i just recently bought a new gsp
he's in a thirty gallon
0 nitrite <10 nitrate 0 ammonia
the fish store had had him for a while. but ever since i got him he seems to be losing weight which i find odd because he eats like a champion. he's on frozen blood worms and brine shrimp along with snails of course. my last gsp was getting thinner. i originally suspected internal parasites. then suddenly he had what seemed like trapped air. then he started acting dead. and i did everything i could but the little guy didnt make it. i had my water tested, it good. any ideas why the new one is losing weight?i dont want him to end up like the last one:o
gsp losing weight?
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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poopybarkflounder
- Dwarf Puffer
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JRC3
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F8 (46g)
4-DP(29g) - Location (country): U.S.
- Location: S.W. OH
Re: gsp losing weight?
Do you have you own water test kit? It is VERY important if you are having any problems.poopybarkflounder wrote:i just recently bought a new gsp
he's in a thirty gallon
0 nitrite <10 nitrate 0 ammonia
the fish store had had him for a while. but ever since i got him he seems to be losing weight which i find odd because he eats like a champion. he's on frozen blood worms and brine shrimp along with snails of course. my last gsp was getting thinner. i originally suspected internal parasites. then suddenly he had what seemed like trapped air. then he started acting dead. and i did everything i could but the little guy didnt make it. i had my water tested, it good. any ideas why the new one is losing weight?i dont want him to end up like the last one:o
Also try some fresh seafood from the store; mussels, shrimp, crab, etc.
There are many knowledgeable fish keepers on this forum willing to help and give great advice...The advice is free; What you choose to do with it gives it value.
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Dadof4
- Tech Team
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- 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: gsp losing weight?
How big is he and what is your SG? As GSP's get bigger they need a heavier diet but less often, trying frozen thawed seafood is a good idea. After you feed him how long does he hold his round shape?
"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."
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poopybarkflounder
- Dwarf Puffer
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Re: gsp losing weight?
okay thanks. and yeah i have my water test kit.
and is it possible the snails im feeding him could be causing problems?
and is it possible the snails im feeding him could be causing problems?
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RTR
- Mentor
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Re: gsp losing weight?
Frozen brine shrimp are a great appetite stimulant but all but worthless as a staple food. Frozen bloodworms are decent food, but not sufficient for a hefty fish such as a GSP. Unless the majority of its diet is well-nourished snails, the fish is not getting enough or the right things to eat.
Basically a big ditto to Dadof4's comments..
Basically a big ditto to Dadof4's comments..
Where's the fish? - Neptune
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antlen
- Puffer Fry
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- Location: palermo
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Re: gsp losing weight?
trying frozen food is a good idea.
http://www.youtube.com/user/antlen91?feature=mhum my channel
Antonio Lentini
Antonio Lentini
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poopybarkflounder
- Dwarf Puffer
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Re: gsp losing weight?
probably a dumb question but i just want to make sure. for frozen meatier foods such as shrimp and prawn, do i cook it first? or is raw good?
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
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T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
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Re: gsp losing weight?
Raw & soaked in fish vitamins.
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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purplecandle
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Re: gsp losing weight?
Raw = more nutrition..
Besides..puffers hate the lemon butter sauces we put on seafood
Besides..puffers hate the lemon butter sauces we put on seafood
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poopybarkflounder
- Dwarf Puffer
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Re: gsp losing weight?
haha okay, ill say the buttersauce for myself(;
any specific brand of vitamins?
any specific brand of vitamins?
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
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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: gsp losing weight?
I like Zoe or Vita-Chem.
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!"
-
poopybarkflounder
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Fri Jul 30, 2010 2:09 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: GSP
- Location (country): united states
Re: gsp losing weight?
okay thanks(:
should he gain weight quickly? or will it be a slow gain? i just dont want to bee really paranoid if he looks the same for a while.
should he gain weight quickly? or will it be a slow gain? i just dont want to bee really paranoid if he looks the same for a while.
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purplecandle
- Mbu Puffer
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- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Currently
2 Adult Green Spotted Puffers
1 Fangs Puffer
1 Baby Green Spotted Puffer - Location (country): USA (NC)
Re: gsp losing weight?
From my experience it takes a month for an emaciated (really skinny) puffer to get to a decent weight...so somewhere in that time frame..
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poopybarkflounder
- Dwarf Puffer
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Re: gsp losing weight?
okay thank you(:
ill keep my eye on him to make sure he does lose any more weight.
ill keep my eye on him to make sure he does lose any more weight.