Spud is poorly

[hellohefalump]

well... my nitrates have always been high because I live in London. They come out of the taps here at at least 50.

Spuds (Suvatti puffer) been fine up to now (about 2 months I've had him)... he's gradually started puffing more and more though (not just when he's hungry) but otherwise he's been ok. But this last week he's had no appetite, he's been skulking in a corner and then yesterday I noticed his gill beats were faster than usual.

THE COMPLICATION: I left my purse with all my money and cards in my housemates bag and she is in the Isle of Wight until Friday. So I have NO money whatsoever until then. I'm surviving off the food in my cupboard and getting around because I have a travelcard.

So I couldn't go to the fish shop and get one of those nitrate absorbing things or buy some RO water...

I looked in the garden and there is a bin full of rain water. So I tested it and Nitrates were 0, Nitrites were 0 and pH was 7.5. So I did a big (just over 50%) water change in Spud's tank. He seems alright today, the gill beats have slowed down. He's not an active fish anyway so I can't really say if he's more or less active than normal.

I got some food into him yesterday (2 large mussels) because he hasn't eaten in a week and a half. He didn't want to take it but I 'force fed' him... I don't know if that's the right thing to do or not... I prodded him with the algea scraper while waving around the mussel on a bit of string until he got annoyed with me and ate it. I didn't hurt him... I only poked him gently

I'm so stupid I didn't address the nitrate situation sooner... I thought he'd be alright because Philip (collomessus asellus) has been living in the London tap water for a good year now and he's been fine.

Anyway... is rain water ok to use??

Can I carry on using it?

 

[Pufferpunk]

Sure!

 

[hellohefalump]

yay! thanks for replying

Today Spud seems TONNES better. He actually went seeking food of his own accord, and ate two large mussels without me poking him and without the need for string.

 

[CFC]

I'd avoid using rainwater unless it has been collected during a heavy downpour and only after the first 10 minutes of rain has already fallen. The reason for this is because the smog that floats above London contains many poisons which will be collected in the rain drops (acid rain), after a good 10 minutes of heavy rain this pollution will have been removed and the rainwater should be safe to use.

 

[funkybodal]

Exactly what CFC said but you could also try running it through carbon as an added precaution and obviously make sure you collect it directly from the sky (i.e. it's not running over your roof etc). I've used rainwater in my softwater tanks for a number of years without any probs - the tapwater here in London is filth anyway.

Glad to hear that your puffer is getting better.

Cheers,
Luke.

 

[hellohefalump]

thanks for that advice