looked in the tank today and out of no where, 1 of the puffer's eyes is swollen and it looks cloudy. He is active as ever, and seems to be ok, however I can obviously see that something is wrong. I know that the Columbian has toxin barbs on her fins, and her mouth, so naturally I assumed the puffer got stung some how. Maybe picking on her too much. But then I thought maybe it could be something else, and someone here could help. Thanks in advance for any advice!!
Tank info:
20 gallon brackish
Columbian and puffer are only inhabitants
A power(something) filter made for up to 30g tank (sorry, I'm not at home and don't remember exactly what it's called. It hangs on the back though and has a waterfall into the tank.)
I also have a pump hooked up to another filter. It's black and is triangle, submerged underwater. I can't remember the term but it's biological. *Sigh* Sorry I'm so bad with the terms.
Water changes every 2 weeks however after some advice will be bumping it up to every week.
Test results:
NO2 (Nitrite): 0
NH3 & NH4 (Ammonia): 0
pH: 7.5
Salt: 1.010 (bumped up to 1.015 after water change which is their usual)
All of which seems good, then comes the problem
NO3 (Nitrate): 80ppm!! Now this number was taken from the strip test, because I didn't have one of the good types for nitrate (I thought the Nitrite kit did both but I was wrong).
After discovering this I did an immediate water change, and was instructed to do a 25% change every other day for a week.
I also tested the tap water and it's only 10ppm nitrate so that's fine.
I just wanted to post an update on the puffer. It's not his eye that is actually swelling/popping out, which makes me think it's not popeye. It's not like the eye is coming out of the socket. It looks more like the lens on his eye is swollen. From the side you can see his lens sticking way out, but his eyeball itself is where it should be. And it's only his right eye. And it is slightly cloudy. Not like you can't see through it but it is cloudy. And also recently in the past couple hours he hasn't been using his right fin so much. It seems to work fine, it's not fraying or anything, he just wasn't using it a lot. Maybe I'm just paranoid now, but this is what's leading me to believe that maybe the Columbian did maybe get some toxins in him? But really I don't know. Just wanted to post all updates so I can try to get some more help.
Hi everyone. Just last week I added a spotted green puffer to my tank, the only other fish in there was a Columbian Catfish (black-fin shark). I originally had 2 however after a year, 1 died, and she was replaced with this puffer. Well all seemed fine, the 2 were getting along good. I looked in the tank today and out of no where, 1 of the puffer's eyes is swollen and it looks cloudy. He is active as ever, and seems to be ok, however I can obviously see that something is wrong. I know that the Columbian has toxin barbs on her fins, and her mouth, so naturally I assumed the puffer got stung some how. Maybe picking on her too much. But then I thought maybe it could be something else, and someone here could help. Thanks in advance for any advice!!
Tank info:
20 gallon brackish
Columbian and puffer are only inhabitants
A power(something) filter made for up to 30g tank (sorry, I'm not at home and don't remember exactly what it's called. It hangs on the back though and has a waterfall into the tank.)
I also have a pump hooked up to another filter. It's black and is triangle, submerged underwater. I can't remember the term but it's biological. *Sigh* Sorry I'm so bad with the terms.
Water changes every 2 weeks however after some advice will be bumping it up to every week.
Test results:
NO2 (Nitrite): 0
NH3 & NH4 (Ammonia): 0
pH: 7.5
Salt: 1.010 (bumped up to 1.015 after water change which is their usual)
All of which seems good, then comes the problem
NO3 (Nitrate): 80ppm!! Now this number was taken from the strip test, because I didn't have one of the good types for nitrate (I thought the Nitrite kit did both but I was wrong).
After discovering this I did an immediate water change, and was instructed to do a 25% change every other day for a week.
I also tested the tap water and it's only 10ppm nitrate so that's fine.
I just wanted to post an update on the puffer. It's not his eye that is actually swelling/popping out, which makes me think it's not popeye. It's not like the eye is coming out of the socket. It looks more like the lens on his eye is swollen. From the side you can see his lens sticking way out, but his eyeball itself is where it should be. And it's only his right eye. And it is slightly cloudy. Not like you can't see through it but it is cloudy. And also recently in the past couple hours he hasn't been using his right fin so much. It seems to work fine, it's not fraying or anything, he just wasn't using it a lot. Maybe I'm just paranoid now, but this is what's leading me to believe that maybe the Columbian did maybe get some toxins in him? But really I don't know. Just wanted to post all updates so I can try to get some more help.
