Hi everyone,
I have 2 GSP's (about 2" long each) in a 55g tank. No other fish but there are 3 Java fern, 2 amazon sword, 2 anubias in the tank along with 2 pieces mopani driftwood.
Water parameters are: 1.008 SG, PH 7.6 (My area has naturally high PH water, so this was no different than when I got them), Ammonia 0.25, Nitrite/Nitrate don't have a test this moment.
I purchased them 1 month ago and they were in an established 10g tank that I removed my goldfish from and then slowly raised SG through water changes. The new tank was cycled for 1 week and water from the 10g tank was added to help acclimate the fish when they were moved. Thay have been in the 55g for 1 week.
I am just about to do a 10% water change which is my normal weekly maintenance for all my tanks.
My puffers eat bloodworms, PE Mysis and live snails from my freshwater tank.
The tank has a CO2 venturi water pump which runs during the day only, chemicals I use are Big Al's Water conditioner, Bio Support, Bio Control and Plant Food Supplement.
The issue is that one puffer is colorful, active and seems very well adjusted. My other puffer spends all day hiding under a leaf or near the substrate. His color is very faded, spots are almost gone, his gills are moving rapidly and he opens and closes his mouth constantly. Since I got this puffer he always seemed a little pinched around the belly, but he was a vigorous feeder and seemed healthy when I got him. Is this an internal parasite? If so how do I treat it?
PS I know ammonia should be zero, I think it's just a natural spike since the tank has been up for only 2 weeks. Hoping the water change will address this.
Sick GSP
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.
-
PuffnStuff
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:41 pm
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's, Pillow and Blanket
- Location: Ontario, Canada
Sick GSP
75g 2 GSP's
37g FW community
10g Softies, Clownfish, Gobies and Shrimp
1.5g Betta
10g 1 Damsel, 1 Fairy Wrasse
65g LPS and Soft Coral Reef
37g FW community
10g Softies, Clownfish, Gobies and Shrimp
1.5g Betta
10g 1 Damsel, 1 Fairy Wrasse
65g LPS and Soft Coral Reef
-
t1gerbee
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 831
- Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:10 am
- My Puffers: 1 x Ceylon + 1 x GSP + 1 x stars and stripes (juv) -Marine
(Non puffs-)
4 x clowns
1 x Oscar-Tropical
3 x Convicts-Tropical
1 x Map Turtle-tropical
2 x Plecs-Tropical
2 x goldfish - Location: london
Re: Sick GSP
did you move the substrate and the filter to the new tank as well as the water?
You're tank may well be only half way through the cycle if it's only been up and running for a week...
you need to do large daily water changes to get rid of the ammonia and the likely nitrites that will be spiking...
You're tank may well be only half way through the cycle if it's only been up and running for a week...
you need to do large daily water changes to get rid of the ammonia and the likely nitrites that will be spiking...
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
-
Nick
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 3231
- Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 8:47 pm
- My Puffers: Mine:
GSPs - Shakespeare and Jillybean
F8 - Velvet
My fiance:
DP - Emma Goldman
Narrow Lined Puffer - Ulrike - Location (country): Northeastern USA
- Location: Middletown, CT
- Contact:
Re: Sick GSP
Ammonia means tank is not cycled, that is almost certainly what's stressing the one puffer. I'd try big water changes daily.
No matter how magnificent your successes or devastating your failures, the worlds' approximately 5 billion impoverished people could not possibly care less.
-
PuffnStuff
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:41 pm
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's, Pillow and Blanket
- Location: Ontario, Canada
Re: Sick GSP
Thanks for the replies,
I did a large water change and will test levels in the morning. I picked up a Nitrite and Nitrate test kit so can measure levels accordingly. He looked better at feeding time and his color was better after water change.
I did a large water change and will test levels in the morning. I picked up a Nitrite and Nitrate test kit so can measure levels accordingly. He looked better at feeding time and his color was better after water change.
