deworming my puffer

[bpkenn]

is 3 consecutive days a week, for 3 weeks long enough? or should i do more concurrent days?

[Nick]

Geltek is a light dose of the meds, and meant to be fed strait, rather than soaked into food, so I'd soak all his food in it, and freeze dried soaked just in geltek for part of the meal is not a bad idea. Adding metro+ to the water is a good precaution, as well, because metro has decent uptake through the gills, but more importantly, treats protozoan internal parasites, which are the easiest kind for the fish to catch back from its tank.

[bpkenn]

i havent seen my puffer purge any type of worms or whatnot, and he is looking good. when should i add the metro/prazi straight to the water, and at what point should i start raising the SG level of the QT and transfer him to the DT?

[Nick]

I'd start raising SG in QT by .002 per week until he's ready for the display tank, then acclimate him over an hour or so if there is any remaining difference.

[bpkenn]

i was thinkin to do like .007 per week, im at 1.010 atm, so i would be around 1.024 in 2 weeks. is that too fast?

[Nick]

Most likely the bacteria that keep the tank cycled will crash if you go much faster than .002 per week, causing soaring ammonia and nitrites, which kill puffers quite quickly.

[bpkenn]

Can I just acclimate him straight to the DT, without having to take 2 months to raise the SG in the QT? Hes been looking extremely well in the QT, no signs of disease or distress. No purged parasites etc that i have seen.

[Nick]

Sure, you can skip changing the SG in the QT and do a slow acclimation at the end instead. I've found GSP to acclimate easily and quickly from low backish to full marine, or the other way around.