GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.

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.
User avatar
LilGreenPuffer
Former Staff Member
Posts: 5301
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:26 pm
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Dwarf puffer - Thumbelina (only mine in my heart now; she lives in CT with my friend)

RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond.
Location (country): United States
Location: Kentucky

Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.

Post by LilGreenPuffer »

You might also be able to find some through your local aquarium club or craigslist.
"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


Image

Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!

I AM A DUDETTE!

NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
User avatar
J-P
Former Staff Member
Posts: 5626
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:21 am
Gender: Male
Location (country): Japan
Location: Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan

Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.

Post by J-P »

will it take raw shrimp? Mine used to go ga-ga for that stuff.
if you follow me, you avoid stepping in the crap that I just did...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZR55G ... pqlgec1A2Q
User avatar
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: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.

Post by Pufferpunk »

How about ghost shrimp, gut-loaded with medicated worms?
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
LilGreenPuffer
Former Staff Member
Posts: 5301
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:26 pm
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Dwarf puffer - Thumbelina (only mine in my heart now; she lives in CT with my friend)

RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond.
Location (country): United States
Location: Kentucky

Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.

Post by LilGreenPuffer »

Would the shrimp live long enough to eat a significant amount of meds before the meds killed them?
"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


Image

Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!

I AM A DUDETTE!

NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
User avatar
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: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.

Post by Pufferpunk »

I do think they will.
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!"
localchili
Puffer Fry
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2011 5:12 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: Kirby, Green Spotted Puffer
Toaster (The Brave Little), Figure 8
Location (country): United States
Location: Chicago, Illinois

Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.

Post by localchili »

J-P wrote:will it take raw shrimp? Mine used to go ga-ga for that stuff.
Extremely true, I bought 3 small raw shrimp from the grocery store - took one out an tossed the others in the freezer for later. FIRST, cut a tiny slice of raw shrimp without the meds see if he eats it. If not, you'll need to somehow force the medication since he won't eat.

If he does eat it with no problem, soak some slices of shimp with the water from the tank and add a couple drops of the medication. Make sure it's diluted enough so the fish can't tell, but not too much where the meds aren't effective.

I tried this method and it worked perfectly for me. Good luck.
LongGrain
Figure 8 Puffer
Posts: 223
Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:38 pm
Location (country): Green bay, WI, U.S.

Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.

Post by LongGrain »

well the gloves are off. I just got back from buying half pound of raw black tiger shrimp from the grocery store, I pulled the shell off one and I'm soaking it in some medicated tank water right now. I'm half tempted to cook these up and eat them myself, If he's too picky to eat this, I don't know what I'll do.
User avatar
J-P
Former Staff Member
Posts: 5626
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:21 am
Gender: Male
Location (country): Japan
Location: Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan

Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.

Post by J-P »

LongGrain wrote:If he's too picky to eat this, I don't know what I'll do.
just keep trying. As PP mentioned you can gut load a live shrimp, or inject the solution into a live earth worm. There are many options out there.
if you follow me, you avoid stepping in the crap that I just did...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZR55G ... pqlgec1A2Q
LongGrain
Figure 8 Puffer
Posts: 223
Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:38 pm
Location (country): Green bay, WI, U.S.

Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.

Post by LongGrain »

on another note, I got my powerhead today.

Bad idea to turn it on, my fish just got blasted in a circle around the tank.
LongGrain
Figure 8 Puffer
Posts: 223
Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:38 pm
Location (country): Green bay, WI, U.S.

Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.

Post by LongGrain »

Now when I feed him after this shrimp is done soaking, should i plop the whole thing in the tank and let him have at it until he's full? or should i drop tiny pieces in there for him.
User avatar
J-P
Former Staff Member
Posts: 5626
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:21 am
Gender: Male
Location (country): Japan
Location: Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan

Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.

Post by J-P »

drop it in piece by piece. Clean up / take out any leftovers.
if you follow me, you avoid stepping in the crap that I just did...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZR55G ... pqlgec1A2Q
LongGrain
Figure 8 Puffer
Posts: 223
Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:38 pm
Location (country): Green bay, WI, U.S.

Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.

Post by LongGrain »

he nipped at it for a little while. I can't be sure he actually ate any.
Nuclear_Glitter
Fahaka Puffer
Posts: 971
Joined: Sun May 29, 2011 1:03 am
Gender: Female
Location (country): North Carolina, USA
Location: North Carolina, USA

Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.

Post by Nuclear_Glitter »

He probably ate a bit. I would say try the earthworms, most puffers can't resist them. If you were to inject the worm he'd get quite a bit of medicine and some food all at once, which is a really good thing.
"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." -- Henry Ford
User avatar
scpion
Fahaka Puffer
Posts: 672
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 10:57 am
My Puffers: 23in Mbu, donated to SEA Aquarium
4in Fahaka 150g
Location (country): singapore

Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.

Post by scpion »

He probably too weak to chew/bite anyway. I would cut the medicated shrimp into pieces small enough for him suck it in at one shot. U could use a long skewer to push the food a little so it would "dance" in front of him. Just dun scare him with it.. Works for me.
I am not a Troll, I am just pissed..!
User avatar
Dadof4
Tech Team
Posts: 2862
Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2008 5:50 am
Gender: Male
My Puffers: 1 GSP (Microfiche) RIP, 1 Monotrete Turgidus (Leon) in a 30gal. 1 Monotrete suvattii in a 40 gal FW. 120 gallon BW with 3 juvenile Dragon Gobies (so cool). 55 gal with a 2" GSP named Hank. 180 gallon being set up for a Fahaka in the next few months!
Location (country): United States
Location: North Wisconsin

Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.

Post by Dadof4 »

You could also try grating the shrimp with a hand grater, like you would with cheese. Soak the shredded shrimp with the med and then feed real small amounts.
"Darwin swings...annnnnnd a miss. Boy Jim, Chuck's suffered at the plate tonight. He's 0 for 3 and I'm not sure he's recovered from that shoulder pull a few weeks ago. I'll bet the front office is re-thinking that contract."
Post Reply