1) ph: 7.2
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrates: 5
still freshwater
2) 15 gallon
1 ghost shrimp
3) Feed every day. Every other day I feed him frozen bloodworms. On the other days, I feed him freeze dried baby shrimps. And I drop him a few snails here and there to help out with his beak. As for water change, I've been changing about 10% of his water every week because I have to clean his tank frequently due to his waste. Last week I did a 30% water change (I've only had him for a month so that was his biggest water change) and I used prime.
4) I've just moved a couple clay pots around inside. And a week and a half ago I got him a bubble curtain which he LOVES!
5) I've had this tank for a few years now but it has been re-cycled for a year now and I did a fishless cycle.
So the story. I've only noticed last week that my gsp has been breathing from one gill (his right one if that matters). I'm honestly not sure if he's been doing that the whole time but I have only noticed recently. He acts pretty normal though. He doesn't bump into things (only after he wakes up though. He's groggy when you wake him up haha.) and he explores frequently. He plays in the bubbles and will window surf once in a while. He does have the stress line once in a while (once again, usually after he wakes up). And he'll lay beside the ghost shrimp.
Maybe he's been breathing through one gill the whole time and I am just noticing now or maybe he just started but I don't see other symptoms that will point me to any direction. He does breath heavily but I am getting that is because he is only breathing through one side of him :/ I forgot, he also coughs here and there.
Should I just go ahead and treat him for something/anything just incase he does have something?
Any advice? Thanks all!
GSP Breathing through one gill
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.
-
laauurreeennnn
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Pufferpunk
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Re: GSP Breathing through one gill
I often see posts like this. Tomorrow, it'll be the other gill. 
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
- Mbu Puffer
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Re: GSP Breathing through one gill
As long as the gill is not red or has visible parasites..You should be fine. And as long as he is not a smoker, coughing once in a while won't hurt him either.
If he Always breaths through one gill or breathes rapidly rapidly a lot..then yes get concerned!
HOWEVER....you have a few other problems
He needs a better diet
He needs high brackish water
He needs 50% weekly water changes
And he needs at least a 30 gallon tank
Other than that it sounds like you are doing good with the little fella
If he Always breaths through one gill or breathes rapidly rapidly a lot..then yes get concerned!
HOWEVER....you have a few other problems
He needs a better diet
He needs high brackish water
He needs 50% weekly water changes
And he needs at least a 30 gallon tank
Other than that it sounds like you are doing good with the little fella
-
JRC3
- Fahaka Puffer
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F8 (46g)
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- Location: S.W. OH
Re: GSP Breathing through one gill
A couple years back My F8 used to do this. Also sometimes he would decide to only use one pectoral fin...He was as healthy then as he is now. I just think they do it for whatever reason.
There are many knowledgeable fish keepers on this forum willing to help and give great advice...The advice is free; What you choose to do with it gives it value.
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sgtmyers88
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Re: GSP Breathing through one gill
Agreed with all of the above. Puffers can be quite odd at times. I have witnessed my puffers do the same thing with their gills and fins.
WARNING: Puffers are mischievous little blimps with enchanting powers. You may not be content with having just one.
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laauurreeennnn
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 25
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- Location (country): NJ, US
Re: GSP Breathing through one gill
Thanks everyone!
Ghost shrimp seems to be out of the question still because he really has become buddy buddy with the one I have in there with him.
As for the tank, my best friend is giving me her 90 gallon tank for a graduation/first job gift
But my gsp will still be in the 15 gallon for a little bit more time until I move. I will though do larger water changes and I will start converting his tank this weekend!
I think I'm just over paranoid that I am going to lose this guy especially since he's still new. So I tend to automatically assume that there is something wrong when he does a single thing differently :/
Yeah I've been planning on hopping over to my locals farmers market and grabbing some clams for him and some fresh shrimppurplecandle wrote:As long as the gill is not red or has visible parasites..You should be fine. And as long as he is not a smoker, coughing once in a while won't hurt him either.
If he Always breaths through one gill or breathes rapidly rapidly a lot..then yes get concerned!
HOWEVER....you have a few other problems
He needs a better diet
He needs high brackish water
He needs 50% weekly water changes
And he needs at least a 30 gallon tank
Other than that it sounds like you are doing good with the little fella
Ghost shrimp seems to be out of the question still because he really has become buddy buddy with the one I have in there with him. As for the tank, my best friend is giving me her 90 gallon tank for a graduation/first job gift
But my gsp will still be in the 15 gallon for a little bit more time until I move. I will though do larger water changes and I will start converting his tank this weekend! I think I'm just over paranoid that I am going to lose this guy especially since he's still new. So I tend to automatically assume that there is something wrong when he does a single thing differently :/
-
purplecandle
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 2019
- Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2010 2:18 pm
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2 Adult Green Spotted Puffers
1 Fangs Puffer
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Re: GSP Breathing through one gill
I figured you were gonna upgrade him.laauurreeennnn wrote:Thanks everyone!
Ipurplecandle wrote:As long as the gill is not red or has visible parasites..You should be fine. And as long as he is not a smoker, coughing once in a while won't hurt him either.
If he Always breaths through one gill or breathes rapidly rapidly a lot..then yes get concerned!
HOWEVER....you have a few other problems
He needs a better diet
He needs high brackish water
He needs 50% weekly water changes
And he needs at least a 30 gallon tank
Other than that it sounds like you are doing good with the little fella
Yeah I've been planning on hopping over to my locals farmers market and grabbing some clams for him and some fresh shrimp
As for the tank, my best friend is giving me her 90 gallon tank for a graduation/first job gift
I think I'm just over paranoid that I am going to lose this guy especially since he's still new. So I tend to automatically assume that there is something wrong when he does a single thing differently :/
You can never be too concerned with puffers..they go down hill fast. Best to ask before it's too late!