Hello.
I've had my beloved GSP for 5+ years. He (or she?) has not grown much, but I don't really care about that, all I want is his happiness. He's lived in a 10 gal. brackish tank all his live by himself. I've read many times about the 30 gal space for GSPs, but I think he will survive there fine... He's on a regular diet of frozen bloodworms, algae pellets (advertised for cichlids), the random snail, random fruit slice and random dried shrimp...
Anyways, I recently noticed a grey spot on top of his head (if this works correctly, there will be 2 pictures, one from 3 years ago, one from today). If you see the pic from 3 years ago, it seems like he had the spot there all along, but it has grown exponentially when compared with today's pic.
I just want some opinions as to what this could be and if there is any treatment I should try for it.
Thanks
Spot on GSP (?)
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
-
edom31
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2015 11:49 am
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Brüno (GSP - since 2010)
- Location (country): NY USA
- Location: NYC
Spot on GSP (?)
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edom31
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2015 11:49 am
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Brüno (GSP - since 2010)
- Location (country): NY USA
- Location: NYC
Re: Spot on GSP (?)
Would this post benefit from better pictures? I could try, but the size limit on posts takes a toll on the pictures... My avatar picture might show the spot better now that I look at it.
Any suggestions or comments are greatly appreciated. He eats normal and does not show any signs of altered behavior, but I get worried every time I see him, as the spot is more visible now.
Thanks.
E
Any suggestions or comments are greatly appreciated. He eats normal and does not show any signs of altered behavior, but I get worried every time I see him, as the spot is more visible now.
Thanks.
E
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hadla
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 1626
- Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:33 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 2 gsps and a big Stars and stripes
- Location (country): California
- Location: Sacramento, CA
- Contact:
Re: Spot on GSP (?)
It's probably something that came from being in a very small space and brackish water... You need to move him to a bigger tank and start upping the salinity, once you're at full marine, you need lots of live rock to help with filtration and give him something to do. They love searching live rock for "snacks"
He might be stunted though, so I'm not sure of what size tank you need... I'll let other people post... I'm trying to be as nice as possible.
He might be stunted though, so I'm not sure of what size tank you need... I'll let other people post... I'm trying to be as nice as possible.
Never trust big puffers. The fingers you save may be your own. -RTR
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edom31
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2015 11:49 am
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Brüno (GSP - since 2010)
- Location (country): NY USA
- Location: NYC
Re: Spot on GSP (?)
Thank you hadla for your reply.It'll be next to impossible to move him to a bigger tank; NYC, I live in a 10 gal apartment, lol.
He's had some cool decor that I change every 3 months or so, but I do get the full marine upgrade advise. I will look into it further.
He's had some cool decor that I change every 3 months or so, but I do get the full marine upgrade advise. I will look into it further.
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
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Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
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2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
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T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Chicago
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Re: Spot on GSP (?)
He's not "fine" anymore. :/I've read many times about the 30 gal space for GSPs, but I think he will survive there fine...
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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hadla
- Mbu Puffer
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Re: Spot on GSP (?)
Wow that sucks... You can only have 10g total? Or is it the biggest tank you can have?edom31 wrote:Thank you hadla for your reply.It'll be next to impossible to move him to a bigger tank; NYC, I live in a 10 gal apartment, lol.
He's had some cool decor that I change every 3 months or so, but I do get the full marine upgrade advise. I will look into it further.
Never trust big puffers. The fingers you save may be your own. -RTR
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32773
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Chicago
- Contact:
Re: Spot on GSP (?)
Most landlords don't know the difference between 10 or 30g. 
Just tell him your 30g IS a 10g!
Just tell him your 30g IS a 10g!You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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sgtmyers88
- Moderator
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Re: Spot on GSP (?)
^This I have seen someone with a 55g that they were not "supposed" to have.
WARNING: Puffers are mischievous little blimps with enchanting powers. You may not be content with having just one.
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hadla
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 1626
- Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:33 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 2 gsps and a big Stars and stripes
- Location (country): California
- Location: Sacramento, CA
- Contact:
Re: Spot on GSP (?)
Lol +1 to that! 
Never trust big puffers. The fingers you save may be your own. -RTR
-
edom31
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2015 11:49 am
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Brüno (GSP - since 2010)
- Location (country): NY USA
- Location: NYC
Re: Spot on GSP (?)
Thank you all for your replies and advice. It has been a while, I have not replied as not much has changed and I had nothing to report.
I'm happy to say that Bruno is well and about... Nothing has changed since January (my last post). Sadly still has that weird looking grey thing on top of him/her (it has not grown), but eating happily, playing with bubbles, does hide-and-seek thing... Looking normal.
Bruno's part of my family (actually on our lease agreement with our landlord, by name - to only have one fish, Bruno, in a 10 gal tank...). I love my cute looking pet.
This forum has offered me much help in order to be able to have my beloved pet and to do the best for its happiness and survival. But I just do not want to be looked down upon for not being able to offer him an ampler space to swim. I'm sorry guys I just cannot.
I just thought that his "spot" was something someone else had seen in other fishies, and that I could be guided on how to heal him/her if so.
Thank you all. I guarantee, lil' Bruno will be happy in his/her little home. We love, my wife and actually both our families, Bruno. We love our little swimmer.
Cheers!
I'm happy to say that Bruno is well and about... Nothing has changed since January (my last post). Sadly still has that weird looking grey thing on top of him/her (it has not grown), but eating happily, playing with bubbles, does hide-and-seek thing... Looking normal.
Bruno's part of my family (actually on our lease agreement with our landlord, by name - to only have one fish, Bruno, in a 10 gal tank...). I love my cute looking pet.
This forum has offered me much help in order to be able to have my beloved pet and to do the best for its happiness and survival. But I just do not want to be looked down upon for not being able to offer him an ampler space to swim. I'm sorry guys I just cannot.
I just thought that his "spot" was something someone else had seen in other fishies, and that I could be guided on how to heal him/her if so.
Thank you all. I guarantee, lil' Bruno will be happy in his/her little home. We love, my wife and actually both our families, Bruno. We love our little swimmer.
Cheers!
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32773
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Chicago
- Contact:
Re: Spot on GSP (?)
I can't image a Nerf football-sized fish living in a 10g. Is this how you treat a "family member"? Would you keep your dog in a closet for 15 years (although I'm pretty sure your puffer will not live out it's max lifetime being stunted in there)?
Is this how you treat a "family member"? Would you keep your dog in a closet for 15 years (although I'm pretty sure your puffer will not live out it's max lifetime being stunted in there)?You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
Iliveinazoo
- Fahaka Puffer
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- Location: Southampton
Re: Spot on GSP (?)
Can't really tell from the pictures, but is the mark a cut or similar? A good picture might help you identify it even if you are unable to load it onto the forum.
Could be a heater burn or damage from some décor; does he hang around a sharp section of décor or sleep under the heater?
Could be a heater burn or damage from some décor; does he hang around a sharp section of décor or sleep under the heater?