GSP Black and lethargic

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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.

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.
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powellcoach
Puffer Fry
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2017 1:57 pm
Location (country): USA

GSP Black and lethargic

Post by powellcoach »

I have a year old Green Spotted Puffer and he is currently not doing so well. My heater stopped working overnight, and his water got down to 62 degrees. I bought a new heater and did a water change, but he is still just laying on the bottom. I tested the water and levels check out. It has been 2 days now. He is in a 35 gallon brackish tank. There are two ghost shrimp in there right now he will not touch. He has stopped eating as well. I do not see any signs of ich or external parasites. Any suggestions?
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Pufferpunk
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My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
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Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
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Also kept:
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Re: GSP Black and lethargic

Post by Pufferpunk »

Please answer ALL the Qs above, in detail, so we can better help you.
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!"
powellcoach
Puffer Fry
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2017 1:57 pm
Location (country): USA

Re: GSP Black and lethargic

Post by powellcoach »

Ph-7.5
Am-0
N-0
Sal-1.006

Had him a year cycled tank for month without fish. Do water changes once per week. Feed him snails, plankton, black worms, and live ghost shrimp. Haven't added anything in the tank besides salt and I use instant ocean sea salt. It's a 35 gallon tank with him in it and 2 ghost shrimp he will not eat or even go after.
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32771
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 Black and lethargic

Post by Pufferpunk »

Nitrate? I would give him some time to recover from the temp drop. It's a shock to his system. Is he looking any better today?
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!"
powellcoach
Puffer Fry
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2017 1:57 pm
Location (country): USA

Re: GSP Black and lethargic

Post by powellcoach »

Nitrate is 40 I know high I did a 40% water change. He is not as black anymore, but seems to be struggling to swim. He moves when he wants, but looks difficult.
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32771
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 Black and lethargic

Post by Pufferpunk »

What test kits are you using?
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!"
powellcoach
Puffer Fry
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2017 1:57 pm
Location (country): USA

Re: GSP Black and lethargic

Post by powellcoach »

API
powellcoach
Puffer Fry
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2017 1:57 pm
Location (country): USA

Re: GSP Black and lethargic

Post by powellcoach »

Well Puffer is no longer with me. Thanks for all the hel.....oh wait nevermind.
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32771
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 Black and lethargic

Post by Pufferpunk »

sorry for your loss. Not much help to offer a fish that has suffered such a shock as yours did with that severe temp drop.
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!"
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