Hey.
My GSP is almost completely black and is refusing to eat. My water temp, pH and salt concentration have been constant. I saw that he has some flukes on him and i treated him for that. What else can i do to save him since he is not eaten in 4 days?
PLEASE HELP ME!!!
Sick/Stressed Puffer
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.
-
Pufferpunk
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Re: Sick/Stressed Puffer
![[welcome]](./images/smilies/welcome.gif "welcome")
Sorry your 1st post has to be a troubled one.
Please answer all the questions in detail that are listed above, in RED.
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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BugMan
- Puffer Fry
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- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Peanut (Green Spotted Puffer)
- Location (country): South Africa
Re: Sick/Stressed Puffer
Hey.
Sorry for the first post i were not thinking of all of those factors.
pH: 7.8
Ammonia: 0.0
Nitrate: 0.0
Salinity: Still fresh water as he is very small
Tank: 60 liters(15 Gallons)
Inhabitants: 1 Green spotted puffer, 4 bumblebee Gobies
Feeding: snails 2 times a week, Blood worms every day
Products used often: Aqua Chlor to remove chlorine from new water for water changes
Other products used: TetraMedica ContraSpot to treat the fluke infestation
Recent Changes: I added 2 small pieces of moss 2 weeks ago nothing afterwards
Start up of the tank: I started it and ran it fully set up with a heater and filter for 6 weeks before inserting plants and a extra 2 weeks before i inserted the fish.
Running time with fish: 6 weeks
Water changes: Every week 30% Water change
I have the suspicion that the moss is what caused the fluke infestation in my tank. Luckily the fluke infestation is treated and cured with all of the flukes KILLED!!!
About an hour ago i thought that i will try and feed Peanut (My green spotted puffer) again. And then all of a sudden he had his apatite back and ate like usual. After he ate his color returned and his florescent green spot on his head returned... And this after a full 4 day fast without even trying to eat in the last 4 days... To be honest: I am CONFUSED!!!
Could this be because of the flukes that have been killed and that has dropped off now or could there possible be some other problem?
Thank you very much!!!
Sorry for the first post i were not thinking of all of those factors.
pH: 7.8
Ammonia: 0.0
Nitrate: 0.0
Salinity: Still fresh water as he is very small
Tank: 60 liters(15 Gallons)
Inhabitants: 1 Green spotted puffer, 4 bumblebee Gobies
Feeding: snails 2 times a week, Blood worms every day
Products used often: Aqua Chlor to remove chlorine from new water for water changes
Other products used: TetraMedica ContraSpot to treat the fluke infestation
Recent Changes: I added 2 small pieces of moss 2 weeks ago nothing afterwards
Start up of the tank: I started it and ran it fully set up with a heater and filter for 6 weeks before inserting plants and a extra 2 weeks before i inserted the fish.
Running time with fish: 6 weeks
Water changes: Every week 30% Water change
I have the suspicion that the moss is what caused the fluke infestation in my tank. Luckily the fluke infestation is treated and cured with all of the flukes KILLED!!!
About an hour ago i thought that i will try and feed Peanut (My green spotted puffer) again. And then all of a sudden he had his apatite back and ate like usual. After he ate his color returned and his florescent green spot on his head returned... And this after a full 4 day fast without even trying to eat in the last 4 days... To be honest: I am CONFUSED!!!
Could this be because of the flukes that have been killed and that has dropped off now or could there possible be some other problem?
Thank you very much!!!
-
puffykid
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 537
- Joined: Mon May 30, 2011 3:16 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location (country): Madison, WI
Re: Sick/Stressed Puffer
Hi! welcome to the forum, glad you found us!
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but peanut and the others are in trouble in that tank. First the tank wasn't cycled, cycling means that you have established a colony of good bacteria inside your filter and on your decor and substrate. There are some helpful articles on that available in the library. Do you have a local fish store that you could go to tonight? Because if there is I suggest you pick up a bottle of prime. Which is a useful tool to help lock the ammonia and other toxins that are inside your tank right now that is harming the fish. Either way I suggest you do a good 60-70% water change right now to help the fish out. You read out your Ammonia and nitrate readings, what about nitrites?
Good luck!
