Somethings wrong with my puffer

[talon4x4]

I have a toby valentini puffer and he is just sitting on a rock breathing very fast. I always find him sitting on rocks in the morning before the lights go on, sleeping, but never breathing fast.

What's wrong?!?! Any suggestions?!?

Thanks!
Sean

[Geoff]

what is the temp in the tank? have you added anything lately?

G~

[talon4x4]

The temp is 75. The only new addition is a feather duster.

I just stopped home on lunch to check on the little guy and his condition is the same. He is on a rock and breathing heavy. He is still alive though. So if anyone has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it!!

Thanks in advance!!!!

Sean

[Twitterbait]

Can you post a pic, anything strange about his appearance? is it pale in color?

[talon4x4]

I can't get a pic right now, I'm back at work. When I get home I'll take one and put it up.

Otherwise, nothing odd about him. His color still looks great. He was swimming around and eating last night right before lights out. I got up this morning and he was sitting on a rock, lights hadn't come on yet, so nothing unusual. He always is on a rock until the lights come on, sleeping I assume. The lights came on and shortly after I put some food in the water, and there he sat on the rock. So I took a closer look and could see that he was breathing quite rapidly. I came home on lunch, he was on a differnet rock and still had rapid breathing.

Also, there doesn't appear to be anything wrong with any of the other fish. And the only new item in the tank is a feather duster.

[Twitterbait]

from the sound of it i don't see any big problem... but i could be wrong.

[talon4x4]

This is definetly something wrong. He keeps floating to the top now and is definetly not normal.

Anyone have any ideas?!?!?

[Geoff]

how long have you had the puffer? could it have ingested air and is no long properly boyant?

G~

[talon4x4]

I had the puffer for 1 week. It definetly seemed as if he injested air, he was floating all over the place. I called the LFS and they suggested I bring him back. Which is what I did. They said he would be fine but couldn't/wouldn't tell me what was wrong other than there was a trace of nitrites and a trace of amonia in the water, neither of which showed up when I tested my water.

A buddy of mine was in the LFS the other day and told me there were 2 dead puffers in the tank that my puffer came from, he got pics. When I asked the manager if this had anything to do with the problems I was having with my puffer he said he didn't know anything about it (the dead puffers).

The adventures of owning a saltwater tank.

[Twitterbait]

if it has bouyency problems the grab him gently in your hand and take him to the bottom of the tank and tip him up so he is looking up. that should get the air out. if there is nothing visable on the skin then it may be hard to determine. is he still eating?