GSP ate a rock?? Help!

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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.

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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.
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littlepuffers
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GSP ate a rock?? Help!

Post by littlepuffers »

One of our GSPs is about 2.5" and it looks like it might have swallowed a rock. :( We are pretty sure we saw it actually ate one, and now it's acting kind of lethargic and always looks like it's eaten. When it does eat, one spot will bulge out like there is something in its belly. It will also narrow its eyes like it's trying to poop or something. We aren't sure if it is going or not, have not seen it go in a while. Could it pass a rock? Could this back up its poop? Will it die? Help!
Last edited by littlepuffers on Mon Jan 19, 2009 2:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: GSP ate a rock?? Help!

Post by Pufferpunk »

You could try to feed him a pea or treat the tank with Epsom salt (1 tbsp/5g) to help him poo.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

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Re: GSP ate a rock?? Help!

Post by littlepuffers »

We fed them peas a couple nights ago, and there has been no difference since then. We'll feed him peas the next couple feedings and see what happens.

Will they actually pass a rock if they eat one? Or could they die?
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Re: GSP ate a rock?? Help!

Post by Pufferpunk »

I'm not actually sure but I believe someone did do an autopsy on their puffer & found a rock in there. Time will tell, I'm not sure there is anything else you can do. I mean, there are rocks in the wild...
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

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Re: GSP ate a rock?? Help!

Post by edmlfc1 »

I saw a picture a while back when a catfish ate a huge rock. Eventually it spit it back out. Maybe your puffer will do the same.
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Re: GSP ate a rock?? Help!

Post by edmlfc1 »

How's your puffer doing?
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Re: GSP ate a rock?? Help!

Post by littlepuffers »

He's still acting skittish and lethargic. We fed them peas again last night, so hopefully that will help... We are going to keep a close eye on him and hopefully he's just gained some weight and maybe has a cold lol.
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Re: GSP ate a rock?? Help!

Post by jimi »

i saw my fugu cough up a rock so i think it can be ok but who knows.
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littlepuffers
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Re: GSP ate a rock?? Help!

Post by littlepuffers »

Thanks for all the hope you guys are giving us! We'll keep you posted on Trinity's status. :)
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littlepuffers
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Re: GSP ate a rock?? Help!

Post by littlepuffers »

Well, whatever happened originally seems to have improved. When he eats, there is no huge bulge in one place in his stomach, he is no longer all lethargic, looks more normal sized, and doesn't seem to be skittish anymore. :) We were worried there for a bit, thank you for your replies!
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Re: GSP ate a rock?? Help!

Post by julianchan »

oh that is good to know.....glad the little one is getting better...

Here is a question though, I know sharks can empty their stomach contents into the ocean by thrusting their stomachs out their mouths...i guess to cleanse it, and get rid of undigestables....can fish do similar things?
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Re: GSP ate a rock?? Help!

Post by edmlfc1 »

Yeah! Glad your little one is doing better. :D
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Re: GSP ate a rock?? Help!

Post by LilGreenPuffer »

Awesomesauce! That's great!
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."

Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi


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