75g 2 GSP's
37g FW community
10g Softies, Clownfish, Gobies and Shrimp
1.5g Betta
10g 1 Damsel, 1 Fairy Wrasse
65g LPS and Soft Coral Reef
37g FW community
10g Softies, Clownfish, Gobies and Shrimp
1.5g Betta
10g 1 Damsel, 1 Fairy Wrasse
65g LPS and Soft Coral Reef
-
Nick
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 3231
- Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 8:47 pm
- My Puffers: Mine:
GSPs - Shakespeare and Jillybean
F8 - Velvet
My fiance:
DP - Emma Goldman
Narrow Lined Puffer - Ulrike - Location (country): Northeastern USA
- Location: Middletown, CT
- Contact:
Re: Sick GSP
Good work
No matter how magnificent your successes or devastating your failures, the worlds' approximately 5 billion impoverished people could not possibly care less.
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32979
- 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: Sick GSP
What are the results?
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!"
-
PuffnStuff
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:41 pm
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's, Pillow and Blanket
- Location: Ontario, Canada
Re: Sick GSP
Hi,
Got home from work and did another water change. Will update levels in a moment, just allowing the filter to circulate. I'm starting to think it's a parasite however. Pillow (puffer's name) has a red and inflamed gill on the left side, which is incidentally the side where his stomach seems pinched (has since I purchased him). There was some red string like matter coming from his gill on this side and now it looks more whitish, the gill is also inflamed and red, on this side only.
I have Melafix but haven't added it yet, what should I do, should I go pick up some meds before my LFS closes?
Got home from work and did another water change. Will update levels in a moment, just allowing the filter to circulate. I'm starting to think it's a parasite however. Pillow (puffer's name) has a red and inflamed gill on the left side, which is incidentally the side where his stomach seems pinched (has since I purchased him). There was some red string like matter coming from his gill on this side and now it looks more whitish, the gill is also inflamed and red, on this side only.
I have Melafix but haven't added it yet, what should I do, should I go pick up some meds before my LFS closes?
75g 2 GSP's
37g FW community
10g Softies, Clownfish, Gobies and Shrimp
1.5g Betta
10g 1 Damsel, 1 Fairy Wrasse
65g LPS and Soft Coral Reef
37g FW community
10g Softies, Clownfish, Gobies and Shrimp
1.5g Betta
10g 1 Damsel, 1 Fairy Wrasse
65g LPS and Soft Coral Reef
-
PuffnStuff
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:41 pm
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's, Pillow and Blanket
- Location: Ontario, Canada
Re: Sick GSP
Update on the tank
SG 1.008
PH 8.4
Ammonia 0 ppm
Nitrite 0.25 ppm
Nitrate 20 ppm
Haven't fed yet tonight but I think I might pick up some praziquantel in case I need to dose Pillow. Should I transfer him to another tank for treatment, the only other fish in my display is another GSP (Blanket, my son named them). I don't have another tank at that SG but I do have a tank at 1.003 that I am using to acclimate plants to a Brackish environment.
Incidentally, I also added my biological filter foam from an established tank to my Puffer tank this morning to help jump start bacterial growth.
SG 1.008
PH 8.4
Ammonia 0 ppm
Nitrite 0.25 ppm
Nitrate 20 ppm
Haven't fed yet tonight but I think I might pick up some praziquantel in case I need to dose Pillow. Should I transfer him to another tank for treatment, the only other fish in my display is another GSP (Blanket, my son named them). I don't have another tank at that SG but I do have a tank at 1.003 that I am using to acclimate plants to a Brackish environment.
Incidentally, I also added my biological filter foam from an established tank to my Puffer tank this morning to help jump start bacterial growth.
75g 2 GSP's
37g FW community
10g Softies, Clownfish, Gobies and Shrimp
1.5g Betta
10g 1 Damsel, 1 Fairy Wrasse
65g LPS and Soft Coral Reef
37g FW community
10g Softies, Clownfish, Gobies and Shrimp
1.5g Betta
10g 1 Damsel, 1 Fairy Wrasse
65g LPS and Soft Coral Reef
-
Nick
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 3231
- Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 8:47 pm
- My Puffers: Mine:
GSPs - Shakespeare and Jillybean
F8 - Velvet
My fiance:
DP - Emma Goldman
Narrow Lined Puffer - Ulrike - Location (country): Northeastern USA
- Location: Middletown, CT
- Contact:
Re: Sick GSP
Nitrite burns the gills, that could be part of the irritation. I'd just treat the tank he is in, parasite meds do not hurt your biofilter.