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but peanut and the others are in trouble in that tank. First the tank wasn't cycled, cycling means that you have established a colony of good bacteria inside your filter and on your decor and substrate. There are some helpful articles on that available in the library. Do you have a local fish store that you could go to tonight? Because if there is I suggest you pick up a bottle of prime. Which is a useful tool to help lock the ammonia and other toxins that are inside your tank right now that is harming the fish. Either way I suggest you do a good 60-70% water change right now to help the fish out. You read out your Ammonia and nitrate readings, what about nitrites?
Good luck!
1 M. Turgidus - 29 gallon
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Pufferpunk
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suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: Sick/Stressed Puffer
Yes, please read the articles in our Library under Water & Filration.
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!"
-
Reaperpilot2014
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29g - 1 Figure 8 - Looking for good name ideas...
29g - Ramshorn, Marmorkreb, Cherry & Ghost Shrimp Breeder Tank
10 wonderful years with puffers! - Location (country): USA
- Location: Utah
Re: Sick/Stressed Puffer
Green Spotted Puffers are a ton of fun, so I'm sorry to hear you are having so much trouble, but happy your GSP seems to be doing better.
I'm probably preaching to the choir here, and if so please excuse, but IME a "black" green spotted puffer is generally connected directly to water quality more than stress, flukes or otherwise. Any ammonia or nitrites, as well as lack of salt, eventually lead to a black belly, and then eventually the rest of their bodies turn black as well.
Same thing as puffykid said, but your test results mentioned ammonia at 0 and nitrates at 0. Did you mean nitrites rather than nitrates? If you have 0 nitrates, there is probably something wrong with your test kit, especially with a 15 gallon holding that many fish.
Another thing that will help with your water quality is getting a big enough tank for your GSP and BB Gobies. GSPs need a minimum 30 gallon tank for themselves, and with the gobies, something closer to 50 gallons would be even better. My Green Spotted Puffers have never tolerated tankmates for long after they mature, but you could get lucky.
Please let us know if he continues to improve and best of luck!
I'm probably preaching to the choir here, and if so please excuse, but IME a "black" green spotted puffer is generally connected directly to water quality more than stress, flukes or otherwise. Any ammonia or nitrites, as well as lack of salt, eventually lead to a black belly, and then eventually the rest of their bodies turn black as well.
Same thing as puffykid said, but your test results mentioned ammonia at 0 and nitrates at 0. Did you mean nitrites rather than nitrates? If you have 0 nitrates, there is probably something wrong with your test kit, especially with a 15 gallon holding that many fish.
Another thing that will help with your water quality is getting a big enough tank for your GSP and BB Gobies. GSPs need a minimum 30 gallon tank for themselves, and with the gobies, something closer to 50 gallons would be even better. My Green Spotted Puffers have never tolerated tankmates for long after they mature, but you could get lucky.
Please let us know if he continues to improve and best of luck!
It's a crayfish! It's a snail! It's a... ah who cares?
Nom nom nom!...
Tank: 4 liter custom-shaped sphere
Contents: 1 Brainfish
Ph: 7.4
Ammonia, nitrites, nitrates: ?
Problem: Cloudy/muddy water
Can you help me?
Nom nom nom!...
Tank: 4 liter custom-shaped sphere
Contents: 1 Brainfish
Ph: 7.4
Ammonia, nitrites, nitrates: ?
Problem: Cloudy/muddy water
Can you help me?
-
BugMan
- Puffer Fry
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- My Puffers: Peanut (Green Spotted Puffer)
- Location (country): South Africa
Re: Sick/Stressed Puffer
Hey
Peanut and all the others are doing well and none of them are showing signs of stress anymore. I found that with all the other fish that I keep if you let your system run for 6 weeks and then addibg plants and 2 weeks after that adding fish you don't need to cycle your water. This is because of the chemicals in our tap water in pretoria. I have siamese fighters that is living in a tank that were sterted in exactly the same way and they are living in that tank for 3 years. I founf that if I cycle the water the fish doesn't stay alive for longer than a month. This is how I start all my tanks and I never had any problems.
I do have a 40 gallon tank that I will start up later on as soon as Peanut is a bit bigger... He is only 3.5 cm now so he is very small and should be fine for now in the 15 gallon tank.
Thank you for all the advise...
