Scared GSP

[sbc580]

I was able to find a GSP at a LFS, he is about 2.5 inches and was very active at the store. I purchased him on Sunday
First day of him in my tank, he was checking everything out, picking at the hermit crab shells and swimming through the caves I have created.
On day 2, my GF scared him in accident, and it seems like he is never the same. He is very very shy, always hiding behind the rocks. I figure this can be normal for a new tank, but what worries me the most is when he tries to swim away. He swims as hard as he can in the corner of the tank, and his body slams into the sand. He does this over and over again if he can see someone outside the tank.
The only time he swims towards me is during feeding time. Other wise he is hiding or swimming hard at the corners.

Couple stats about the tank:
37 gallon FOWLR
20 pounds of cured live rock purchased from LFS
15 pounds of lime stone
3 hermit crabs (started with 4 but one was eaten)
SG of 1.023
Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate are all 0.

I've been feeding ghost shrimp, freeze dried bloodworms, and freeze dried krill.
I am currently in the process of locating snails, but seems to be hard for me.

[JRC3]

It's tempting but I would leave him alone for a few days with the lights dimmed. It may even take weeks for him to settle down.

[sbc580]

It's tempting but I would leave him alone for a few days with the lights dimmed. It may even take weeks for him to settle down.

Should I go as far as putting something over the tank so he can't see out?

[JRC3]

It's tempting but I would leave him alone for a few days with the lights dimmed. It may even take weeks for him to settle down.

Should I go as far as putting something over the tank so he can't see out?

If there is a bunch of traffic towards a certain side of the tank I would say yes. I've covered most of the tank before for new fish and eventually I've found them peeking around the blockage. And that's a good thing.

On a side note; I have a tank right next to a doorway, one right next to another tank, and one tank right next to a tv and I have background on the sides of those tanks near the action. Gotta make em feel comfortable.



Good luck with your GSP. Diet should be on the top of your list. Freeze-dried isn't good for him and he'll probably stop eating it. At very least go get some real frozen bloodworms from the petstore and figure out what he needs for proper food over the next week. Since you don't have snails yet, many people go buy fresh seafood from the store to feed.


Also I don't keep GSPs and am only going from other my puff experience. They are both very similar and I'm sure others will chime in with more detail.

[sbc580]

It's tempting but I would leave him alone for a few days with the lights dimmed. It may even take weeks for him to settle down.

Should I go as far as putting something over the tank so he can't see out?

If there is a bunch of traffic towards a certain side of the tank I would say yes. I've covered most of the tank before for new fish and eventually I've found them peeking around the blockage. And that's a good thing.

On a side note; I have a tank right next to a doorway, one right next to another tank, and one tank right next to a tv and I have background on the sides of those tanks near the action. Gotta make em feel comfortable.



Good luck with your GSP. Diet should be on the top of your list. Freeze-dried isn't good for him and he'll probably stop eating it. At very least go get some real frozen bloodworms from the petstore and figure out what he needs for proper food over the next week. Since you don't have snails yet, many people go buy fresh seafood from the store to feed.


Also I don't keep GSPs and am only going from other my puff experience. They are both very similar and I'm sure others will chime in with more detail.

Thanks for the help. The way my place is set up is, one giant room for the living/dining and also open to the kitchen, so he can constantly see me walk around. Only time I am not in view of the tank is when Im in my bedroom or bathroom.
I've been noticing it is getting better. When I am 10+ feet away, he will swim around at the window, following me. When ever I get closer is when he starts hiding and swimming hard into the corners.
Feeding is still going well though. When I drop ghost shrimp, I can stand next to the tank and watch him hunt.

The diet right now is gut loaded ghost shrimp, and freeze dried food soaked in vitamin water. From what I've read on the library here, some freeze dried should be ok. Just as long as it is not the only thing I am feeding him.

For your backgrounds, is it a picture of something? I've just been using black cardboard for my background.

[JRC3]

For your backgrounds, is it a picture of something? I've just been using black cardboard for my background.

I just use pieces of regular aquarium backgtound with a planted scene. I don't think it really matters too much.

[Pufferpunk]

I'd feed him a meatier diet than you are. I assume you read our feeding articles?

[sbc580]

I'd feed him a meatier diet than you are. I assume you read our feeding articles?

Yeah, I've read the feeding articles.
I'll pick up some shrimp from the store today. I plan on adding live crab and crayfish to the diet as well.

[Pufferpunk]

Personally, I think those foods are too large for a GSP to eat--especially a juvie. Stick with the foods found in the produce dept at your grocery store. Live worms, too.

[sbc580]

Personally, I think those foods are too large for a GSP to eat--especially a juvie. Stick with the foods found in the produce dept at your grocery store. Live worms, too.

whoops, forgot to add "when he gets larger" at the end.
I plan on adding those live crabs and crayfish when he gets larger.

Was thinking it, but didn't type it.