Woke up to find one of my GSPs wedged between a prefilter sponge and the glass. I thought he was dead as his color was dull and wasnt moving. Got him free and he started swimming erratic. Placed him in a QT tank and noticed his eyes are glazed over and his mouth nostrils and anus seem bloodshot or inflamed. He was in a 55 gallon with my other two GSPs and he was the dominant puffer. They all ate live ghost shrimp last night. I fear he has been poisoned somehow.Or could this be the first victim of this high nitrate water we have been living with?
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 80 (its this way from the sink too)
ph 8
Tank has been running for 8 months. Salinity 1.024
Added a capfull of melafix to QT tank. With an airpump running.
I also wanna note that I feed them bloodworms mussel and beefheart along with live shrimp and "food" shrimp. Everything is soaked in Vitachem.
He is the most active and personable puffer always doing a little dance and sticking his head out of the water while the others are a tad more shy. Whatever happened had to be late last night or early this morning.
GSP injured and blind.
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.
-
sgtmyers88
- Moderator
- Posts: 1296
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2012 12:37 am
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Green Spotted Puffers
- Location (country): USA
- Contact:
GSP injured and blind.
Last edited by sgtmyers88 on Sun Sep 02, 2012 2:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
WARNING: Puffers are mischievous little blimps with enchanting powers. You may not be content with having just one.
-
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: GSP injured and blind.
The stress combined with the high nitrates wouldn't have helped. Try mixing some ro or spring water to bring down nitrates and speed his recovery.
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
-
sgtmyers88
- Moderator
- Posts: 1296
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2012 12:37 am
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Green Spotted Puffers
- Location (country): USA
- Contact:
Re: GSP injured and blind.
I will definately have to look into getting some.
Also the puffer likes to peck at the live rock and I wonder if he got stung or poisoned by the feather duster worms that are growing on some of my live rock considering his entire face looks inflamed?
Also the puffer likes to peck at the live rock and I wonder if he got stung or poisoned by the feather duster worms that are growing on some of my live rock considering his entire face looks inflamed?
WARNING: Puffers are mischievous little blimps with enchanting powers. You may not be content with having just one.
-
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: GSP injured and blind.
Also a possibility, clean water and melafix should help
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32987
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
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 injured and blind.
Try adding vitamin C (as per my chart) to the tank.
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!"
-
sgtmyers88
- Moderator
- Posts: 1296
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2012 12:37 am
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Green Spotted Puffers
- Location (country): USA
- Contact:
Re: GSP injured and blind.
He is not gonna make it. His fins are fraying and his cloudy eyes and inflammation are getting worse despite the addition of new water and meds. He is hovering near the surface and barely fluttering. He was absoutely healthy and active at this time yesterday whatever happened to him last night it is killing him fast.
WARNING: Puffers are mischievous little blimps with enchanting powers. You may not be content with having just one.
-
sgtmyers88
- Moderator
- Posts: 1296
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2012 12:37 am
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Green Spotted Puffers
- Location (country): USA
- Contact:
Re: GSP injured and blind.
I got 20 gallons of RODI water from a LFS mixed with marine salt and switched out 15 gallons to my main tank while the rest is reserved for the QT to kick down the nitrates.
Last edited by sgtmyers88 on Sun Sep 02, 2012 7:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
WARNING: Puffers are mischievous little blimps with enchanting powers. You may not be content with having just one.
-
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: GSP injured and blind.
Have faith, it's not over til it's over, keep adding clean water. You would be surprised how resilient they can be. Good luck fella hope he makes it.
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
-
sgtmyers88
- Moderator
- Posts: 1296
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2012 12:37 am
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Green Spotted Puffers
- Location (country): USA
- Contact:
Re: GSP injured and blind.
I thought he was gone but he has become so weak that the currents from the airstone and nano filter is beating him around. He is barely breathing and it wont be long now. EDIT He is gone now. This is really upsetting he had the biggest personality and I dunno what this was that killed him so quickly. Im terrified for the others.
WARNING: Puffers are mischievous little blimps with enchanting powers. You may not be content with having just one.
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32987
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
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 injured and blind.
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!"
-
Tim
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 585
- Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2011 1:45 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location (country): Sweden
Re: GSP injured and blind.
I'm sorry for your loss.sgtmyers88 wrote:I thought he was gone but he has become so weak that the currents from the airstone and nano filter is beating him around. He is barely breathing and it wont be long now. EDIT He is gone now. This is really upsetting he had the biggest personality and I dunno what this was that killed him so quickly. Im terrified for the others.
*A wild water plant appears, Pig the Green Spotted Puffer is intimidated*
-
sgtmyers88
- Moderator
- Posts: 1296
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2012 12:37 am
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Green Spotted Puffers
- Location (country): USA
- Contact:
Re: GSP injured and blind.
It just came on so fast. I have had instances where perfectly healthy fish get stuck in something and make a full recovery. This instance was just a shock to me and is a real kick in the gut. Life is so precious and fragile. He deserved better. I feel so guilty.
WARNING: Puffers are mischievous little blimps with enchanting powers. You may not be content with having just one.
-
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: GSP injured and blind.
Sorry you lost him dude
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly