Help me.... My puffer is not moving

[S0n1c87]

I have 2green puffers in my tank. Salinty 1.000. One is quite like to hide and only appear when eating. The other does not like to eat much and today it totally not moving. It just float with the water current... its stomach is alittle black. When I touch him, he moving abit then back to his dead motion. Why is this happening to one of my puffer.? Pls help my puffer. I feeling very helpless to him now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxjrBSb9p2s

[Nuclear_Glitter]

Please answer all the above questions in the red box. These questions are very vital in us being able to get you the help you need. Most specifically I need:

Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
Tank Size:
List of all inhabitants:
Water change schedule:
Any changes recently:

1.000 is freshwater, which is no salt.

[bertie 83]

Yes we need answers to all those questions before we can accurately help you

[S0n1c87]

Please answer all the above questions in the red box. These questions are very vital in us being able to get you the help you need. Most specifically I need:

Ammonia: 0.25
Nitrite: 0.5
Nitrate: 80
Tank Size: H11" L13.5" W9", 90% water
List of all inhabitants: 2green puffer, 1.5"each
Water change schedule: twice a wk, 20% change
Any changes recently: Just changed water 2days ago abt 20%, ytd I change ard 10%water and added 2spoon of salt to reach that 1.000, i am using the 2in 1 hydrometer with thermometer for measurement

1.000 is freshwater, which is no salt.

[S0n1c87]

any advice for me. do i need a water change again.?

[Donna_G]

You should not be showing any ammonia or nitrite and your nitrate reading is really high, it should be 20 or less for nitrate. Looking at your tank size it is too small for 2 GSP, puffers are really messy and I think GSP require 30 gallons each minimum. You need to be doing more water changes to get the levels down as they are really sensitive to bad water conditions.

[S0n1c87]

You should not be showing any ammonia or nitrite and your nitrate reading is really high, it should be 20 or less for nitrate. Looking at your tank size it is too small for 2 GSP, puffers are really messy and I think GSP require 30 gallons each minimum. You need to be doing more water changes to get the levels down as they are really sensitive to bad water conditions.

So how much water should i be change now.? and how frequent.?

[Donna_G]

You want to get those levels down ASAP but as you only change 20% twice a week, I don't know whether you should do 1 large water change or several smaller ones spaced out. I personally would do several smaller ones and gradually increase the amount changed each time to be on the safe side.

[Donna_G]

Going by the measurements you've given, it's about a 5 gallon tank they are in. That's really not enough space for them and your going to have a really hard time keeping your water parameters stable. Can you get a bigger tank or maybe return them to the shop if you've only just bought them, till you can get a bigger tank If possible

[bertie 83]

I would change 80% 2x daily, your water is currently toxic. 55g min for 2 gsp, 75g is much better

[El Scorpio]

The ammonia/nitrite/nitrate readings are so high because your tank is not cycled. Pufferfish are more sensitive to ammonia and nitrite because they don't have scales and simply will not survive the ammonia and nitrite spikes in a cycling aquarium. Furthermore, your tank is way too small. You need about 30 gallons per GSP. As Bertie said, you're going to need a 55 or 75 for two GSP's, as they grow to about half a foot in length. You might also want to pick up a bottle of Prime; it detoxifies ammonia and nitrite. Might buy your fish a little more time.

[puffykid]

Use prime decolorizing stuff. It'll lock up the ammonia and nitrates so that they can't hurt your fish, you can use up to 5x the normal dosage to help your fish. Agree with above please start doing a lot of wc's a good schedule is an 80% in the morning and evening which will help dilute out the wastes while you let your tank cycle. If possible get another tank and separate them or even better get 2 20 gallon tanks and put each into their own which will buy you some time.

[bertie 83]

Or get the 55-75 now as there will be much more water to dilute the waste products, do you know anyone with an established tank you can swipe some filter media from? Do not add anymore salt wait until you are fully cycled, adding salt will prolong the cycle.

[Pufferpunk]

Look for a used tank in the newspaper.
What country is Sg?

[S0n1c87]

Hi ppl. Ya. I am going to upgrade my tank soon. Need to order a new fish tank rack first before I can do that. Would be ard 35g which is the max my rm can fit in.

I'm from Singapore (SG) . Thks for the help.