Strange GSP behavior

krywm · Post by **krywm** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 7:42 pm

I am almost positive I just bought a Green Spotted but I don't know. FS didn't say anything about water, just said he was fresh water and would take care of my small snail problem. He seems to look like the GSP's I've seen on the web (fluorescent patch on head).

Anyway, have had him for about a week. He just seems to float around the tank bumping into things (literally), very lethargic. At first he gobbled up an entire cube of blood worms (thought I'd killed him then!) now I rarely see him eat.

Could he be brackish and suffering in fresh water? He is in a 25 gal tank with a Molly and a couple of Platy's and Tetra's. Please help.

Phaedrus · Post by **Phaedrus** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 7:47 pm

Do you have any test kits to get some water parameters? If he's lethargic and bumbing into things it sounds like it may be ammonia/nitrite poisoning. Adding him may have increased the bioload substantially enough to recycle the tank.

Knowing the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate readings would be a big help.

A picture would also help in identifying him.

Check out our pufferpedia here: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/ug. ... ab3d5bb9ba
Compare him to the species you see there and see if you can find one that looks the same.

If he survives, your other fish in the tank will sooner or later become lunch. I would suggest returning him to the store if at all possible.

krywm · Post by **krywm** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:03 pm

Here are some admittedly not so great pictures.

http://s89.photobucket.com/albums/k232/krywm/

I have a 5 in 1 strip that I test with. Has been quite awhile since I tested that tank

. Here are the readings:

Nitrates 200 (off the charts)
Nitrites 0
Very Hard Water
Alkalinity 0-10 (low)
Ph about 6.5

Thanks for the help!

Phaedrus · Post by **Phaedrus** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:07 pm

Yup, that's a GSP.

You need to do some water changes!

Those nitrate levels are getting into the danger zone.

Check out the pufferpedia linked at the top of the page for more info on GSPs.

I'd still recommend taking it back if you aren't up to setting up a new 30g brackish tank to keep him... though the fate at the LFS isn't much better. But if you do keep him, he will terrorize your other fish.

Post by **Pufferpunk** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:27 pm

Please read my signature!

krywm · Post by **krywm** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:38 pm

But wait!!

Thanks for the replies (and the whip, trust me I need it) but what about the behavior? He is definitely not doing well and I hate to let him suffer and die! I'm a believer in dealing with what you've gotten yourself into. (25 gal tank was the result of a golden nugget pleco rescue from an Oscar in a 100 gal).

Any ideas? Parasites/water conditions/anything??

Phaedrus · Post by **Phaedrus** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:41 pm

It could be nitrate poisoning. Puffers don't have scales, so are more susceptable to high nitrates than scaled fish.

Water changes should be your first plan of action.

Getting him into his own tank and starting to get him into brackish water is your next move.

krywm · Post by **krywm** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:45 pm

Well thank you very much for your help.

The things I get myself into......

Post by **Pufferpunk** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:51 pm

Like I said:

The Puffer Forum

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Strange GSP behavior

Strange GSP behavior