Hey all, thanks for reading.. Ok here's the deal.. Every now and then my GSP will turn a bit dark around the sides of his belly (not the entire belly) and a little by is mouth. But the real wierd thing is that if I hang out next to him for a little bit (a couple of minutes), his entire tummy will turn white again, like everything is fine.. I know a black tummy isn't a good thing, so this is why I'm posting. I would just like to know if this is normal or not? And if not what can cause it? Also I have had my puffer for about 2 months now and I've slowly been adding salt. His level is at about 1.005. I know it should be a little higher - could this be the cause? I just don't want to go too high, too fast.
One last and very important question is that I need some sort of snails or something so that my puffer can trim his teeth with and was just wondering where I can get that online, I can't seem to find a place to get them nearby.. If anyone can recommend a website where I can buy the snails or anything else to help trim his teeth online, I'd greatly appreciate it.. I like my little guy - "P-Diddy" AKA: "Harry Puffer" - a lot and would hate to see him sick or anything. Any help would be greatly appreciated..
I need some help with my 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.
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keltic oneXXL
- Puffer Fry
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Re: I need some help with my GSP..
I went to the pet store and they gave me some baby snails free. you could grow your own snails, but I would think that a local pet store would give you some baby snails free.
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Nick
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Re: I need some help with my GSP..
My smallest GSP gets those sometimes, often when he overeats. If he's otherwise acting healthy, and in a large enough tank with good water quality, it's typically just mood related.
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Agnate
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Re: I need some help with my GSP..
It's likely just his mood. I found my two Ceylons (very similar to GSPs) to be a lot happier and more colour-vibrant after they migrated to my full marine tank. As such, it's possible the lower salinity that's making him a bit moody. No need to rush on raising the salinity, though. Just take it slowly like you've been doing. 
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cthoughts1
- Puffer Fry
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Re: I need some help with my GSP..
Thanks for your great responses guys. I adjusted the amount of food I feed him from 1 worm to one and a quarter worms per serving (2 servings a day) and he seems a lot happier (well at least his tummy is white more often than not for the past couple of days).. Maybe I wasn't feeding him enough?.. I know I'm careful not to overfeed... I even have a day in which he fasts - wednesdays... 
I also found this great person on ebay which sells the snails for .10 cents a piece. She seems to very extrememly nice. I ordered a good 70 snails from her... I guess Harry Puffer will be happy eating those.. lol =) Thanks again!
I also found this great person on ebay which sells the snails for .10 cents a piece. She seems to very extrememly nice. I ordered a good 70 snails from her... I guess Harry Puffer will be happy eating those.. lol =) Thanks again!
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marksrush
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Re: I need some help with my GSP..
cthoughts1, please post for us a way to get in touch with the lady who sold you snails off eBay, I'd like to order some too.
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Pufferpunk
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Re: I need some help with my GSP..
Links to buying snails in the Classifieds.
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!"
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cthoughts1
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Re: I need some help with my GSP..
Marksrush. here is the link from the person I bought from.. I asked around forever until I found it..
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... AQ:US:1123
Good luck with it, and tell her Eddie with the Puffer (Harry Puffer) sent you...
I believe she ships out on mondays, tuesdays and wednesdays depending on the location, best of luck!
Eddie
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... AQ:US:1123
Good luck with it, and tell her Eddie with the Puffer (Harry Puffer) sent you...
I believe she ships out on mondays, tuesdays and wednesdays depending on the location, best of luck!
Eddie
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marksrush
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Re: I need some help with my GSP..
Hey thanks a ton, cthoughts1!
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edmlfc1
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Re: I need some help with my GSP..
You can also feed your puffers, mussles, clams and shrimp (shell on) purchased from the local grocery store to help with it's teeth.
Need to know what kind of puffer you have? Click on Puffer ID.....Puffer ID: ug.php/v/PufferPedia/
What to feed your puffer? Click on Feeding......
Feeding: library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
Have a GSP, need more information......Click on GSP Article.....
GSP Article: library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
What to feed your puffer? Click on Feeding......
Feeding: library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
Have a GSP, need more information......Click on GSP Article.....
GSP Article: library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
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marksrush
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Re: I need some help with my GSP..
Definitely they like fresh mussels, clams, etc.! My 3" GSP Cuddles loves oysters or mussels on the half shell - he rips and tears into the flesh still stuck on the shell like a little bulldog, and sometimes you can even hear his teeth rasping against the inside of the shell, which I figure must help with keeping his teeth trimmed back. The great thing about these foods is that they are almost dirt cheap: I buy a live clam, live oyster, live black mussel, and a couple of fresh shrimp once a week, and it costs me under $3. Portioned out, these last for a couple of weeks in the freezer.
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cthoughts1
- Puffer Fry
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Re: I need some help with my GSP..
Hey thanks for the responses guys. Any clue how big a clam/muscle/oyster, etc should be for my puffer who's about an inch and a half? Also, how do I serve it to him? Just crack it open? Boil it slightly? I haven't fed him any of those before. I have given him krill and those frozen mucles they sell at the pet store.
Mark, no problem on the link. You may want to email her on ebay and deal with her off of ebay, she's very kind and friendly so far. Plus you may get a better deal because I think the auctions go up right?
On a side note: Anyone know how I can recieve email notifications when someone posts on the threat i have, etc? Maybe this forum doesn't provide that? Thanks!
Mark, no problem on the link. You may want to email her on ebay and deal with her off of ebay, she's very kind and friendly so far. Plus you may get a better deal because I think the auctions go up right?
On a side note: Anyone know how I can recieve email notifications when someone posts on the threat i have, etc? Maybe this forum doesn't provide that? Thanks!
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Pufferpunk
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burrfish
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Re: I need some help with my GSP..
Adjust your profile for whatever notifications you want. Add where you are located, etc. so we can know you a little better too.
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!"