Peanut and all the others are doing well and none of them are showing signs of stress anymore. I found that with all the other fish that I keep if you let your system run for 6 weeks and then addibg plants and 2 weeks after that adding fish you don't need to cycle your water. This is because of the chemicals in our tap water in pretoria. I have siamese fighters that is living in a tank that were sterted in exactly the same way and they are living in that tank for 3 years. I founf that if I cycle the water the fish doesn't stay alive for longer than a month. This is how I start all my tanks and I never had any problems.
I do have a 40 gallon tank that I will start up later on as soon as Peanut is a bit bigger... He is only 3.5 cm now so he is very small and should be fine for now in the 15 gallon tank.
Thank you for all the advise...
-
bertie 83
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Re: Sick/Stressed Puffer
?????? sorry that doesnt sound right to me
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
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BugMan
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:39 am
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Peanut (Green Spotted Puffer)
- Location (country): South Africa
Re: Sick/Stressed Puffer
I know it sounds strange but it works for me and i never have problems.
I am not saying that cycling is wrong, i am just saying that i don't use it out of personal choice and my way have always worked perfectly for my.
I am not saying that cycling is wrong, i am just saying that i don't use it out of personal choice and my way have always worked perfectly for my.
Re: Sick/Stressed Puffer
I wouldn't suggest relying on the same treatment for siamese fighting fish working for a puffer. Siamese fighting fish can handle some really extreme conditions because of the way that they do not need to rely on their gills to breathe and have another type of specialized organ for breathing air from the surface. Puffers on the other hand absolutely need healthy gills to survive. (I'm sure there are many other reasons why puffers require much more careful treatment, such as being scaleless and having much longer life-spans than Betta Splendens.)
So basically, if there are toxic chemicals in the water from incomplete cycling, those will burn and scar the puffer's gills and wreck havoc on your attempts to otherwise keep the puff healthy. If you purchase Prime, it will help detoxify the ammonia and nitrite while you remove it with frequent water changes. There can be a lot of toxic chemicals in the water without necessarily observing such clear signs of stress as a blackened body, but those water conditions very likely cause a lot of secondary problems, even much later down the road, like parasite infestation and bacterial infections.
It may not look as harmful as big gross flukes, but is probably more dangerous for the puffer. Just a bit of warning! : )
So basically, if there are toxic chemicals in the water from incomplete cycling, those will burn and scar the puffer's gills and wreck havoc on your attempts to otherwise keep the puff healthy. If you purchase Prime, it will help detoxify the ammonia and nitrite while you remove it with frequent water changes. There can be a lot of toxic chemicals in the water without necessarily observing such clear signs of stress as a blackened body, but those water conditions very likely cause a lot of secondary problems, even much later down the road, like parasite infestation and bacterial infections.
It may not look as harmful as big gross flukes, but is probably more dangerous for the puffer. Just a bit of warning! : )
-
BugMan
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:39 am
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Peanut (Green Spotted Puffer)
- Location (country): South Africa
Re: Sick/Stressed Puffer
Thank you for the warning...
I took some water from peanuts tank to a pet shop near me that tests it for you for free and they said that my water is perfect and there are no harmful chemicals in it. So the only factor that could have caused his stress is the flukes, but like i said they are DEAD now and there is nothing to worry about.
Thank you for all of your advice...
I took some water from peanuts tank to a pet shop near me that tests it for you for free and they said that my water is perfect and there are no harmful chemicals in it. So the only factor that could have caused his stress is the flukes, but like i said they are DEAD now and there is nothing to worry about.
Thank you for all of your advice...
-
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: Sick/Stressed Puffer
You still need to seriously consider an upgrade:
library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... roviridis/
library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... roviridis/
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!"
-
BugMan
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:39 am
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Peanut (Green Spotted Puffer)
- Location (country): South Africa
Re: Sick/Stressed Puffer
I will definitely upgrade to my 40 gallon tank for Peanut alone. But i have for now removed 2 of the gobies... I placed them into my 10 gallon tank along with my 3 guppies...
But Thank you for all your advice I really appreciate it. It has helped me a lot and will only benefit Peanut.
But Thank you for all your advice I really appreciate it. It has helped me a lot and will only benefit Peanut.