No matter how magnificent your successes or devastating your failures, the worlds' approximately 5 billion impoverished people could not possibly care less.
-
PuffnStuff
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:41 pm
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's, Pillow and Blanket
- Location: Ontario, Canada
Re: Sick GSP
Removed carbon from filter.
Treated with Melafix and Jungle anti-parasite. Pillow only ate 1 mysis shrimp but we'll see tommorrow.
Treated with Melafix and Jungle anti-parasite. Pillow only ate 1 mysis shrimp but we'll see tommorrow.
75g 2 GSP's
37g FW community
10g Softies, Clownfish, Gobies and Shrimp
1.5g Betta
10g 1 Damsel, 1 Fairy Wrasse
65g LPS and Soft Coral Reef
37g FW community
10g Softies, Clownfish, Gobies and Shrimp
1.5g Betta
10g 1 Damsel, 1 Fairy Wrasse
65g LPS and Soft Coral Reef
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32979
- 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: Sick GSP
You've gotta get that nitrite down. Did you do a WC before adding the med? At least 50%/day, until it's 0.
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!"
-
PuffnStuff
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:41 pm
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's, Pillow and Blanket
- Location: Ontario, Canada
Re: Sick GSP
This morning Nitrite still at same level. I will do another WC, I did one before adding the meds too. I didn't have enough SW mixed to do more than 30%, but I have anew batch mixed for today. We'll see how Pillow does.
75g 2 GSP's
37g FW community
10g Softies, Clownfish, Gobies and Shrimp
1.5g Betta
10g 1 Damsel, 1 Fairy Wrasse
65g LPS and Soft Coral Reef
37g FW community
10g Softies, Clownfish, Gobies and Shrimp
1.5g Betta
10g 1 Damsel, 1 Fairy Wrasse
65g LPS and Soft Coral Reef
-
PuffnStuff
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:41 pm
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's, Pillow and Blanket
- Location: Ontario, Canada
Re: Sick GSP
I forgot to ask, do I leave the meds in for 24hrs or should I do a WC right now?
75g 2 GSP's
37g FW community
10g Softies, Clownfish, Gobies and Shrimp
1.5g Betta
10g 1 Damsel, 1 Fairy Wrasse
65g LPS and Soft Coral Reef
37g FW community
10g Softies, Clownfish, Gobies and Shrimp
1.5g Betta
10g 1 Damsel, 1 Fairy Wrasse
65g LPS and Soft Coral Reef
-
PuffnStuff
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:41 pm
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's, Pillow and Blanket
- Location: Ontario, Canada
Re: Sick GSP
Did a 50% WC anyways, Pillow didn't look any better from the meds, in fact he looked a little worse. I have to go to work now, I'll check Nitrite et al tonight.
75g 2 GSP's
37g FW community
10g Softies, Clownfish, Gobies and Shrimp
1.5g Betta
10g 1 Damsel, 1 Fairy Wrasse
65g LPS and Soft Coral Reef
37g FW community
10g Softies, Clownfish, Gobies and Shrimp
1.5g Betta
10g 1 Damsel, 1 Fairy Wrasse
65g LPS and Soft Coral Reef
-
PuffnStuff
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:41 pm
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's, Pillow and Blanket
- Location: Ontario, Canada
Re: Sick GSP
Pillow didn't make it. His color was all black this morning and by the time I got home he was gone. Nitrite is still 0.25 si I'll do another WC tomorrow.
75g 2 GSP's
37g FW community
10g Softies, Clownfish, Gobies and Shrimp
1.5g Betta
10g 1 Damsel, 1 Fairy Wrasse
65g LPS and Soft Coral Reef
37g FW community
10g Softies, Clownfish, Gobies and Shrimp
1.5g Betta
10g 1 Damsel, 1 Fairy Wrasse
65g LPS and Soft Coral Reef