My GSP is sick!
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.
My GSP is sick!
I just got a GSP a week and a half ago. About 4 days ago he started to get white flaky. I have been treating the tank with Mardel® Maracyn and he is getting worse. I don't know what else to do. I am going to change his tank again tonight and start treating with Maracide and Tetracycline tablets. Any help would be great. I am new to puffers.
Meagan
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Boxermom
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 2182
- Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2006 8:34 pm
- Location: Wisconsin
- Contact:
First, Welcome. Second, don't panic and start flinging all sorts of medications into the tank which probably aren't needed. Third, we need the answer to some questions first. What are your water parameters (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, SG)? How long has the tank been set up? Was it cycled first? How big is it?
Tina
Puffers: Auriglobus silus x1, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1
Puffers: Auriglobus silus x1, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1
I am very sad, and sorry to say that he died last night when I got home from work. He was full fresh water, that is how they sold him at Walmart. I had him in a 5 gal tank, with a filter on the side, I added a tablespoon of salt a week ago. The tank has only been set up 2 weeks and they told me nothing about cycling. He had a very healthy appetite and was very active until about 3 days ago. I went to my pet store and they gave me some medication to put it and said it would work, it didn't help at all he only got worse. I am broken hearted, and so sorry I let him down. We were even looking into getting him a 20 gal tank over the weekend, we even picked one out. I loved my puffer very much, and I would love to be more educated and get another puffer. Any advise or help would be appreciated. Thank you for your help.
He was full fresh water, that is how they sold him at Walmart. I had him in a 5 gal tank, with a filter on the side, I added a tablespoon of salt a week ago. The tank has only been set up 2 weeks and they told me nothing about cycling. He had a very healthy appetite and was very active until about 3 days ago. I went to my pet store and they gave me some medication to put it and said it would work, it didn't help at all he only got worse. I am broken hearted, and so sorry I let him down. We were even looking into getting him a 20 gal tank over the weekend, we even picked one out. I loved my puffer very much, and I would love to be more educated and get another puffer. Any advise or help would be appreciated. Thank you for your help.Meagan
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Boxermom
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 2182
- Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2006 8:34 pm
- Location: Wisconsin
- Contact:
I'm sorry to hear that. If you're looking at another GSP, you'll need a minimum of 30 gallons and it needs to be fully cycled before you put him in. If you can get some Biospira, that will "instant" cycle within days. Don't let the store sell you anything else to cycle with, the rest is all crap. Actually a good rule of thumb is don't let the store sell you ANYTHING until you come here and ask about it first. That will save you a good bit of money. 
There's a great article in our Library on GSPs that PufferPunk wrote which I consider essential reading for anyone wanting to keep one. That should tell you a great deal.
There's a great article in our Library on GSPs that PufferPunk wrote which I consider essential reading for anyone wanting to keep one. That should tell you a great deal.
Tina
Puffers: Auriglobus silus x1, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1
Puffers: Auriglobus silus x1, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1
Tina,
Thank you very much. Actually I have been reading that article today along with a couple others I found on this site. I love this site, and PufferPunks article is great. I will definitely take your advise when it comes to asking first, buying later. I am looking to buy a GSP again and would like to know the best place to do so. I see that you have a GSP as well. How big?
Thank you very much. Actually I have been reading that article today along with a couple others I found on this site. I love this site, and PufferPunks article is great. I will definitely take your advise when it comes to asking first, buying later. I am looking to buy a GSP again and would like to know the best place to do so. I see that you have a GSP as well. How big?
Meagan
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Boxermom
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 2182
- Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2006 8:34 pm
- Location: Wisconsin
- Contact:
He was actually smaller than a DP when I got him, less than a half inch and he's now a smidge over 4" and is in full marine. Silly little guy. Hates red and pink, found that out for sure when I went into his room this weekend wearing a red shirt (I had forgotten) and he started spazzing out. 
There really isn't a "best place" to buy GSPs from. I like buying in person better than online as you can't see them online. Just make sure it and any tankmates look healthy, are eating well, don't have ich, there aren't any other dead fish floating around in the tank, etc.
There really isn't a "best place" to buy GSPs from. I like buying in person better than online as you can't see them online. Just make sure it and any tankmates look healthy, are eating well, don't have ich, there aren't any other dead fish floating around in the tank, etc.
Tina
Puffers: Auriglobus silus x1, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1
Puffers: Auriglobus silus x1, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1
-
Boxermom
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 2182
- Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2006 8:34 pm
- Location: Wisconsin
- Contact:
I've had him a bit over a year now. Don't have any good pics of him, he's pretty shy unfortunately. There was a school of black lyretail molies in the tank with him for quite some time and they bullied him something awful until I finally convinced hubby to get them out. He's coming out of his shell but its a very slow process.
Tina
Puffers: Auriglobus silus x1, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1
Puffers: Auriglobus silus x1, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1