I recently purchased two 1 and a half inch GSP's from the local pet store. I have a 3 gallon tank whose only inhabitants are 2 GSP's. I’ve added the proper amount of aquarium salt and purchased a heater that is currently set at 79 F. Everything went great for the first week until I noticed white spots. The fish were scraping themselves against everything in the aquarium when they were not simply sitting on the bottom of the tank, seeming to be having difficulty breathing. I did a little research and found this to be Ich. I went out and bought "QuICK Cure" Ich treatment and followed the directions on the back. It said to add 2 drops to my tank for 3 days. After this, the fish were seeming to be a little more lively, but still had the spots and occasionally scraping themselves against stuff. I did more research and was advised to continue the treatment for 11 more days, but only add ONE drop. I did this and the fish were finally doing better butSTILLthe white spots.
2 days ago I took them off the medication and they are again sitting on the bottom with the white spots. They still come up for food with a little coaxing. They eat Freeze Dried Blood Worms and the occasional snail or 2. Does anyone have any advice? I'm not sure what to do. It hasn’t been 6 weeks so I haven’t done a water change yet. Is this the problem? Was I maybe not using the proper medication? Im running out of ideas. Any help is GREATLY appreciated.
Sick GSP. The Curse of the Incurable Ich! Help Please.
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.
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CheesePuff
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LilGreenPuffer
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- Location: Kentucky
Re: Sick GSP. The Curse of the Incurable Ich! Help Please.
Welcome to the forum! You're in the right place for help.
Okay, I think we need to start from square one here. First, your fish don't have enough space. They're probably very stressed out, and stress prevents their recovery. GSPs require a bare minimum of 30g each. Also, they are brackish fish. They require some salt in the water. I see that you have added aquarium salt. Unfortunately, this doesn't work. It is actually a medicinal salt. You will need to turn the tank brackish with marine salt. If you do this, it will actually help cure the ich. Here's an article and a species profile that you will need to read.
library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Brackish/T_Nigroviridis/
On to the ich. Changes in salinity will cure ich. However, it takes a month. This is the only way that you should ever treat ich in puffers. They are extremely sensitive to medication. The salt you are using right now is helping, but it must be coupled with water changes and thorough gravel-vaccuuming every other day for the entire month. Here's an article on treating ich.
library/hospital/fwich/
Finally, your tank is still cycling. This is extremely dangerous, and it is very stressful for the fish. This also prevents their healing. Go and do an 80% water change right now, and then read these articles. They'll help you understand what I'm talking about.
library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/
library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/
Later on, we'll need to talk about proper diet.
Here's a plan of action for you:
-Go out and purchase a bigger tank. It should be at least, say, 20g for now. You'll eventually need a minimum of 60g, but if you can't afford it now, you can go smaller for the time being.
-Also, purchase a bottle of Tetra SafeStart. This will instantly perform the cycling process.
-Finally, purchase a test kit. You need to test for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. The API Freshwater Master kit is great. Don't get the kind that is on paper strips - get bottles and test tubes.
-Once you've got the tank and cycling dealt with, we can move on to the ich treatment. You must begin raising the salinity of the water, very slowly. This salt will have the same effect as the aquarium salt mentioned in the ich treatment article. When you are ready to begin this, someone else will be able to explain it better than I. For the salinity part of our plan, you'll need a hydrometer or a refractometer, to measure the salinity, and marine salt, like you would use for salt water, like Instant Ocean.
Someone else may have a better plan than me, so wait for one of the experts to confirm this for you!
I know that this is a lot to drop on you. Believe me. I've been there. Do ALL of the reading I've provided you with.
Okay, I think we need to start from square one here. First, your fish don't have enough space. They're probably very stressed out, and stress prevents their recovery. GSPs require a bare minimum of 30g each. Also, they are brackish fish. They require some salt in the water. I see that you have added aquarium salt. Unfortunately, this doesn't work. It is actually a medicinal salt. You will need to turn the tank brackish with marine salt. If you do this, it will actually help cure the ich. Here's an article and a species profile that you will need to read.
library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Brackish/T_Nigroviridis/
On to the ich. Changes in salinity will cure ich. However, it takes a month. This is the only way that you should ever treat ich in puffers. They are extremely sensitive to medication. The salt you are using right now is helping, but it must be coupled with water changes and thorough gravel-vaccuuming every other day for the entire month. Here's an article on treating ich.
library/hospital/fwich/
Finally, your tank is still cycling. This is extremely dangerous, and it is very stressful for the fish. This also prevents their healing. Go and do an 80% water change right now, and then read these articles. They'll help you understand what I'm talking about.
library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/
library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/
Later on, we'll need to talk about proper diet.
