Sick GSP's?
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.
Sick GSP's?
Hey again everyone. Ya the energy level of my little guys have gone down significantly over the past 3 days. Their color is darker a majority of the time and their bellies are seldom white. One didnt eat today and hes been clinging to the filter for several hours and when I move him he just goes and lays on the ground. The other guys are way more mellow too, still eating but spending a lot of time in the corners of the tank. Ammonia is 0, nitrates are 5, SG is 1.011. Ive had em for about a month and the tank was fully cycled before they moved in. Also i did about a 20% water change yesterday and that didnt help. Any advice?
Re: Sick GSP's?
Also they look like they're panting heavily.... thanks
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bigfatfish
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 938
- Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2009 3:33 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: GSP "Puffy" RIP old friend 1999-2009
GSPs "Flash" & "Lionel" - in a 55 UK Gallon Bow front Marine Tank with sump. - Location (country): United Kingdom
- Location: Devon, UK
Re: Sick GSP's?
Is there much water movement. Perhaps an airstone or 2 would help with their breathing?
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lesleyanndunn
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 542
- Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 3:34 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: one fahaka ~ *Abe*
one palembang ~ *Spud*
one fahaka ~ *Kruger* (RIP) :(
also kept: DP's, GSP'S, and BBG's - Location (country): Bangor, UK
- Location: bangor, NI, UK
Re: Sick GSP's?
im not an expert by any means
but do know you would need to answer the questions in red in fill
ie what size of tank, how you cycled and raised salinity, proper test readings, ie nitrite, water conditioner and type of salt etc?
how many gsps do you have?
they do sound like sick little guys
hope you get some advice soon
but do know you would need to answer the questions in red in fill
ie what size of tank, how you cycled and raised salinity, proper test readings, ie nitrite, water conditioner and type of salt etc?
how many gsps do you have?
they do sound like sick little guys
hope you get some advice soon
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pufferpuggirl
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 3979
- Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 3:04 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffs & Stuff:
1 x M Abei
1 x M Turgidus
1 x T Palembangensis
1 x M Baileyii
1 x T Schoutedeni
1 x T Leiurus
1 x T Miurus
Rainbow crab
crayfish - Location (country): Yorkshire, GB
- Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Re: Sick GSP's?
Yes, I have to agree with Lesley. I was curious how big your tank is myself .... and you didn't mention your nitrite reading, which is just as important as the ammonia reading.
So if you can give us more information, we may be able to help you.
So if you can give us more information, we may be able to help you.
"Puffer .... man's best friend?"
Re: Sick GSP's?
Sorry guys im new. my nitrites are 0 as well. I have 3gsps almost 2 inches in a 45 gal. my water temp is 78F and i have fantastic water movement. I cycled this tank with bacteria from a tank i know to be healthy. Ive raised the salinity by .002 over the past few weeks to get to where i am now. I use marine salt and Prime water conditioner.
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lesleyanndunn
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 542
- Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 3:34 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: one fahaka ~ *Abe*
one palembang ~ *Spud*
one fahaka ~ *Kruger* (RIP) :(
also kept: DP's, GSP'S, and BBG's - Location (country): Bangor, UK
- Location: bangor, NI, UK
Re: Sick GSP's?
your tank does sound cycled looking over your past posts.
tho your tank is small for 3 gsps
what kind of test kit are you using? just to make sure your params are correct
tho your tank is small for 3 gsps
what kind of test kit are you using? just to make sure your params are correct
Re: Sick GSP's?
Im positive my water parameters are fine, I have a refractometer and test strips and im anal about checking that stuff 3 times a day. I know 45 is small but as soon as they get about 3 inches i was gonna move em to a 120. They're still juvies so im sure they are ok in the 45 right now and they are by no means aggressive... and I actually think 2 are in love, they sleep next to each other and cuddle a lot. Im starting to get some action out of them but not like they were last week. I dont know what their deal is?
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pufferpuggirl
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 3979
- Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 3:04 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffs & Stuff:
1 x M Abei
1 x M Turgidus
1 x T Palembangensis
1 x M Baileyii
1 x T Schoutedeni
1 x T Leiurus
1 x T Miurus
Rainbow crab
crayfish - Location (country): Yorkshire, GB
- Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Re: Sick GSP's?
You really should get yourself a good test kit (API is a very good one) that uses water in test tubes NOT test strips. Test strips can give incorrect readings and I doubt you are getting the true state of how things are using them. Ditch the strips and get a good kit, you will be doing yourself a big favour.
"Puffer .... man's best friend?"
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lesleyanndunn
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 542
- Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 3:34 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: one fahaka ~ *Abe*
one palembang ~ *Spud*
one fahaka ~ *Kruger* (RIP) :(
also kept: DP's, GSP'S, and BBG's - Location (country): Bangor, UK
- Location: bangor, NI, UK
Re: Sick GSP's?
yea like i say im no expert, but does sound like water quality to me.
try a larger WC, and see any improvement?
I know how you feel, when I had my first wee fahaka, I was paranoid about water params and quality etc
But liquid tests by API would be so much accurate.
Even tho your little guys are small, could be putting more waste than you think.
How often and how much of a WC do you do on a regular basis?
try a larger WC, and see any improvement?
I know how you feel, when I had my first wee fahaka, I was paranoid about water params and quality etc
But liquid tests by API would be so much accurate.
Even tho your little guys are small, could be putting more waste than you think.
How often and how much of a WC do you do on a regular basis?
Re: Sick GSP's?
Awesome thank u guys! I will make the switch asap. I usually change around 30-40% every weekend.
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lesleyanndunn
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 542
- Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 3:34 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: one fahaka ~ *Abe*
one palembang ~ *Spud*
one fahaka ~ *Kruger* (RIP) :(
also kept: DP's, GSP'S, and BBG's - Location (country): Bangor, UK
- Location: bangor, NI, UK
Re: Sick GSP's?
your water changes sound ok.
some others do larger, some do 40% as well
i have one gsp in a 40g with 3 bbgs, i do 2 wc's a week, a smaller one to remove poo etc and then a larger one at weekend to remove poo, shells and renew the water.
hope they pick up and you get some more advice from others...
some others do larger, some do 40% as well
i have one gsp in a 40g with 3 bbgs, i do 2 wc's a week, a smaller one to remove poo etc and then a larger one at weekend to remove poo, shells and renew the water.
hope they pick up and you get some more advice from others...
Re: Sick GSP's?
Holy walrus never ever will I use test strips again, i went to PS to buy a test kit and i brought my water in for them to test it and my nitrites came back 10+ and my nitrates at 10+!!!!! The strips said 0 on the nitrites and 5 on the nitrates! WC and lots of Prime about to happen right now... any other advice?
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pufferpuggirl
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 3979
- Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 3:04 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffs & Stuff:
1 x M Abei
1 x M Turgidus
1 x T Palembangensis
1 x M Baileyii
1 x T Schoutedeni
1 x T Leiurus
1 x T Miurus
Rainbow crab
crayfish - Location (country): Yorkshire, GB
- Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Re: Sick GSP's?
See, that's what I was afraid of. Test strips make you think things are fine when they aren't, besides not giving you numbers to follow. Glad you got your water tested and have got the better test kit now. Best thing you can do is 50% water changes weekly and try to get out any leftover food as soon as possible, as that can be the cause of high nitrites too.
"Puffer .... man's best friend?"
Re: Sick GSP's?
thank u guys so much u prolly saved my little guys again! im doing a wc right now ill keep ya posted!