Water Parameters -
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrates - 0
pH - 8.0
Salinity - 1.018
Tank Size: 37 Gallons with 1 GSP, and 3 small hermit crabs with about 40 pounds of live rock, purchased from LFS.
I was feeding him fresh shrimp bought from the grocery store, freeze dried krill, and gut loaded ghost shrimp soaked in liquid vitamins.
I rearranged the live rock on sunday.
Aquarium was cycled for about a month and a half before I added my GSP.
GSP has been in the tank since 3/24/13
I think it is a internal parasite because his black belly goes in and out, and his poop is white and stringy.
I have been feeding him food soaked in tank water and searchem Metronidazole.
The first treatment was on 5/26 and was doing every other day for almost a week. On Friday (5/31) I upped the dosage to everyday. He has shown no signs of improvement. His belly is still black, and his larger then normal.
When I got home today, he was curled up, and floating around the top of the tank, mainly next to the intake of my HOB protein skimmer.
I am currently running water through my RODI filter, and will change about 8 gallons of water later tonight.
Sick GSP, possible IP?
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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Pufferpunk
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Re: Sick GSP, possible IP?
Poor fella! That doesn't sound good... Maybe he was just napping.
Is he still eating?
Is he still eating?
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!"
Re: Sick GSP, possible IP?
I fed him some shrimp, and he gobbled it up really quick, like normal. He was swimming around after he ate.
I just did a 10-12 gallon water change 20 minutes ago and he was swimming around for a while.
Now he doesn't look so good again. He is sticking to the top corner of the tank with a really dark stomach.
I just did a 10-12 gallon water change 20 minutes ago and he was swimming around for a while.
Now he doesn't look so good again. He is sticking to the top corner of the tank with a really dark stomach.
-
Pufferpunk
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T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
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Re: Sick GSP, possible IP?
Sounds like something's up with your water.
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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purplecandle
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Re: Sick GSP, possible IP?
My gsps turn dark after eating and then they go to their areas. One has a spot under decor and one hangs in the plants.sbc580 wrote:I fed him some shrimp, and he gobbled it up really quick, like normal. He was swimming around after he ate.
I just did a 10-12 gallon water change 20 minutes ago and he was swimming around for a while.
Now he doesn't look so good again. He is sticking to the top corner of the tank with a really dark stomach.
Some of what you describe sounds like a sick puffer, and then some of what you describe sounds like normal behavior. Any chance you can get a pic of the tank and the puffer?
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RTR
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Re: Sick GSP, possible IP?
Just as insurance, lay off the FD krill for a while.
Keep up the water changes just in case, even though the measurable parameters look fine.
How much sand and what kind of sand is in the tank?
Keep up the water changes just in case, even though the measurable parameters look fine.
How much sand and what kind of sand is in the tank?
Where's the fish? - Neptune
Re: Sick GSP, possible IP?
I'll get some pictures when I get home today.
In the past, after he eats he would swim up and down the glass and hide behind the live rock, but would never turn black.
I'll do a 8-10 gallon water change tonight.
I used live sand suggested by the LFS, I am not sure of the exact amount though. It is 2-3 inches deep.
Should I continue feeding him food soaked in Metronidazole?
Forgot to add. I've always used RODI water with instant ocean sea salt mix. Testing the SG has always been done with a refractometer.
In the past, after he eats he would swim up and down the glass and hide behind the live rock, but would never turn black.
I'll do a 8-10 gallon water change tonight.
I used live sand suggested by the LFS, I am not sure of the exact amount though. It is 2-3 inches deep.
Should I continue feeding him food soaked in Metronidazole?
Forgot to add. I've always used RODI water with instant ocean sea salt mix. Testing the SG has always been done with a refractometer.
-
Pufferpunk
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T miurus
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Re: Sick GSP, possible IP?
I'd reduce that sand to 1".
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!"
Re: Sick GSP, possible IP?
Small update:
I just finished doing a 9 gallon water change.
He seems to be doing better. His belly is still black, but when I walk up to the tank, he will greet me and his belly slowly turns white. I fed him some shrimp, and he ate it up really quick again.
Like pufferpunk said, I think it is a water issue. I just cleaned my HOB protein skimmer and it was pretty filthy inside. I clean the collection cup about once a week, but this is the first time I have cleaned the actual body. The skimmer is currently drying, and the tank is running with just 2 powerheads for the next 24 hours.
I took some pictures, but will have to upload them tomorrow.
I just finished doing a 9 gallon water change.
He seems to be doing better. His belly is still black, but when I walk up to the tank, he will greet me and his belly slowly turns white. I fed him some shrimp, and he ate it up really quick again.
Like pufferpunk said, I think it is a water issue. I just cleaned my HOB protein skimmer and it was pretty filthy inside. I clean the collection cup about once a week, but this is the first time I have cleaned the actual body. The skimmer is currently drying, and the tank is running with just 2 powerheads for the next 24 hours.
I took some pictures, but will have to upload them tomorrow.
-
RTR
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Re: Sick GSP, possible IP?
+1 to Pufferpunk's comment. You do not need that much sand bed w/LR and a decent skimmer.
Where's the fish? - Neptune
Re: Sick GSP, possible IP?
My mistake, the sand is about 1", not 2"-3"
I have done frequent water changes all week and he seems to be doing better.
His black belly still comes and goes though. Any idea what this could be?
I have done frequent water changes all week and he seems to be doing better.
His black belly still comes and goes though. Any idea what this could be?
Re: Sick GSP, possible IP?
Update with Pics:
He seems to be doing better, but still has a black belly. Still eating like crazy I've changed about 25 gallons of water over about a week, while measure my SG with a refractometer.
As you can see, the black belly comes and goes.
Anybody have any ideas why he is still black?
He seems to be doing better, but still has a black belly. Still eating like crazy I've changed about 25 gallons of water over about a week, while measure my SG with a refractometer.
As you can see, the black belly comes and goes.
Anybody have any ideas why he is still black?
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sgtmyers88
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Re: Sick GSP, possible IP?
Weird, I wonder if some GSP's are just temperamental. I have one that has a black spot on the side of his belly that occasionally goes away but is otherwise usually visible.
WARNING: Puffers are mischievous little blimps with enchanting powers. You may not be content with having just one.
Re: Sick GSP, possible IP?
I have noticed that he is much hungrier then he has ever been. 2-3 weeks ago, before his belly was black, whenever I feed him shrimp he would hide behind the rocks. Now, I've noticed after I feed him he is still going crazy looking for food. Whenever he sees me, he will window surf at the side closest to me. This is a reason why I thought it was a IP.