gsp bruised belly?

[shadowghoul7]

okay so i got two gsps and they seem fine and healthy, but ive noticed some darkening on their belly. its blackish in color and looks alot like a bruise. also one of them is alot brighter on the top than the other gsp. is there something wrong? plus i was wondering if angelfish can coexist with gsp's in a 55 gallon.

[bigfatfish]

From time to time, the colour on their abdomens can change to grey. It can be whilst sleeping, hunting OR because they are unwell. You need to answer the questions in red about the water/tank conditions, so that the experts can help you.

[pufferpuggirl]

Bigfatfish is right, their bellies can change colour for a number of reasons. While it usually means they aren't well, I don't believe that is always the case. Don't worry about it, you will notice that it will disappear and reappear at times.

As for keeping Angels with your GSP's, I believe that Angel fish require a much higher temperature than GSP's and not only that, but I didn't think Angels were brackish? I'm not very experienced with Angel fish, but a friend of mine is, and so I am only going by things I've heard him say. I could be wrong, but I thought the Angels needed a fairly high temperature.

[LilGreenPuffer]

Angels won't do well at all with GSPs. They'll be shredded, and besides that, they are freshwater, not brackish.

[Pufferpunk]

Just to be sure it isn't poor water quality causing this, please post the water parameters: ammonia/nitrite/nitrate.

[shadowghoul7]

thnx u guys, i think the water quality may not be up to par. i put my puffers in water that have been salted with aquarium salt and not marine salt. that may be he problem. they are bruised up sometimes but perfectly fine the next day. i got them from walmart by the way but they seem fine. the pet stores near me such as kahoots, petco, and petsmart do not sell any type of puffers which is why i bought mine from walmart. also, what is the life expectancy of puffers in freshwater aquarium with aquarium salt???

[Pufferpunk]

Why do you ask? It's just as easy to add marine salt & do it properly. At that point, they can live into their teens. Have you tested the water? Please read the GSP article in our Library & also the cycling articles.

[pufferpuggirl]

thnx u guys, i think the water quality may not be up to par. i put my puffers in water that have been salted with aquarium salt and not marine salt. that may be he problem. they are bruised up sometimes but perfectly fine the next day. i got them from walmart by the way but they seem fine. the pet stores near me such as kahoots, petco, and petsmart do not sell any type of puffers which is why i bought mine from walmart. also, what is the life expectancy of puffers in freshwater aquarium with aquarium salt???

It really would not be fair to keep them in freshwater with aquarium salt, since the aquarium salt isn't doing the job that the marine salt would do. You can get a box of marine salt fairly cheaply these days. Your puffers will be much happier and they will live longer -- and it really is the right thing to do.

[Pufferpunk]

Also, I'm sorry if this has been answered before but what size tank are they in & how was it cycled? Please post parameters, so we can help further.

[shadowghoul7]

not sure about the pH n such but i got two 2 inch gsps in a 10 gallon with little plants and no grave. i am planning to move tem into my 55 gallon with sand as a substrate. i heard that gsps need 30 gallons a piece but come on, das bs cuz very few actually grow to the full 6 inches that have been "reported" i love puffers but i want them to coexist with other fish. any tips on tankmates???

[trekenk]

Hey shadowghoul7 their dark belly is more then likely a sign of stress as a 10 gallon tank is much to small for two GSP. It is just to much bio load and they are being poisoned by their own wasted. Great idea to move them ASAP to that 55 gallon tank of yours. Yes they do grow to the full 6 inches I have a few clients that have them that big, so tankmates in the 55 gallon is not a good idea, also plan on full marine conditions as they get older. Good luck with them, treat these guys right and they will give you many many years of enjoyment.
Would it be at all possible that if you can't provide for what they need to return them ?????

[Pufferpunk]

There is absolutely no reason at all that if properly housed & fed, any GSP shouldn't grow to it's adult size of 6". Unfortunately, most folks don't do either & their fish wind up stunted & short lived. Your choice but remember this is a wild-caught fish that was perfectly happy living it's life out there & now it's in your tank & it's your responsibility to care for this living being.

[Dadof4]

The "bruising" you are seeing isn't a bruise at all. It is stress marks. Puffers become dark for a few reasons and stress is the major reason. If you ask around this site there are quite a few people that have full grown roughly 6" GSP living in full marine tanks. The reason you may not have seen them get to this size is that they were kept in the incorrect conditions and they died a very young age. They really do require a 30 gallon tank at minimum for one fish to do well, these are very messy eating fish with high waste production so they need the large size to dilute the waste, and also need filtration equal to 10x the tank volume.

Tank mates...those are at your own risk but I wouldn't do it. Multiple reasons: 1. GSP's need brackish water not fresh with aquarium salt, most other fish you find in a pet store are not brackish fish. 2. GSP's are fin nippers and there is thought that fin/scales are part of their diet in the wild. 3. They are piscavorus fish, other fish are on their menu. 4. they can be mighty territorial and attack for no reason.