Whats Wrong?!?

Courtney · Post by **Courtney** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:44 am

My GSP's are acting weird, they are not their normal color, and they stay hidden under the filter
29 Gallon
SG 1.017
NirIte - 0
NirAte - 5
Ammonia - 0
pH - 8.0

What could be the matter, the only other fish with them is a Knight Goby and he acts normal...

Thanks

Jayhawk · Post by **Jayhawk** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 2:19 am

I had a knight goby for a short period of time, and he was really aggressive to my figure 8 around feeding time - aggressive enough that he went back to live at the LFS.

Have you seen any aggression that's maybe leading to your GSPs hiding a bit?

Also, you're going to need a bigger tank for two GSPs, and I'd think about it soon before they get stunted.

Eric

Post by **Pufferpunk** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 4:31 am

The 29g should suffice until they are around 2". Are they still eating?

Courtney · Post by **Courtney** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 2:37 am

they fought with the goby over some red wigglers today, i will give them a little bit of blood worms later/tomorrow, my mom said she gave them some snails, so they are doing better, they are out and about now, since i added more salt to the tank before i posted the first message, maybe the SG was too low at first?

YBeNormal · Post by **YBeNormal** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 3:01 am

At 1.017 you are .001 short of what is typically considered to be the low end of full SW. Are these adult GSPs?

Courtney · Post by **Courtney** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 3:03 am

nope they are not adults yet

Phaedrus · Post by **Phaedrus** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 3:59 am

how big are they and how long have you had them?

If they are still juvenile, the salinity may be a bit high for them.

See here: http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/ ... togsp.html

Specifically:

Cycling, Specific Gravity, Acclimating
I suggest keeping GSPs at low-end BW when juvenile <2â€?, (in a specific gravity, or SG of 1.005-0, at 2-4â€?, medium BW (SG 1.010-15) and adult >4â€? SW (SG 1.018-22). You must use marine salt. You will need a hydrometer to measure the salinity. It takes a cup of salt/5 gal of water to raise the SG .005. If the puffer you purchase is in FW at the store, then you should start out your tank in FW and raise the SG .002/week, until you reach the desired SG. This is so you donâ€™t destroy the good nitrifying bacteria as you add salt. SW bacteria are different than FW, so you need time for the SW bacteria to develop as the FW bacteria dies off slowly. If the store keeps their puffers in BW (congratulations, youâ€™ve found a store that really cares about their fish), cycle your tank at whatever SG the puffers are living in at the store. If you already have an established BW tank and are buying a puffer kept in FW at the store, you need to acclimate it very slowly. Whenever I change a fish over from FW-BW, BW-SW, or visa-versa, I use a drip system. I put the fish in a bucket below the tank I will be moving it into, covered by water from the tank the puffers were living in, about 1" over its head. I tie a knot in an air hose until it drips enough water into the bucket to raise or lower the SG in the bucket .001/hour.

YBeNormal · Post by **YBeNormal** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 4:23 am

I was going to suggest the same thing. IME, GSPs will change color for several reasons including illness, stress, resting, rapid changes in tank temp/decor/water parameters or poor water quality. I can make mine turn gray within minutes by teasing them with food. They turn white again as soon as I drop the food into the tank. I was most concerned by the comment that your GSPs were hiding under the filter though.

How long have you had the GSPs and over what period of time was the SG raised to this level? Are you using a hydrometer or refractometer to measure the SG of water when you do water changes? Have you made any major changes to the tank or your feeding regimen lately?

I do hope that you have planned for at least a 55g tank in the very near future. GSPs grow very fast and are easily stunted.

Courtney · Post by **Courtney** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 2:08 pm

I usually just feed them whenever they dont have a set time, and my water from tap is zero, so i add wated and then add salt ( dissolved of course) and raise my SG back and they are usually fine i have had them about 3 months now.. i think maybe a little longer.. i will see if i can see how long they are...

Tihsho · Post by **Tihsho** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 10:08 pm

Sounds like an aggression issue. Knight gobies are pretty violent and can be chasey. IME keeping a trio of knights (1:2, M:F ratio) limits aggression to other species.

Courtney · Post by **Courtney** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:20 am

my GSP's are about 2 inches long, yea the goby chases them for eating what he thinks is his food... but they all get enough food, they seem to be doing alot better...

Post by **Pufferpunk** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 1:09 pm

How do you measure the SG? Is it consistant with every water change? I'd lower it a bit, to around 1.012. You'll save $$$ on salt for weekly 50% water changes. I'd also start saving for a larger tank.

Tihsho · Post by **Tihsho** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:48 pm

I'd look into uping your tank to about a 55 atleast, or preferably a 55 long (more floor space) if you have a place to keep it.

Courtney · Post by **Courtney** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 7:50 pm

I have a SG measuring thing i bought at pet land, they like alot of salt, i dont have any where for a bigger tank my dad would shoot me if i bought another tank

YBeNormal · Post by **YBeNormal** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:08 pm

Hmmm... That's a bit of a problem since you mentioned GSPs (as in more than one) and a 29g tank. That tank is only large enough for one GSPs long-term. Any chance you can take the extra(s) back to the store for credit?

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