Hi everyone,
I did have 4 GSPs, I am now down to 2 and very upset because I don't understand why 2 of them died. They are in a 120 gallon tank with appropriate filter and heater. I have had them since the beginning of December I believe. They were about 1.5 inches. They are now about 2.5, maybe 3 inches. The first death was a few weeks ago. The second death was the other day.
pH: 7.8-8.0
Nitrate: 0-5.0
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
SG: 1.014
They are fed once a day, generally shrimp, scallops, crab legs, crickets, snails. I try and do one day off from feeding. I do a 50% water change weekly and use Aqueon water conditioner and Instant Ocean Sea Salt. I used BioSpira for cycling. The tank has been set up for about 3 months now.
I was not around for the first death, just my boyfriend was so I don't know what kind of symptoms were there. My smallest and favorite GSP that died the other day was found looking dead in the tank. My boyfriend moved him back and forth to try and get some water throw his gills and mouth. He then transferred him to FW and he came back to us. After researching on a few websites about puffers, I decided that we should give a low dose of Maracyn 2, we put some in the main tank as well for the others. Our little guy was looking good, swimming around, color pretty good and then when we checked on him the next day he was gone. In general none of my GSPs have ever been bright green like I see with everyone elses. I know they can change color based on mood and what not and color is dependent on each GSP. My GSPs are like olive green or like a camouflage green color. Bellies are always white, sometimes a little grey on the side indicating a stress line? They do a lot of glass surfing, why is that? The tank is set up nicely and I try and move things around to give them some variation. I am not sure what is considered normal respiration for them. The one GSP that just passed was opening and closing his mouth a lot. What does that mean? What are the gills suppose to look like for normal respiration? I feel like my GSPs breathe heavier. I should also mention that I should have perhaps seen something like this coming. They used to eat like little pigs. About a month or so ago their appetites went down a lot. Their teeth are fine, I have checked on many occasions. They are pretty active I would say. So here I will list the symptoms or behaviors I’ve noticed within the last month.
1. Decreased appetite
2. Color is dull (but perhaps it has always been this way, like I said it was never bright green)
3. Heavier breathing?
4. Glass surfing (I think they have always done this)
So what could be killing my GSPs if the water parameters seem appropriate? Is it some sort of internal infection or dropsy? Should I continue with Maracyn 2 or use something else. Please help, I want to save the other guys!
what is wrong with my GSPs???
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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sgtmyers88
- Moderator
- Posts: 1296
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2012 12:37 am
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Green Spotted Puffers
- Location (country): USA
- Contact:
Re: what is wrong with my GSPs???
I am so sorry for your losses. If they are getting really skinny and refuse to eat it is more than likely internal parasites. I would definitely start soaking food in some diluted anti-parasite medication and garlic guard and feed them that for a few days.
WARNING: Puffers are mischievous little blimps with enchanting powers. You may not be content with having just one.
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bertie 83
- Moderator
- Posts: 5298
- Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis - Location (country): Brighton, England
- Location: brighton , england
Re: what is wrong with my GSPs???
+1
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
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Nuclear_Glitter
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 971
- Joined: Sun May 29, 2011 1:03 am
- Gender: Female
- Location (country): North Carolina, USA
- Location: North Carolina, USA
Re: what is wrong with my GSPs???
What sort of test kit are you using in your water? Also, what's your SG, and what are you using to measure it? Are there any other tankmates?
"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." -- Henry Ford