Worried about my GSP!

[Momolicious]

Hi! I'm pretty new to this forum and having Puffers in general, so forgive me if I sound a bit clueless.

I own two Green Spotted Puffers, named Ogre and Gir, that can't be more than 6 months old, and live together in a 10 gal tank. I'm quite honestly not sure about the parameters (I only own a hydrometer, and the sg levels are so low it doesn't even show up...I guess my fear of adding too much salt has kept me from successfully gradually turning the tank into brackish water), but as far as I can tell, they've been living in the current conditions quite well. However, the last couple of days I've been noticing that my smaller GSP, Gir, as been acting a bit strange. He's not as energetic as normal, he seems to be moving is gills more vigorously than he normally does, and I'm not sure he's eating. Since Ogre is slightly bigger, I figured he was being a pig and taking all the food (which is dried bloodworms) before Gir could eat, but I actually took the time to let Gir eat out of my fingers. Instead of sucking it up like nothing, he slowly nibbled at it, spitting out little bits. His stomach is a bit flat right now.

Could this be parasites? I did get them from Walmart, but it was months ago and they've been fine until now. I cleaned the tank up a bit about a week ago, doing a small water change and cleaning the algae. However I would think if it was something with the tank, my other GSP would be affected as well, but he's as healthy as ever.

What do you guys think? All suggestions welcomed, because even though I love them to death, I'm sure my care for these fish can be improved.

Thanks

[edmlfc1]

First: Welcome to the forum, you have come to the right place.
Second: I cannot stress how important test kits are. You really need to get your water tested immediately. This will give us an idea about what is going on your tank.
Third: Have you read the articles in the library about GSP's? If not please read them it will greatly help you.
There is also a feeding article and IP article in the library that will help you.
Fourth: Get a hydrometer that starts at 1.000, I'm guess the one you have starts at 1.012. I made the same mistake.

When you said you cleaned up the tank a bit, excatly what do you mean? I ask because I do 50% water changes each week on my puffer tank. Although I once took everything out of the tank, rinsed the gravel, cleaned the glass, then put my fish back in and they all started to die. This was many years ago, when I thought that was how you cleaned a tank. Please explain.

[edmlfc1]

I cleaned the tank up a bit about a week ago, doing a small water change and cleaning the algae.

I just re-read your post. You will need to do large water changes on the tank. Something like 75% every few days. I believe you have amm., nitrite or high nitrate, possibly all three. This will kill your fish, all are posion to puffers.
Any amount of amm. and nitrite are toxic, high levels of nitrate are toxic. If you know someone that has test kits or if you can run to the lfs and grab some test kits please do so. Then post your levels here.

[Troender]

If you buy test kits, stay away from those strips. They are useless. Liquid tests is what you need.

[LilGreenPuffer]

You can usually get the fish store to test your water for you, if you can't get ahold of liquid kits right now. Ask them for the exact numbers.

[Momolicious]

Do they have test kits at Petsmart? It's just about the only petstore around my house. I'll make sure to buy one today, along with some anti-parasite food, just in case. I think he might be getting worse! I'll hurry! Thanks so much for the help, and I'll also keep the 'no full tank cleaning' tip in mind, since I was considering doing that

[LilGreenPuffer]

You can certainly clean the entire tank, but you can't *wash* it. You can wipe down the sides with a Mag-Float or other algae scrubber and siphon the gravel. Just don't take it out and wash it.

Whether or not you can get the test kit depends on your store. Be sure that you get tests for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates, as well as ph and high-range ph.

[Myaj]

Exactly, don't ever scrub your glass, wash the gravel, change out the filter media, etc all at the same time.

When in doubt, clean water is always a good idea. If you haven't done any water changes recently (take some water out and replace with clean) do a few small ones each day over the next few days (only a gallon or so). Most of us change out 50% of our water each day, and thats in a tank that isn't overstocked.

GSP's are tough little fish, but they can't handle dirty water or ammonia, and by "cleaning" the tank about a week ago, you might have disrupted the biological system and they're being burned by ammonia a bit. Doing the water changes will help dilute any toxins in the water, and if the water IS fine, at least you're not wasting money on useless medications or anything, water is cheap

[Momolicious]

RIP Gir, he didn't make it

I wasn't able to do anything yesterday but try to feed him again since I was busy with my Graduation, but when I woke up today and saw he was really sluggish, I rushed to the store and bought Jungle Anti-Parasite Medicated Fish Food, a nitrite tester, and Jungle Ammonia Clear tablets. However, I guess I wasn't quick enough.

So now the rest is kind of like CSI work. I tested the water for nitrites and it came out as 0, I put a Ammonia Clear tablet in my tank (they didn't have the testers in), and I TRIED to give my surviving fish the medicated food just in case, however he's not taking it, even after I tried soaking it in garlic like it says to on greenspottedpuffer.net

So yeah. Kind of a sucky day, and I'm a bit worried for my other puffer. However, he seems to be pretty healthy.

[Christemo]

With a 10 gallon tank, I would do a 75% change at least once a day.

[Myaj]

And a correction to above, I meant to say we do 50% changes once a week, not once a day

Sorry to hear you lost the one, good luck with the other.

[LilGreenPuffer]

RIP Gir, he didn't make it

I wasn't able to do anything yesterday but try to feed him again since I was busy with my Graduation, but when I woke up today and saw he was really sluggish, I rushed to the store and bought Jungle Anti-Parasite Medicated Fish Food, a nitrite tester, and Jungle Ammonia Clear tablets. However, I guess I wasn't quick enough.

So now the rest is kind of like CSI work. I tested the water for nitrites and it came out as 0, I put a Ammonia Clear tablet in my tank (they didn't have the testers in), and I TRIED to give my surviving fish the medicated food just in case, however he's not taking it, even after I tried soaking it in garlic like it says to on greenspottedpuffer.net

So yeah. Kind of a sucky day, and I'm a bit worried for my other puffer. However, he seems to be pretty healthy.

They're not likely to eat the medicated food - mine didn't. Try getting Parasite Gaurd. It's the same brand, but it's a powder that you add to the water. It's not the greatest solution, but it worked fine for me. You can also soak their food in the medicated water before feeding, which is helpful.