I have a 55 gal tank, heavily planted (lots of hiding places), CO2, High light, one HOB and 2 sponge air powered filters. It has two older pea puffers that are just fine and have been in there for months. Also I have ghost shrimp in there.
pH = 7.6
Nitrates = 0
Hardness = Not sure but it is hard. Well water.
Nitrite = 0
Ammonia = 0
KH/Buffer = Not sure
Water Temperature = 75 to 78ish
Wife wanted to add more puffers. So she bought 3 that seemed strong and ok. Took my time putting them in the tank.
Put them in a bowl and added a bit of tank water a little at a time for over an hour. Made sure the temp was the same.
One was swimming strong then just floated up to the top and died. I watch him do it. Seemed to be swimming strong and was covering the whole tank then just stopped and started floating to the top.
For a few mins all 3 new ones were at the top and seemed to be gulping for air but then the other to were fine.
The 2nd one 4 days later (Today) started swimming in loops like a drunken sailor. I found him laying on the bottom in some dwarf hair grass. I thought he was dead but got near him he took off but then started looping around and floating about. He would dart sometimes but for the most part seems to be floating not swimming. He is still alive (I think they blend in great in this tank) but he sure is not acting right and I am worried about the little guy.
The 3rd seems ok right now.
This is not the first time we have had issues with Puffers doing the odd swimming loopy thing and they normally just die but I want to know what is making them do this.
Love pea puffers and I built this big tank with them in mind. The two bigger ones hide a lot but seem to like it. It is packed with snails.
Anyone have any clue what I could have wrong? Is there anything I could do to help the little guy.