Urgent! Need help with my GSP

[musicluver592]

Hey Guys and Gals,

I recently took on the challenge of keeping a Green Spotted Puffer and have been in for quite the ride. I unfortunately made the impulsive buy at the local Walmart (hangs head in shame) and after doing my research like I should have before I bought him, I'm determined to do this the right way. I've only had him for approximately a week, but I'm afraid I'm loosing him! I'm sorry in advance for any frustration or irritation, I'm trying my best!

1. Ammonia level: .5 (still trying to get this down); I don't have the means to get my Nitrite/Nitrate or my pH (still getting all my supplies unfortunately) and my salinity is about 1.005 (I plan to raise this .002 per week)
2. My tank size is 10 US gallons, and other than my 1-1.5" GSP I have a 2-3" pleco.
3. As of now, the GSP has been eating ghost shrimp and frozen brine shrimp (at his leisure, and the brine shrimp twice a day). With the elevated ammonia level, I've been doing 25-30% water changes for the past 3 days. Until yesterday, I was using the API stress coat water conditioner, but started with the Prime conditioner and stability additives yesterday. I've used Instant Ocean salt.
4. I understand I'm not doing things right but I'm really trying. It's hard on this college student to monitor in between classes and trips to the fish store, I'm sorry I didn't do my research first. My fluval filter said "only for freshwater" so two days ago I bought a Marineland 150 filter for improved flow rate and to help with the ammonia level.
5. Previously, I had freshwater fish (3 red-eyed tetras and the pleco.) in the tank and had them since September, so the tank was already cycled before I added salt and the new filter. I also have a Tetra 10 gal. heater and a 10" bubble emitter (the correct term escapes me).


The GSP's symptoms are as follows:
His neon-green color has been muted to a brownish-green.
He eats sometimes, but the most recent frozen brine shrimp feeding went untouched.
He swam around the tank several times today, but mostly laid on the rocks on the bottom.
Most recently, he has been laying on the rocks, unmoving with his tail tucked around him.
I did notice there was some sort of bowel movement, but it was more of a stick protruding from the anus than anything else.
He looks to be breathing normally, and his eyes look at me when I come in for a closer look; however he does not move.

I'm wondering if it's ammonia-stress, but I've reduced the level by .5 within the last day with water changes and the Prime stability/conditioner.
My second guess would be a parasite, in which case I have no idea how to treat.

I'm really worried about the guy as well as all the money I've been spending in the last week. Any advice would be appreciated, and again, I'm very sorry if I upset or irritated anyone by my actions. Any harm to the fish was purely unintentional, and I sincerely hope to make things right. I'm in this for the long-haul and have definitely learned to ALWAYS do my research before making a purchase. Thanks again.

Braden

[trekenk]

Hi musicluver welcome to The Puffer Forum. Ammonia is really toxic to puffers so get doing some water changes., two 50% - 75% daily if you have to. Your tank is also overstocked so you might be fighting a losing battle to keep that water in tip top condition. GSP's alone need 30 gallons for a singleton. Here is a link to get your started.

library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/

How was your tank cycled?

Is his poop white and stringy? IP treatment - library/hospital/internal-parasites-pre ... treatment/

[musicluver592]

Thank you, this forum is very helpful for newbies like me!
I'll step up the water changes right away. Any tips for mixing the brackish water for replacement?
I'll have to see about getting a new home for my pleco. I suppose...
I cycled the tank with the previous freshwater fish back in September by conditioning the water and letting the filter/heater run for approximately 24 hours before slowly adding in the Red-eyed Tetras and pleco.
Now with the installation of a new filter, I used the Prime Stability as well as the Prime conditioner.

Honestly this is the first time I've seen him poop, and it was neither white nor stringy. I'll get a better look at it tonight when I get home and possibly post a picture of the situation!

[J-P]

Welcome to the forum!

Too bad it is under these circumstances.

As far as adding salt goes, you do have the correct kind. Adding too much or too little with each water change will cause it to fluctuate causing stress. That being said, the pleco won't tolerate the salt very well.

Also depending on how much salt you're adding will have an adverse effect on the biofilter. If the tank was cycled, where is the ammonia coming from? Obviously .. any plans for a larger tank?

If he looks a little bloated it could be constipation (aka what you mentioned as a stick up the rear).

