Parameters:
Ph = 7.9
Ammonia = 0 ppm
Nitrite = 0 ppm
Nitrate = 10 ppm
Tank Size:
20 Gallons
Inhabitants:
2 GSP's (1.00" & 1.25" in length)
1 Plecostomus
Feeding: GSP's: 1x day, blood worms (thawed), brine shrimp (thawed); occasional freeze dried shrimp. Pleco: 2-3 Hikari Algae Waffers/week
Additives: StressCoat (at setup and most recent water change (9/27)) Top Coat Bacteria added in June to correctly cycle, again on 9/27 after water change)
Salinity: 1.002
Completed first cycle on 7/11/13 (tank setup 5/2013 but did not cycle correctly until June-July: added Top Coat Bacteria).
Water changes: 7/11, 8/8, 8/23. 9/17 - 15% water change, 9/27 - 30% water change, added Stress Coat and Bacteria
Both GSP's were happy until 9/23, at which point the slightly larger GSP the slightly larger one has become 'moody', does not eat as much, and has lost his/her aggressiveness (used to try to eat all the food and would chase the smaller GSP away). This GSP has also become a little dark on the top.
The second GSP seems to be unaffected and remains happy.
Thanks,
Ed
Unhappy GSP
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.
- bertie 83
- Moderator
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Re: Unhappy GSP
Welcome to the forum. What water testing kit are you using? It could likely be stress, 2 predators in such close confines. Please remove the plec ASAP, they do not tolerate salt at all well and will be torn to shreds by the puffers
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
-
RTR
- Mentor
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- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 4:39 pm
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Re: Unhappy GSP
+1 to bertie's comments.
Move the puffers to a larger and visually complex tank ASAP.
Move the puffers to a larger and visually complex tank ASAP.
Where's the fish? - Neptune
-
emadigan
- Puffer Fry
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- Location (country): United States - Thornton, Colorado
Re: Unhappy GSP
Test kit is a Freshwater Master Test Kit (MARS - Aquarium Pharmaceuticals).
The Pleco has been in there since July, no issues but I will look into a larger tank for the GSPs.
Thanks!
The Pleco has been in there since July, no issues but I will look into a larger tank for the GSPs.
Thanks!
- Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
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T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
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Re: Unhappy GSP
You won't see issues right away keeping plecos in BW but you will definitely affect it's longevity. 
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!"