black bellied gsp - constantly

Oh no! Sick fish?! Come here and see if someone can help!
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.
Post Reply
nicole82
Puffer Fry
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2016 7:23 pm
Location (country): England

black bellied gsp - constantly

Post by nicole82 »

Hi guys,
Just thought I'd ask around for some ideas and advice please, I have a gsp which I've had around three years now. In a suitably large brackish tank with plenty of foliage and hiding places etc. All parameters are fine, no ammonia etc (regular testing and water changes) and no tankmates. He is well fed with a wide variety of meaty foods. All in all should be no problems. But for a few months now his belly has been black, well, mostly black sometimes with a white strip down the middle but predominantly black. At first I was very worried, but he is very active exploring all the time, not glass surfing and he eats like a pig with much enthusiasm. I can't see how he would be stressed or unhappy and his behaviour doesn't suggest that either. Anyone got any ideas as to why he has turned black and stayed that way? If he was dying or something I imagine he would have done so by now, or at least be displaying some ailments. His tail is fanned out nicely, not clamped, and his top colour is bright. Also no sign of any skin disease etc. I just don't know what to do about it. Since black is usually assosciated with stress but I can't think of any reason for it. thanks in advance for any advice offered :)
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
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: black bellied gsp - constantly

Post by Pufferpunk »

[welcome]
A dark belly down't always mean a sign of anything amiss. Mine used to get that way every meal. If he's acting/eating normally, I wouldn't worry. What's the SG?
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!"
User avatar
sgtmyers88
Moderator
Posts: 1292
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2012 12:37 am
Gender: Male
My Puffers: Green Spotted Puffers
Location (country): USA
Contact:

Re: black bellied gsp - constantly

Post by sgtmyers88 »

Yeah if this has persisted for a while but the puffer seems "normal" it may just be a personality/behavioral trait maybe? Each puffer will be different. I have one which does this too. The others never have though.
WARNING: Puffers are mischievous little blimps with enchanting powers. You may not be content with having just one.
nicole82
Puffer Fry
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2016 7:23 pm
Location (country): England

Re: black bellied gsp - constantly

Post by nicole82 »

Sg is 1.012
Thanks guys, your replies seem reassuring so far. Yeah he behaves like he's a happy guy, so I've come to think that this is just normal (except it's not normally normal for other puffers. I wonder about the salinity sometimes as opinions vary a great deal on what's ideal for them.
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
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: black bellied gsp - constantly

Post by Pufferpunk »

That SG is fins as a juvie but eventually, you'll want a marine environment for him.
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!"
nicole82
Puffer Fry
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2016 7:23 pm
Location (country): England

Re: black bellied gsp - constantly

Post by nicole82 »

im planning on slowly upping it to full marine but didn't want to do it too early. ive had him for about three years but im cautious, and not entirely sure what constitutes a fully grown adult, and how soon he should be making the change to full marine
User avatar
sgtmyers88
Moderator
Posts: 1292
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2012 12:37 am
Gender: Male
My Puffers: Green Spotted Puffers
Location (country): USA
Contact:

Re: black bellied gsp - constantly

Post by sgtmyers88 »

I converted mine from fresh to full marine within 6-8 months after getting them.
WARNING: Puffers are mischievous little blimps with enchanting powers. You may not be content with having just one.
User avatar
Blinkey
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 85
Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2014 7:47 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: 1x Green spotted pufferfish
Location (country): New Zealand
Location: Auckland, NZ

Re: black bellied gsp - constantly

Post by Blinkey »

As sgtmyers says, you can convert them to full marine quite early.
I acclimated mine straight to 1.023 within 12 hrs from a starting level of 1.008 sg (kept at lfs). My puff is only a little over 2 inches, so it is likely quite young.
"Life, uh, finds a way"
Post Reply