Hello.
New Green Spotted Puffer introduced to well cycled tank 9 days ago. Juvenile about 1 inch. LFS in fresh, drip acclimated for 2hrs to 1.005. Tank cycled at 1.002 w/ BioSpria and mulm from established FW tank, then brought up to 1.005 over several weeks w/ biofilter maintained by 1 adult molly and 3 baby mollys. SG was stable at 1.005 at least 2 weeks before GPS introduction.
At introduction puffer active, looked healthy. Initially accepted live brine, frozen brine, frozen bloodworms, and live snails. During subsequent days puffer appetite and activity progressively decreasing. During this period have tried freeze dried baby krill, freeze dried shrimp, frozen krill, fresh uncooked scallop, fresh uncooked shrimp. Samples each but appetite continues to decline. Takes a few bites, then stops.
Yesterday and today partial loss of color, spent most of time near bottom. No evidence of internal parasites, fungus or other; except recent loss of color, and progress decline in activity, and appetite.
Virtually every post such as this I have seen has ended in "puffer died". This is my first puffer, but I thought I was doing everything right - or at least trying to.
My hypothesis is internal parasites, only because that seems frequent in puffers - and I don't know what else it might be.
My current tactic will be to withold feeding 24hrs, then try some Gel-Tek soaked freeze dried bloodworms. I don't expect that will be profitable given he is not eaching much.
Should I also dose Melfix and Pimafix? Or would these be expected to stress the fish?
Is it worth it to skip the Gel-tek and try some net-and dip with an alternative?
Any hypotheses (bacterial??), or courses of action?
Thanks for any help.
37 gallon tank, running about 3 months
Instant Ocean, SG=1.005
Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia all zero, pH about 8.0
Aragonite substrate, RUGF
Two Eheim 2128s, one drives RUGF, one with spraybar output at standard rear top
50% WC each week, water for change maintained in separate large plastic drum with heater and circulation pump
Prime dechlorinator added to drum whenever new water & salt installed
http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/vie ... =5&t=10934
New GSP Deteriorating - Any Course of Action?
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.
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.
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yunachin
- Former Staff Member
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2x Takifugu Ocellatus
9x Tetraodon biocellatus
1x Canthigaster solandri
1x Diodon Holocanthus
2x A. nigropunctatus
1x Tetraodon miurus
1x Irrubesco - Location (country): USA
- Location: SC
Re: New GSP Deteriorating - Any Course of Action?
Is his stomach sunken in? Perhaps you should try raising the salt another 0.002 to see if that helps.
E.Ridgeway
Re: New GSP Deteriorating - Any Course of Action?
Stomach not visibly sunken. But since not eaching much, he ain't looking fat. I have to admit I am uncertain of my ability to visually detect symptoms I have read here, since it would be my first time seeing it (first puffer).
Raising SG sounds like a reasonable idea. But I wonder if stability is more important to a stressed and already vulnerable fish. What evidence is there that raising SG can remediate such problems? Not at all challening the suggestion, sounds like a good one. Just wish to understand the basis of evidence.
Raising SG sounds like a reasonable idea. But I wonder if stability is more important to a stressed and already vulnerable fish. What evidence is there that raising SG can remediate such problems? Not at all challening the suggestion, sounds like a good one. Just wish to understand the basis of evidence.
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yunachin
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 1753
- Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2007 1:33 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 1x A. Meleagris (Golden)
2x Tetraodon nigroviridis
1x Tetraodon lineatus
1x A. hispidus
2x Takifugu Ocellatus
9x Tetraodon biocellatus
1x Canthigaster solandri
1x Diodon Holocanthus
2x A. nigropunctatus
1x Tetraodon miurus
1x Irrubesco - Location (country): USA
- Location: SC
Re: New GSP Deteriorating - Any Course of Action?
IMO as GSP's age they do considerably better in full marine conditions. Until then they require a high end brackish environment which is between 1.008-1.010.
I moved my oldest puffer into full marine after he was beginning to turn very grey in color and becoming non-active and almost instantly he color was great and he was social again.
Atleast with raising the gravity, there will be no harsh side effects and if that doesn't work then you can concentrate on what you think it is next.
I moved my oldest puffer into full marine after he was beginning to turn very grey in color and becoming non-active and almost instantly he color was great and he was social again.
Atleast with raising the gravity, there will be no harsh side effects and if that doesn't work then you can concentrate on what you think it is next.
E.Ridgeway
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
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burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
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Re: New GSP Deteriorating - Any Course of Action?
Have you offered him foods soaked in garlic? I'd go ahead w/the IP treatment & Melafix.
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!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Re: New GSP Deteriorating - Any Course of Action?
No, haven't tried garlic.
Is there a home recipe for garlic solution, or is Garlic Extreme the only game in town?
In either case, how much solution and how much of a soak?
thanks,
Is there a home recipe for garlic solution, or is Garlic Extreme the only game in town?
In either case, how much solution and how much of a soak?
thanks,
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32976
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: New GSP Deteriorating - Any Course of Action?
Dice, crush & soak.
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!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
t1gerbee
- Fahaka Puffer
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(Non puffs-)
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2 x goldfish - Location: london
Re: New GSP Deteriorating - Any Course of Action?
don't lose hope. I managed to save my sick puffer with the help of these guys..
it is possible!
Good luck!
it is possible!
Good luck!
1 x 90G Juv stars and stripes puffer, Ceylon Puffer + GSP + 2 black clowns
1 x 30G LPS Reef
1 x 30G 1 x Blind goldfish
1 x 30G LPS Reef
1 x 30G 1 x Blind goldfish
Re: New GSP Deteriorating - Any Course of Action?
Thanks for comments/suggestions.
Added Melafix, will dose for 7days.
Fasting today, have FD shrimp & blooworm soaking in Gel-Tek overnight. Will try feeding tomorrow. Will add garlic if not successful.
Added Melafix, will dose for 7days.
Fasting today, have FD shrimp & blooworm soaking in Gel-Tek overnight. Will try feeding tomorrow. Will add garlic if not successful.
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crazedpuffer
- Former Staff Member
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Re: New GSP Deteriorating - Any Course of Action?
The fish don't always show signs of IP's, I had a GSP in a 5 gallon quarantine, and I was going to put him in my 25 gallon SW tank. He started to do bad after a while so I put him in the tank to see if it would help. He died 2 days later and there was nothing to him just skin, thats how bad his IPs were, and he never showed any signs.