2 new Green Spotted Puffers, one NEEDS help.

Oh no! Sick fish?! Come here and see if someone can help!
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.
Post Reply
User avatar
lepekam
Puffer Fry
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:45 pm

2 new Green Spotted Puffers, one NEEDS help.

Post by lepekam »

I recently acquired two green spotted puffers from a walmart store where they were being kept in poor conditions and were pretty much being starved. I first purchased just one because I didn't have an acquarium and I knew nothing about them. I went home and put him in a small tank that had been originally been purchased for a beta and researched and then went out and purchased the equiptment I needed, and the other gsp that they had in the tank.

The aquarium I put them in is a 30 gallon, 80 degrees F, pH 8.4 Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1 Nitrates 0 and SG 1.005 (this I worked up very slowly as they had been living in freshwater at the store)

I feed them Krill, brine shrimp, and snails.

The still healthy fish (pathetically named Puffy) is about an inch long and the sickly fish (Henrik) is about 1.5 inches.

It's had been about two weeks, and I did a fishless cycling before I first put the gsps in the tank, and everything seemed fine until Henrik started acting strangely. His stomach was appearing grey and he was barely eating.Upon closer inspection I noticed a strange spot on his head so I immediately transfered him to a 25 gallon isolation tank to protect the other pufer. His condition only seemed to get worse. This tank had pH of about 8.2, ammonia 0 nitrte 0 nitrates 0 SG 1.005. One of my friends who kept aquariums suspected ick so I researched it online and found that ick treatements were poorly tolerated on such small fish (I also couldn't find any ick treatments that didn't specify "not safe for small, weak, or scaleless fish") I raised the temperature of the tank to about 83 degrees but Henrik's condition has only deteriorated.

His stomach is almost entirely dark grey and he is sluggish and barely eats. The strange spot that I first detected is unchanged and he has other spots just like it on his chin, and sides.

He gave me a scare about an hour ago where he rose to the surface and appeared to inflate himself with air. He then stopped moving completely -- fins, gills, everything. He did this as I watched. He didn't respond to stimulus (he appeared dead, so yes I poked him) but I shortly realised that his eyes would follow my finger, although his eyes appear quite cloudy. Shortly after he stopped watching my finger and appeared dead. I left him alone and returned shortly later to find him laying on the bottom but moving again. Now he is slowly swimming around the tank. Compared to the energy he had in the first week this is so strange for Henrik,so please help! (sorry this is so long winded, but I'm worried...)

Image
Top
User avatar
Troender
Former Staff Member
Posts: 1843
Joined: Sat Nov 25, 2006 8:04 pm
Gender: Female
My Puffers: 1x GSP (Bolla), 1x m. something. Bought as a leiurus, maybe a turgidus (Tiger), 1x c. irrubesco (Tott(a) aka Houdini) 1x c. salivator (Jack the Ripper), 1x m. cochinchinensis (Hufflepuff - R.I.P.), 2x c. lorteti (Tommy and Tigern = Calvin and Hubbes), 1x m. suvatti (Koseklumpen), 1x m. palembangensis (Dragonfly), 2x t. biocellatus (Koken and Fiken).
Location: Askim, Norway

Re: 2 new Green Spotted Puffers, one NEEDS help.

Post by Troender »

There's a few things to think about here.
1. your water parameters says that the tank is still cycling. Nitrite should be at 0. And you have a nitrate at 0, which also tells me that there's something wrong with the cycle. The process in the filter when it's cycled, will give nitrates in the water. With zero, there's not anything making the nitrates.
2. With a SG at 1.005 I don't think ich can be the issue. Ich don't like/tolerate salt.
3. It could be a bacterial infection. I'm not sure though. Take a look at these pics (warning: they are really depressing). Maybe you can find some idea of what's wrong. Here are a few other good links (also very depressing):
http://www.fishforum.com/tropical-fish- ... ases-8179/
http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseas ... rders.html
http://www.carolinafishtalk.com/forum/s ... ad.php?t=3
Inger Anne
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just think how stupid the average person is, and then realize that half of them are even stupider! -George Carlin

Image
Top
User avatar
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: 2 new Green Spotted Puffers, one NEEDS help.

Post by LilGreenPuffer »

That doesn't look like ich to me. It looks like a bite or other wound that's gotten infected, probably due to poor water quality. Cloudy eyes are a sure sign of poor water quality. Get ahold of some Melafix and Pimafix, which are totally safe for scaleless fish, and treat with Melafix. If someone can tell you positively that it's a fungal infection, also treat with Pimafix. Frequent water changes will help also.