Have you read the articles in the pufferpedia and the library?

ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Brackish/T_Nigroviridis/

library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/

library/puffer-care/the-story-of-puffy- ... ed-puffer/

[zookey]

If you have any ammonia showing in the tests your tank is either not cycled or is having a small cycle bump. It is hard (very hard) to re-establish a cycle when there is salt in the water. He is small enough yet to keep him in freshwater for a while. You could stop adding salt and let the tank return to freshwater until the cycle re-establishes itself and you get the 0-0-<10 readings for your test and can keep it that way for a period of time. Then slowly raise the salinity again.

You really should get a good water testing kit... I prefer the API Master kit. It will test almost everything you need it to test, and will last quite a long time.

By the way.... I don't think you are the first person (or the last) that will come here after making an impulse GSP buy. But you are on the right track coming here.... these people and this site is one of the best resources for information and knowledge you will find to help you care for your puffer.

[Blaine]

Welcome to the forum!!!

You will need to remove the pleco asap,....they will not tolerate the salinity that your puffer needs.
You will also need a larger tank asap......check local online classified ads or Craigslist.
+1 for more water changes,....you need to get that ammonia level down,...that is most likely the cause of the distress.

You might be overfeeding a little as well....never a good idea but 10x as bad in such a small tank.
(picture yourself living, eating and pooping in your bathtub and trying to survive)
A puffer that size has a stomach the size of a pea....over-feeding can lead to constipation and bowel problems as well as high levels of ammonia.

I don't suggest raising the salinity until you get a larger tank and get the ammonia levels under control. No sense making any other changes to the water until things are stable.

Keep doing water changes until the ammonia reads 0 and try to get a bigger tank as soon as you can.

HTH
Blaine

[musicluver592]

Also depending on how much salt you're adding will have an adverse effect on the biofilter. If the tank was cycled, where is the ammonia coming from? Obviously .. any plans for a larger tank?

If he looks a little bloated it could be constipation (aka what you mentioned as a stick up the rear).

I've only added a small amount of salt, but I'm sure even a little could have an effect.
I just started checking levels myself, but I had the levels checked periodically, and was told they were "fine". I'm not sure where the ammonia is coming from but I'll keep doing my best.

The absolute maximum size tank I could do here in my dorm room would be 20 gallons due to space constraints, not to mention we aren't allowed to have anything larger than a 10 gallon
Referring to the possible constipation: I just checked on him and he doesn't seem to be having that issue any longer.

He is small enough yet to keep him in freshwater for a while. You could stop adding salt and let the tank return to freshwater until the cycle re-establishes itself and you get the 0-0-<10 readings for your test and can keep it that way for a period of time. Then slowly raise the salinity again.

You really should get a good water testing kit... I prefer the API Master kit. It will test almost everything you need it to test, and will last quite a long time.

You're right, I'd say the salinity is the least of my concerns for now until he grows. Thanks for the tip on the testing kit- I'll pick one up and get back to you!

You will need to remove the pleco asap,....they will not tolerate the salinity that your puffer needs.
You will also need a larger tank asap......check local online classified ads or Craigslist.
+1 for more water changes,....you need to get that ammonia level down,...that is most likely the cause of the distress.

You might be overfeeding a little as well....never a good idea but 10x as bad in such a small tank.
(picture yourself living, eating and pooping in your bathtub and trying to survive)
A puffer that size has a stomach the size of a pea....over-feeding can lead to constipation and bowel problems as well as high levels of ammonia.

Good point Blaine! Unfortunately the classifieds for my *ahem* RURAL, school is there are very few aquatic classifieds I checked for 20 gallons back home and seemed to find a couple possible leads. I'm going home in about a week, so I could probably pick one up then!
I'm moving the pleco out right now so that should help.

I'll continue the water changes and continue monitoring the situation. Thank you all for the tips!

[drj1259]

I had the same problem with my GSP when i first got one. First off you need to get a bigger tank I had mine in a ten gallon and ended up doing 75% water changes every day and my GSP would still just lay around not being very active and ammonia would be around .5 to 1.0 but once i got it into a bigger tank within a week my GSP was alot more active and healthy so like everybody else has said already keep up with your WC so you can keep ammonia at 0 and get a larger tank to handle the bio load of your GSP