HELP! KILLING MY FISH!
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.
HELP! KILLING MY FISH!
yestereday i got a pufer fish maybe 3" with spots from the local store i think you call it a gps. they said hed be ok with my guppies but today i came home from work and found my guppies dead! i think he killed them. i don't know what my water parameters are but i have a 5 gallon tank which has this fish used to have 2 guppies and still has my female betta edit: i forgot to add 3 mystery snails to. i set up my aquarium a week ago and got the guppies and betta then. so can someone tell me whats going on and if this fish did it?
-
edmlfc1
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 2011
- Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 5:03 pm
- My Puffers: Elvis (Stars & Stripes) R.I.P. 9/11/11
125G:Fahaka (Annabelle) - Location (country): U.S.A.
- Location: Texas
Re: HELP! KILLING MY FISH!
Unless the fish are half eaten your puffer sort of didn't kill them. What killed them is the ammonia spike and the tank not being cycled. You will need a 30 tank for the puffer. Read the articles in the library about GSP's and also about cycling a tank. The puffer will not last long in that tank. You can either bring it back to the store you got it from or get some tetra safe start to instantly cycle the tank. Even if you get the tetra you will still need a larger tank for the puffer.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
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/
-
Christemo
- Suspended
- Posts: 401
- Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2008 2:33 pm
- My Puffers: 1 GSP (RIP Puffy... we tried everything we could. :( )
2 Figure 8s (Cupcake and Sprinkles) - Location: Marlton, NJ//Emmitsburg, MD
- Contact:
Re: HELP! KILLING MY FISH!
The fish probably did it. They are hunters, and will kill other fish if they choose to. I'm seeing a lot of problems in your case. Number one, your tank isn't near being cycled, therefore a puffer may not survive because of the rising ammonia levels. Number two, you need a good test kit to actually check your levels. Number three, that tank is WAYYYYYYYYYYY too small for a 3" GSP. They need at LEAST 30 gallons. Please read the article in our puffer pedia for more information.
Two F8's, two tiny fantails and a pleco call me mommy.
Re: HELP! KILLING MY FISH!
30 gallons???!? are u crazy? the guy at the store said my tank was great and i can't really afford or have room for a 30 gallon tank and anyway its a small fish. i like the fish anyway so ill ask my mom if she can get me some tetra safe this weekend.
oh and shuld i take the dead guppies out or will that make the puffer kill the betta too? i left them cause i didn't know if he'd go for the betta.
someone help me! this site is confusing
oh and shuld i take the dead guppies out or will that make the puffer kill the betta too? i left them cause i didn't know if he'd go for the betta.
someone help me! this site is confusing
Last edited by Boxxy on Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
edmlfc1
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 2011
- Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 5:03 pm
- My Puffers: Elvis (Stars & Stripes) R.I.P. 9/11/11
125G:Fahaka (Annabelle) - Location (country): U.S.A.
- Location: Texas
Re: HELP! KILLING MY FISH!
Click on the links below to learn about your puffer.
And yes 30 gallons is the min. for a green spotted puffer.
And yes 30 gallons is the min. for a green spotted puffer.
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/
-
Christemo
- Suspended
- Posts: 401
- Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2008 2:33 pm
- My Puffers: 1 GSP (RIP Puffy... we tried everything we could. :( )
2 Figure 8s (Cupcake and Sprinkles) - Location: Marlton, NJ//Emmitsburg, MD
- Contact:
Re: HELP! KILLING MY FISH!
The bioload and growth of the fish cannot be sustained in that small of a tank. I am not crazy, by the way. They grow to be about the size of a nerf football.
Two F8's, two tiny fantails and a pleco call me mommy.
-
julianchan
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 709
- Joined: Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:25 am
- My Puffers: 1 GSP Elevator.....Lord Vator to everyone else...
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
Re: HELP! KILLING MY FISH!
The guy at the store was wrong. The GSP will grow to 6" long, given the chance...he will get stunted in a tank that is too small, which means early death. He will eventually need to be in brackish, and then Salt Water when adult.
Re: HELP! KILLING MY FISH!
ok, but do i leave the guppies to protect the betta or take them out?
-
Christemo
- Suspended
- Posts: 401
- Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2008 2:33 pm
- My Puffers: 1 GSP (RIP Puffy... we tried everything we could. :( )
2 Figure 8s (Cupcake and Sprinkles) - Location: Marlton, NJ//Emmitsburg, MD
- Contact:
Re: HELP! KILLING MY FISH!
Take them out.
You can always return the fish to the store until you get the proper set up established, and that can take months to set up the proper environment.
You can always return the fish to the store until you get the proper set up established, and that can take months to set up the proper environment.
Two F8's, two tiny fantails and a pleco call me mommy.
-
edmlfc1
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 2011
- Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 5:03 pm
- My Puffers: Elvis (Stars & Stripes) R.I.P. 9/11/11
125G:Fahaka (Annabelle) - Location (country): U.S.A.
- Location: Texas
Re: HELP! KILLING MY FISH!
I agree.Christemo wrote:Take them out.
You can always return the fish to the store until you get the proper set up established, and that can take months to set up the proper environment.
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/
-
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: HELP! KILLING MY FISH!
Uh, she said the guppies were dead. Take them out, but don't take them back to the store.
No matter how magnificent your successes or devastating your failures, the worlds' approximately 5 billion impoverished people could not possibly care less.
-
define999
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 91
- Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2008 11:52 am
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: 1 GSP
3 mono's - Location (country): USA
Re: HELP! KILLING MY FISH!
Im sorry Boxxy, but im afraid they are right. Unfortunatly the majority of fish store workers dont know crap about these fish. THey arnt really community fish, they need special water parameters, even a 10 gallon would be to small..... I had mine in the begining in a 10 gallon, but she was by herself. Also you need to read that article about puffer care..... Maybe you could upgrade to a 10 for now, and say bye bye to the guppies..... If not, that cute little guy or gal is going to die. Im sorry, but if you want the joy of owning this fish, certain changes must be made. The good news is its worth it Boxy, these fish are a joy! Please just upgrade your tank to a 10 gallon for now at least, and consider an upgrade in the near future. Good luck.....
-
Christemo
- Suspended
- Posts: 401
- Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2008 2:33 pm
- My Puffers: 1 GSP (RIP Puffy... we tried everything we could. :( )
2 Figure 8s (Cupcake and Sprinkles) - Location: Marlton, NJ//Emmitsburg, MD
- Contact:
Re: HELP! KILLING MY FISH!
Lol, that's what I meant. I should stop posting here when doing Social Psych homework.Nick wrote:Uh, she said the guppies were dead. Take them out, but don't take them back to the store.
Two F8's, two tiny fantails and a pleco call me mommy.
-
LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 5301
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:26 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Dwarf puffer - Thumbelina (only mine in my heart now; she lives in CT with my friend)
RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond. - Location (country): United States
- Location: Kentucky
Re: HELP! KILLING MY FISH!
The exact same thing happened to me a few days ago. The poor little guy died before I could get him back to the store. Let the owner/manager know that you were misinformed about this fish, and that customers need accurate info.
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
-
LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 5301
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:26 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Dwarf puffer - Thumbelina (only mine in my heart now; she lives in CT with my friend)
RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond. - Location (country): United States
- Location: Kentucky
Re: HELP! KILLING MY FISH!
P.S. If you got it at Wal-Mart, try to find an alternative to returning. They flush all returns.
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!