Gsp's hiding?

[stormycat]

I have 2 gsp's in a 150litre tank. Had them both with 1 bumble bee gobie for about quite a few months. They are about an inch and a half long.
Everything was fine, eating well, on view every day and seemed happy. Got 4 more bumble bee's about a month ago. One gsp seemed to take the hump a bit and would only eat after food had fell to the bottom and the others had had their bit.
The other gsp was quite a greedy one and seemed to eat everything he could
The last week or so both of the gsp's have taken to hiding under the filter all day every day?? They are both together and only seem to come out begrudgingly for food.
i don't understand what is going on with them. Do they have ~"fazes" like this?
Their bellys are still white and they look normal.

Salinity in 1.008
ph is 8.0
Temp is 24oC
Ammonia is nil
Nitrates are nil

Any suggestions as I am concerned about them?
Thanks
Nicki

[cuteyiddlepuff]

Hi Nicki,
What are your nitrites? The only thing I can think of to account for the loss of appetite is intestinal parasites. Often puffers come from the wild with parasites. Each GSP needs 30 gallons. Also, when they mature they get aggressive and may kill each other if they don't have enough room.
I recommend reading the article in the puffer library to see if they have any other signs of parasites.
library/hospital/internal-parasites-pre ... treatment/

[stormycat]

Hi

Nitrites are nil too - just tested

I have been watching them quite closely this last week. One is coming out a bit more than the other. They are eating, just not as keenly as they were before I noticed a change in behaviour. They seem to be coming out at night and swimming around "normally". Both their bellys are still slightly rounded and no black stress marks on them.
As i speak now, one is out ok, the other hiding. I am begining to wonder if one is picking on the other maybe??

I only had one when I first got the tank. A friend turned up with the 2nd for me, he went and bought it as a present. The first one was biting the others tail a couple of months ago for about 2 or 3 weeks, but then stopped. This is the one that is out and about a bit more.

I wonder if I should remove one of them? The bees don't seem to be a problem, they keep themselves to themselves.


I

[Pufferpunk]

Shame on your friend. Please tell them a pet is a terrible present.

[CountryGirlAmanda]

I think you should probably separate them, because in the end once they get bigger the greedy one will probably fight with the other one if he isnt already. GSPs are generally very mean to other tank mates when they get bigger. So i suggest going out and buying a 30 gallon tank for one of them.

[cuteyiddlepuff]

I think your other gsp is stressed out because of the overcrowding, maybe the other one is bullying him. You should def separate them. I'd be careful having any tank mates with them. You could get a tank divider until you put up a new tank.

[CountryGirlAmanda]

yea i think you should def. separate them and keep them alone in their tanks.