Here's a plan of action for you:
-Go out and purchase a bigger tank. It should be at least, say, 20g for now. You'll eventually need a minimum of 60g, but if you can't afford it now, you can go smaller for the time being.
-Also, purchase a bottle of Tetra SafeStart. This will instantly perform the cycling process.
-Finally, purchase a test kit. You need to test for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. The API Freshwater Master kit is great. Don't get the kind that is on paper strips - get bottles and test tubes.
-Once you've got the tank and cycling dealt with, we can move on to the ich treatment. You must begin raising the salinity of the water, very slowly. This salt will have the same effect as the aquarium salt mentioned in the ich treatment article. When you are ready to begin this, someone else will be able to explain it better than I. For the salinity part of our plan, you'll need a hydrometer or a refractometer, to measure the salinity, and marine salt, like you would use for salt water, like Instant Ocean.
Someone else may have a better plan than me, so wait for one of the experts to confirm this for you!
I know that this is a lot to drop on you. Believe me. I've been there. Do ALL of the reading I've provided you with.
"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!
-
Bluntokian
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 125
- Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 3:31 am
- Location: NC, USA
Re: Sick GSP. The Curse of the Incurable Ich! Help Please.
Not trying to start the process, But you do know they need 30 gallons each full grown, Right?
I dont want people climbing on your back about it, Just want to make sure you know.
As for the ich, Im not comfortable with giving and opinion. Good luck though.
I dont want people climbing on your back about it, Just want to make sure you know.
As for the ich, Im not comfortable with giving and opinion. Good luck though.
Heres to you and heres to me, In hopes we never disagree, But if we do, Spit on you and heres to me.
-
LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 5301
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- 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: Sick GSP. The Curse of the Incurable Ich! Help Please.
I told her about the 30g thing. 
"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!
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
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T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
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Re: Sick GSP. The Curse of the Incurable Ich! Help Please.
Great advise, LGP! How'd you kow she was a her?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 5301
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:26 pm
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- 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: Sick GSP. The Curse of the Incurable Ich! Help Please.
She colored her text. Guys don't do that.
"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!
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32976
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: Sick GSP. The Curse of the Incurable Ich! Help Please.
Wow, you're good! Sure you're not a psych major?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
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: Sick GSP. The Curse of the Incurable Ich! Help Please.
I'm psychic.
"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!
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Dadof4
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Re: Sick GSP. The Curse of the Incurable Ich! Help Please.
Let me fix that for ya' : I'm Psychotic."LilGreenPuffer wrote:I'm psychic.
"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."
-
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: Sick GSP. The Curse of the Incurable Ich! Help Please.
That, too. 
Okay, whoops, we're hijacking the topic... Did I seriously have to tell off the queen admin and a mod for getting off-topic?
Okay, whoops, we're hijacking the topic... Did I seriously have to tell off the queen admin and a mod for getting off-topic?
"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!
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32976
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: Sick GSP. The Curse of the Incurable Ich! Help Please.
Yeah, I know but the OP disappeared...
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
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: Sick GSP. The Curse of the Incurable Ich! Help Please.
Hopefully she'll be back later today.
"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!
-
Bluntokian
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 125
- Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 3:31 am
- Location: NC, USA
Re: Sick GSP. The Curse of the Incurable Ich! Help Please.
Hopefully.
Also sorry bout that LGP, Didnt check for other posts after I posted it. Wasnt anything there before.
Also sorry bout that LGP, Didnt check for other posts after I posted it. Wasnt anything there before.
Heres to you and heres to me, In hopes we never disagree, But if we do, Spit on you and heres to me.
-
CheesePuff
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2009 8:58 pm
- My Puffers: A Green Spotted Puffer - Lola
Re: Sick GSP. The Curse of the Incurable Ich! Help Please.
Thanks to everyone for the great advice I did a water change and theyre already doing better. Im taking care of everything else tomorrow when i get make a trip to the pet store.
I did a water change and theyre already doing better. Im taking care of everything else tomorrow when i get make a trip to the pet store.-
Bluntokian
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 125
- Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 3:31 am
- Location: NC, USA
Re: Sick GSP. The Curse of the Incurable Ich! Help Please.
Cheers. Glad to hear it.CheesePuff wrote:Thanks to everyone for the great advice
Heres to you and heres to me, In hopes we never disagree, But if we do, Spit on you and heres to me.