GSP had a blob-like feces suspended by a thin string ..
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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.
GSP had a blob-like feces suspended by a thin string ..
Our GSP, under 2", looks and acts fine, but last night I noticed this odd poop -- a blob-like feces suspended by a thin, white filament. What's wrong? Is this normal? What should I do?
Wilbere
I just took some photos of Puffer, and would like to know where to post them so you can see him. He had eaten recently, so you will see his belly in full mode.
Answers:
No, his belly is not sunken. It expands and contracts per his feedings, but is always rounded.
His belly stays distended for at least a few minutes after eating. Longer if he eats more. I am not positive, but I think his feces is usually a solid tube -- like normal small fish poop only somewhat larger in circumference.
We have had him 3 weeks. Got him at a Petco, from someone with little knowledge. We care about his well-being, and are learning fast, and working as quickly as possible on improving his habitat and care routine.
Feedings are fine (he gets small snails, live rollypollys, slivers of shrimp w/shell on - a variety, trying not to overfeed). Won't eat frozen brine shrimp.
We know that his tank is too small, and about the upcoming need to transition to BW. Tank details:
Sz: 10 gal
Salt: Yes, some - but it's aquarium (not marine) salt at about 1 tsp/gal, know we need marine salt as well as a meter
Filtration: small filter with a sponge and bag of carbon, 1/3 water changes and gravel cleanings weekly - tank is clear and clean
pH: 7.5 - 8 - need to get a test that refines that
Other: buying the n. tests today -
Tankmates: 3 guppies, 2 platys and a mollie - all active, look good, no aggressive behavior by or toward GSP.
Really appreciate your help on the poop question.
Answers:
No, his belly is not sunken. It expands and contracts per his feedings, but is always rounded.
His belly stays distended for at least a few minutes after eating. Longer if he eats more. I am not positive, but I think his feces is usually a solid tube -- like normal small fish poop only somewhat larger in circumference.
We have had him 3 weeks. Got him at a Petco, from someone with little knowledge. We care about his well-being, and are learning fast, and working as quickly as possible on improving his habitat and care routine.
Feedings are fine (he gets small snails, live rollypollys, slivers of shrimp w/shell on - a variety, trying not to overfeed). Won't eat frozen brine shrimp.
We know that his tank is too small, and about the upcoming need to transition to BW. Tank details:
Sz: 10 gal
Salt: Yes, some - but it's aquarium (not marine) salt at about 1 tsp/gal, know we need marine salt as well as a meter
Filtration: small filter with a sponge and bag of carbon, 1/3 water changes and gravel cleanings weekly - tank is clear and clean
pH: 7.5 - 8 - need to get a test that refines that
Other: buying the n. tests today -
Tankmates: 3 guppies, 2 platys and a mollie - all active, look good, no aggressive behavior by or toward GSP.
Really appreciate your help on the poop question.
Wilbere
-
Phaedrus
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 1402
- Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2005 8:34 pm
- Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Contact:
You could host your pictures at flickr.com or photobucket
You could even try the personal gallery associated with your forum profile.
Keep an eye on his future poo (oh boy!) and see if it is stringy or loose. That could mean problems.
Glad to hear you've been doing some research.
A 30g tank of his own with overfiltration would be ideal.
He may be docile now, but as he warms up to his surroundings, he will likely become more territorial and aggressive. I fear your other fishes days are numbered.
Getting some decent test kits is a must. Without them there will always be doubt about water quality.
Good luck! Keep us updated. We'd love to see pictures.
You could even try the personal gallery associated with your forum profile.
Keep an eye on his future poo (oh boy!) and see if it is stringy or loose. That could mean problems.
Glad to hear you've been doing some research.
A 30g tank of his own with overfiltration would be ideal.
He may be docile now, but as he warms up to his surroundings, he will likely become more territorial and aggressive. I fear your other fishes days are numbered.
Getting some decent test kits is a must. Without them there will always be doubt about water quality.
Good luck! Keep us updated. We'd love to see pictures.
-
Phaedrus
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 1402
- Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2005 8:34 pm
- Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Contact:
If it is a one off thing, it could be nothing. It's a little too soon to draw any conclusions just yet.
If it reoccurs and he shows other symptoms like sunken belly, stringy feces, and he can't seem to stay full for long, then internal parasites could be likely.
Treatment for internal parasites is usually done with levamisol. check this link out. http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7
If it reoccurs and he shows other symptoms like sunken belly, stringy feces, and he can't seem to stay full for long, then internal parasites could be likely.
Treatment for internal parasites is usually done with levamisol. check this link out. http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7
Many thanks. I just created a personal album with a picture of our Puffer. The cite is: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/alb ... ?pic_id=42
He is a fascinating creature, indeed, and I hope his problem is just a one-off thing, perhaps due to not fully digesting after a feeding.
He is a fascinating creature, indeed, and I hope his problem is just a one-off thing, perhaps due to not fully digesting after a feeding.
Wilbere