Are these all GSP's??? pics included

[studmaster]

Hey Guys,

Trying to ID some of the puffers I have had because I can't seem to keep them in brackish water successfully. I want to make sure I have actual Green Spotted Puffers. I have read the links to id'ing GSPs, GPs and CPs, but can't figure out for sure. I think they are GSP's from the descriptions but wanted to check with you guys first.

The first three have passed away and I can't for the life of me figure out why. I have a long post in the hospital forum where a lot of smart people are trying to help me find the reason. I want to make sure I do in fact have GSPs.

What do you guys think they are?

[studmaster]

These two pictures are the one that is still alive in my tank currently.

[Nick]

Very typical of the appearance of young GSP that come into the pet store where I work.

[SpockthePuffer]

They looks like GSPs to me

[StormySkiez]

IDK.

The question came up because of this link in another topic: http://puffernet.tripod.com/confusion.html

If you look at the top 3 pics SM posted the puffers have club like bodies and do not have rounded mouths. Even the bottom two pics are about the same. Look at the puffers tail base, it is long compared to a gsp IMO. I could be wrong though. It is very hard to tell.

[Nick]

That article is nonsense, as best I can figure. Fluvitalis has VERY clear figure 8 like markings on it's topside. Keep in mind this article also claims GSP does best in primarily fresh water with a dash of salt. It looks to me like they are differentiating GSP at different ages and different levels of body fat as different species.

[StormySkiez]

The markings on his puffers are not very round from what I can see.

[Corvus]

That article is nonsense, as best I can figure...

Yes.

However, I think what is referred to now as GSP may consist of a number of possibly closely related species hard to differentiate. For now the greens with black spots are T. nigroviridis until further research is undertaken. Only a few very large ones with labyrinth like bars can be told apart and are referred to as cf. sabahensis here.

[studmaster]

So the main issue is what salinity should I keep them at? I have them at 1.005, but then I have lost 4 out of 5 GSP's in the last 3-4 months.
If they are a hybrid of some sort, it makes it hard to figure out what SG their water should be.

[Corvus]

I doubt salinity is the problem here. 1.005 should work for all of them

[Jay.B.]

I doubt salinity is the problem here. 1.005 should work for all of them

beat me to it ... ...

[studmaster]

I doubt salinity is the problem here. 1.005 should work for all of them

Well we've eliminated every other possible problem, other than poor quality puffers or lead in the water. I was hoping this might have been the answer.

[Corvus]

Organic/anorganic pollutants in the water, or a nasty internal bacterial infection are possible problems here IMO. Both not easy to exclude at all.

First I'd clarify if it's in the water or in the fish. How long do the puffers not sold survive at the fish store you bought yours from (you probably need to know how trustworthy the seller is to know if the answer can be used at all).

[Myaj]

IMO, all the puffers in those photos look pretty skinny, as if they have some internal parasites. That will make their body shapes look stretched out and not well rounded.

Have you tried deworming any of your puffers?

[studmaster]

IMO, all the puffers in those photos look pretty skinny, as if they have some internal parasites. That will make their body shapes look stretched out and not well rounded.

Have you tried deworming any of your puffers?

Yeah I used deworming meds because that what I thought was killing them. Another poster recently replied to my topic in the Hospital forum saying that if they have a certain kind of parasite, deworming meds and kill it, but then they will slowly poison the puffer because they aren't in the intestines. (don't quote me on that explanation, just quickly read it)