Troender - nitrites are 0. :)
"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

Image

Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!

I AM A DUDETTE!

NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Top
User avatar
Dadof4
Tech Team
Posts: 2862
Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2008 5:50 am
Gender: Male
My Puffers: 1 GSP (Microfiche) RIP, 1 Monotrete Turgidus (Leon) in a 30gal. 1 Monotrete suvattii in a 40 gal FW. 120 gallon BW with 3 juvenile Dragon Gobies (so cool). 55 gal with a 2" GSP named Hank. 180 gallon being set up for a Fahaka in the next few months!
Location (country): United States
Location: North Wisconsin

Re: 2 new Green Spotted Puffers, one NEEDS help.

Post by Dadof4 »

lepekam wrote:The aquarium I put them in is a 30 gallon, 80 degrees F, pH 8.4 Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1 Nitrates 0 and SG 1.005 (this I worked up very slowly as they had been living in freshwater at the store)

Image
I agree with Troender, your cycle is not finished or you are having a mini cycle. In the Ammonia/nitrite/nitrate cycle the Nitrites should be 0 and you should have some trace nitrates. The Nitrates are the safer end product of the breakdown of Nitrites. Showing 0 Nitrates and 1 Nitrite says that the bio-filter isn't breaking them down. Your bio-filter is starting to work though, your ammonia is being converted to Nitrite which is a good sign.

Also, the mark really does resemble a bite mark from another puffer. From the look of it it may possibly have a mild fungal infection. Do daily 50% water changes at your current SG to keep the water clear until the nitrites go down. Try to re-home one of the puffers, too (not back to Wal-mart, they just flush returned fish, try a LFS). That will help with water quality and give the remaining one the room he requires. The other option is to get a larger tank ASAP. Craigs list is an awesome place to get tanks on the cheap.

Welcome to The Puffer Forum, I'm very glad you found us. There is a wealth of information and a lot of very experienced Puffer keepers here (some over 20 years experience and some with PhD's). I'm sorry I had to bear bad news on your first post and if I seem a little harsh. We're here to help so please ask all the questions you want! We love to talk, especially about puffers..... :lol:
"Darwin swings...annnnnnd a miss. Boy Jim, Chuck's suffered at the plate tonight. He's 0 for 3 and I'm not sure he's recovered from that shoulder pull a few weeks ago. I'll bet the front office is re-thinking that contract."
Top
User avatar
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: 2 new Green Spotted Puffers, one NEEDS help.

Post by LilGreenPuffer »

Oh. I was looking at this bit... "This tank had pH of about 8.2, ammonia 0 nitrte 0 nitrates 0 SG 1.005." That was the isolation. Got it... :redface:
"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

Image

Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!

I AM A DUDETTE!

NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Top
User avatar
lepekam
Puffer Fry
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:45 pm

Re: 2 new Green Spotted Puffers, one NEEDS help.

Post by lepekam »

Thank you so much for your help. I have been doing daily water changes of 50% in both tanks and checking the water levels. Nitrite has gone down to 0 but the nitrates are still low. I'll keep checking though. When will they cycling be "complete" so to speak?

With just the water changes Henrik is looking much better, his color has improved and the spot on his head is healing. I have been turning the 25 gallon into a home for Henrik and both of them seem much happier being seperated. I haven't treated him with anything yet, being unsure what exactly to try but if he starts getting worse again I will.

Thanks again for your help.
Top
User avatar
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: 2 new Green Spotted Puffers, one NEEDS help.

Post by LilGreenPuffer »

Cycling will be complete when ammonia and nitrites are at 0. There's no exact time frame. Raising the temp helps speed things along, though.
"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

Image

Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!

I AM A DUDETTE!

NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Top
recombinantrider
Green Spotted Puffer
Posts: 386
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2008 2:34 pm
My Puffers: Tetraodon nigroviridis (GSP)
Takifugu ocellatus (Fugu puffer)
Location: Los Angeles

Re: 2 new Green Spotted Puffers, one NEEDS help.

Post by recombinantrider »

I'm glad that the spot seems better. Something to keep in mind as well is that unless you know that for sure that the fish's condition is not transmittable from tank to tank, there is a chance that you can be spreading things among the tanks by sharing siphons, nets and buckets (correct me if I'm wrong though). If you don't have separate sets of tools for different tanks, you may want to consider washing your hands and equipment thoroughly before using it on the other tank. Just a thought. Welcome to the forum!
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Hospital”