aquarium vs marine salt

[mwpennya]

Hi all

Could anyone please tell me what the difference is between aquarium salt and marine salt?

[Myaj]

Well, aquarium salt is salt.. sodium. Its not really regulated to any specific levels that I know of or anything, so you really don't know exactly what you are getting in that container other than salt. More used as a therapy for constipation, to treat external parasites such as ich, etc.

Marine salt is a blend of salt and other minerals and substances that matches the conditions of the ocean. The ocean is not just salt and water, there is a lot more to it. The fish need those extra minerals and the right balance to be healthy, just like we need our vitamins and minerals to be healthy.

There are also salt blends for specific lakes in Africa, where the water content is changed by the types of rocks and runoff, to create their own individual water chemistry.

Does that make sense?

[Troender]

A very good answer Myaj. I had to link to this at a Norwegian forum, after someone said that you could make BW with common salt.

[mwpennya]

Thank you so much, it does make sense. Now I am worried about whether my fish are in fact GSP's. They have small spines on their underbelly which point backwards and are quite rough to touch. Do GSP's have these?

[manutius]

All puffers have spines but you really shouldnt touch them as it will damage the prtective slime coat that the fish have.

As for whether you have GSP or not, looking at your pics the first thing is to get them to feed and to rid them of Internal parasites. I think this has been covered in another thread? When the fish are healthy we can see whether they are GSP's or maybe sabahensis, which is my guess ATM. Its fairly irrelevant at this stage as both species are brackish fish and at a young age need the same water conditions so the important thing is to get them healthy

[Hilly]

Currently they all look like GSP's. 1st pic looks like it could turn out to be an interesting specimen with its markings.

[dumpythepuffer]

they look like GSP's. ones stomach is very sunk in though

[mwpennya]

Many thanks, I was worried that I might have had fresh water puffers in brackish water. I m battling with the one with the sunken stomach. It doesn't want to feed.(The other one that had the sunken stomach died yesterday, and I examined te dead fish which is where I got to feel the small spines). Have used Tank buddies parasite clear and melafix but see no improvement. I have now bought Seachem Focus and Metronidazole but am not sure whether this is the way to go.I would have to put it in the tank water because the fish won't eat. Should I then remove it from the tank with the ther 3 which seem fine and treat it separately in a separate tank? How can I entice it to eat? Oh yes, lso bought garlic guard but haven't tried it yet. Have fed them small snails and bloodworm which the others eat happily.So much to learn!!

[Pufferpunk]

Treat them all. What are the parameters of the water? How large is the tank? 4 GSPs will require a huge tank.