RIP Baby Hewbie!

AydenLincoln · Jul 7, 2023

Saddened to say Baby Hewbie has sadly passed away. I quarantined him and he was eating and showed no signs of disease. I think moving him into the big tank and all the stimulation from the inside and the outside environment as well as the brights lights stressed him too much and that caused him to be puffed for most of the day after introduction then he was inactive and sadly passed away. Since baby puffers are not as hardy as adults/big ones that didn’t help the situation. He was extremely active when I first introduced him and other than being puffed up then deflating repeatedly from stress he showed no other signs of disease. It’s unfortunate but despite our best efforts some fish die and the cause isn’t always known for sure.

livinlifeinBKK · Jul 7, 2023

That's pretty sad... honestly I probably wouldn't use chemicals to QT any baby fish because they tend to be rather weak already due to stress

areefer01 · Jul 7, 2023

AydenLincoln said:
Saddened to say Baby Hewbie has sadly passed away. I quarantined him and he was eating and showed no signs of disease. I think moving him into the big tank and all the stimulation from the inside and the outside environment as well as the brights lights stressed him too much and that caused him to be puffed for most of the day after introduction then he was inactive and sadly passed away. Since baby puffers are not as hardy as adults/big ones that didn’t help the situation. He was extremely active when I first introduced him and other than being puffed up then deflating repeatedly from stress he showed no other signs of disease. It’s unfortunate but despite our best efforts some fish die and the cause isn’t always known for sure.

Sorry for the loss. I know you cared about the fish.

With regards to our, hobbyist, best efforts sometimes the onus is on us to start slower and work up to fish that may be more difficult to keep. Or go at a pace that supports our area of expertise. I know I've wanted to keep a Rock Beauty since I started this hobby 20 years ago but to this day I still haven't attempted one and I feel I am further along since then. Same goes for a Moorish Idol.

Wishing you all the best and again sorry to hear.

AydenLincoln · Jul 7, 2023

areefer01 said:
Sorry for the loss. I know you cared about the fish.

With regards to our, hobbyist, best efforts sometimes the onus is on us to start slower and work up to fish that may be more difficult to keep. Or go at a pace that supports our area of expertise. I know I've wanted to keep a Rock Beauty since I started this hobby 20 years ago but to this day I still haven't attempted one and I feel I am further along since then. Same goes for a Moorish Idol.

Wishing you all the best and again sorry to hear.

I understand. I have another porcupine pufferfish Hewbie that’s doing great and have had him for a few months. Other than the fact that he scratched himself against the rocks or glass he does look a lot better. I think in this situation Baby Hewbie couldn’t handle his new environment as a little not hardy baby fish. I didn’t really change anything in the new tank and I acclimated him the same way I do for everyone and the temperature and salinity stayed the same but unfortunately we will never know why he died. I personally don’t think they are hard or expert level to keep but rather they are more intelligent than the average fish and can get bored/depressed/stressed much easier. And require special attention not so much care or extreme measures imo.

littlefoxx · Jul 13, 2023

AydenLincoln said:
Saddened to say Baby Hewbie has sadly passed away. I quarantined him and he was eating and showed no signs of disease. I think moving him into the big tank and all the stimulation from the inside and the outside environment as well as the brights lights stressed him too much and that caused him to be puffed for most of the day after introduction then he was inactive and sadly passed away. Since baby puffers are not as hardy as adults/big ones that didn’t help the situation. He was extremely active when I first introduced him and other than being puffed up then deflating repeatedly from stress he showed no other signs of disease. It’s unfortunate but despite our best efforts some fish die and the cause isn’t always known for sure.

Awe Im so sorry

lost mine too they are such interactive fish