#2 Dark Color and #1 loosing weight. Help!

[cphipps70]

Ph- 8.4
Ammonia- Not sure
Nitrite-0
Nitrates- 80
Salinity- Not sure add 1tbs/5 gal each water change
Alkalinity- 300

40 gal- 7 GSP's about 1.5 inches

Feeding I mainly use freez dried bloodworms and krill. Ocasionally snails and ghost shrimp. Water changes about every 2 weeks 75% change.

No changes in the last week.

The aquarium has been set up for a year in March. I had 8 GSP's but lost one due to illness I am writing about.

I am wondering what is making my GSP's sick (fish #1 in pictures). I lost one of the 8 about a month ago and am worried that another fish has the same disease or virus. I am seeing a huge difference in the puffers size compared to the rest, a sunk in belly, and much lighter coloring than the rest. This loss of weight happens over time and takes a while. My puffer that died before lasted about 6 months looking really sickly. I didnt know what to do. I have read articles trying to find an explination but nothing seems to fit. I have not noticed worms. But the symptoms sound similar to what is happening to my fish.

I also have another GSP that I am concerned about. This goes with Fish #2 pictures. He is really dark and his mouth area seems to be swolen. He is hanging around on the bottom of the tank quite a bit and I dont see him eating food as I am watching the others eat. I dont know what seems to be wrong with him. If you have any info please let me know! I HATE lossing these little dudes! Thanks!

[julianchan]

First off, there are too many GSP's in that tank. They need at least 30 gallons per puffer to deal with stunting and bio load issues.

Right off the bat, if you have had all these puffers in there since March or April, I would say that it is water quality that is hurting them. I don't think that tank can cope with the bio load of all those puffers.

It would be a good idea for to get a liquid water test kit for to know your water parameters. You need to keep your Ammonia and Nitrites at 0, and Nitrates as low as possible, around the 25ppm mark. With that many puffers in there right now, you are going to have to do water changes pretty much every day. I would recommend choosing which puffer you love the most, and try and find a good home for the rest of them. That is pretty much going to be the only way you will be able to save them, other than investing in a 210 gallon tank. I would not feel bad about only keeping one of these puffers in the tank. To me, they get more personable that way, and they do great by themselves.

Please read the GSP article in the pufferpedia section. Its located in the brackish water section. BTW, aquarium salt does not constitute for making brackish water, IDK what type of salt you are using.

Good luck, I hope you can find a good home for the puffers, if not, the LFS's around you should be able to take them off your hands happily. Just for stopping by here, I know you care...please do right by these puffers. They are awesome pets.

[cphipps70]

Do you think that MelaFix or PimaFix will help them at all?

I feel terrible! I stay up at night all the time thinking about them! I guess I will have to try and find new homes for them. This might be a little difficult to do! Im really bummed! Thanks for your help and concern. Thanks again!

[julianchan]

Possibly, but I would keep up with daily water changes till you can get your puffer count down. That would be more important than anything. You will probably see them perk up a bit after that. Then you might run into territorial issues (fin nipping, even killing), just because of the space. They are not schooling fish.

Takes a lot to say goodbye to a puffer, and to have to see 5 or 6 go is really sad, but its better than the alternative of having them die.

[edmlfc1]

The first thing you need to do is get those nitrates down below 20. Do some large water changes daily until you get it down. I lost a GSP when my nitrates went to 40. After you get the nitrates down you might see a huge difference in them without any meds. You will need a very large tank or multiple tanks if you plan to keep them.

[mike_freegan]

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[cphipps70]

Im pretty sure that the puffers would be better in my 45 gal tank rather in a tank at Wal-Mart where I got them from a year ago. There is no way Im taking them back there. I will for sure get marine salt and I did invest in a bigger aquarium. I wil set it up and run it for a few days with marine salt and then let them get sued to their new home. They are doing better today since I did a water change! Thanks! Christine

[Agnate]

Yeah, please don't take them to Walmart. Walmart ACTUALLY flushes any fish brought into its store, which is pretty sad, if you ask me.


Also, please read up on cycling an aquarium (we have an article about the different beneficial bacteria that form during a cycle, and what you'll need to have before allowing fish into the aquarium). If you just put the puffers into a new tank without cycled media, you're going to make their lives pretty short. If you already know about cycling, then I apologize, but we see too many people here who don't know about it.

[Christemo]

7 GSPs in a 40 gallon!?
Wow...

[Agnate]

Honestly, I don't think it's that unreasonable when the only information you've received is from Walmart or those random puffer websites with horribly construed data. Sure, everyone from this forum knows that they need a lot of water volume, but most stores don't give out that kind of information. Combine that with the fact that they're only 1.5 inches each (which really isn't that big), and that they take forever to grow (which allows for the false assumption that they won't really get bigger), and you've got yourself a recipe for overstocking. It happens, but at least she's cares about her puffers and wants to do the right thing!

[cphipps70]

I am an avid diver whom used to live in hawaii and fell in love with puffers while I was there. I received the little guys as a gift and had NO idea on how to raise them. I can tell you that I have honestly spent over 100 hours researching and reading on how to raise these critters. I love them and will do anything to take care of them so please dont be rude and judge me for 7 puffers in a 45gal. I didnt know, but I do know I can make it better and there are not many people out there that would go through the huge hassle of taking care of these amazing fish. So give me some credit please!

[edmlfc1]

We are not trying to be rude, I think most of us were in shock. I apologize if I was rude to you. Just keep up with those water changes and try to keep the nitrates below 20. I promise you will see a big difference in the puffers with lower nitrates. Like I mentioned before: When I moved tanks my nitrates went above 40 and I lost one of my little pals. It broke my heart. I totally know how you feel. You can get attached really quick to these guys. Just keep doing water changes, I can't stress that enough. Just to give you an idea, I do 50% every week, sometimes twice a week on my tank. With that many in a 45G you will probally need to do 50% every other day until you upgrade your tank.

[cphipps70]

edmlfc1 I really appreciate all of your help and I do not think that you are being rude at all! You are being very helpful to me and it is appreciated! Thanks so much!
PS-New water change Nitrates-below 20!
YAY!

[cphipps70]

what do you guys think I should use in my new tank....aquarium rocks or sand? which is better? easier to clean?

[mike_freegan]

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