when should i go to full salt and other tidbits

[tbonerulz]

Like many others I finally found my way to the new site and I finally decided that I need to ask some questions because I’m stuck.

I have a GSP that I have had for about 18 months. I have been away at school, coming home weekends for water changes, and my baby has been in the care of my mother.

I have been wondering for quite some time why it (t-bone) hasn’t been growing.

After asking my mother some questions, and realizing that she had been feeding my dearest 2 to 3 times a day, I think ive stunted his growth. I feel terrible. He seems happy and has never changed from his bright green and very bright white belly as far as ive seen, so I don’t think he was ever stressed.
Maybe it’s the 30G tank?
Is this reversible?
How big should my fish be at this point?
Should I continue on past the high brackish I have him in now?
Was it the acclimation over the past 8 months what might have stunted his growth?
Should I take him to full salt?

[ingo_1978]

What S.G. do you have him in? what does your mother feed him? What size was he when you got him and what size is he now?

[Pamela]

30 G should be fine...it's the minimum for a gsp, but the minimum tank size is worked out as the smallest a fish can be in before growth stunting sets in.
It may (but not that likely) be the salt issue that's stopping him growing, but like ingo asked, what was he and what is he? He might be within normal parameters. I'd have a look at his feeding schedule and menu, though.
Certainly, though, he sounds like a happy fish, so think of any changes as improving on an already good situation, so T-bone will be even happier.
Pami.

[tbonerulz]

He was in a 10G when I first got him for about one week, then I put him into the 30g where he has been ever since. He used to live with a gigantic goby, but the goby lived in the corner at the bottom and T-bone likes to run around at the top of the tank unless something interesting, like a snail, is at the bottom.

My mother had been feeding him 2-3 krill 2-3 times a day. I would feed him a couple snails every other weekend or so. He was about 1.25" when I got him and now I would say he’s about 2... After 18 months... seems odd to me considering the goby he used to live with went from 5" to 13" in about 12 months.

Now I feed him 2-3 krill, scoop up the rest after I come back from doing whatever and that’s it, once a day, since May. In fact he hasn’t been begging for food since about July. And sometimes he will only eat one piece. And I give him sails about every other week and I give him some bloodworms with about the same frequency.
oh yea sg=1.018
which i have been told is salt, but not reef level salt.

[Pamela]

His diet needs more variety, really. Krill is his main food by the sound of it, and he needs some more shellfish, like cockles, mussels, clams.
Your mum should be able to handle that..does she not like giving him bloodworms? Bloodworms are best for a treat, although snails are great, but he's not getting them enough. Krill's not really protein-y enough to help him grow, so get down to the fish market, get some fresh shellfish, freeze them for at least 48 hours to kill any bugs, and that should perk him up a bit.
Pami.

[tbonerulz]

thank you i'll try that.
(my roommate at college works at the fish market)
would you think that scallops are good too? or no?
i have some scallops that i already bought for dinner

[Pamela]

If you've got some going spare, but freeze them first. We cook them to kill bugs, but cooked is not the best for puffers, as the cooking takes out a lot of nutrients.
Shrimp and shellfish with the shells still on is the best, cos the fish's teeth get a good scraping on the inside of the shell, wearing them down.
Pami.

[tbonerulz]

now he isnt eating anything. maybe hes just stressed from the substrate change. i gave him clam, mussle and scallop and he refused all. including his regular krill.
not good. now i'm worried. hopefully when i come back from shooping the clam will be eaten. hopefully

[PetPirate]

Pull out from the tank anythng that is not eaten immediately. Don't leave it in to rot, even for a few hours.

Have you tested for water quality (nitrates and ammonia primarily -- nitrites are interesting but not such a serious concern at high salt levels, although they should be 0).

JOhn

[Pufferpunk]

I still have read nothing on your fish's salinity. GSPs are relatively slow-growing for the 1st 2". Mine grew from 2-6 within 2 years.