Hi, im new and and I have a GSP in a 25 gallon tank, and I was wonderin why he has these little tiny black dots on the top of his head, there not like his spots, but really little and only on the top of his head, he's about 2-2.5 inches and was just recently moved into his new tank, the ammonia and nitrites are 0 and the nitrates are around 20-30 ppm, and the PH is about 7.9-8.0 so I dont think its the water. And I dont have a camera so, is this bad possibly?He's active and not all scared or weird about his new home so.....anyone?
Actually I just looked again and I think they might just be the way his spikes look at an angle, but just trying to be sure...
Black Spots
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.
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manutius
- Former Staff Member
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Re: Black Spots
It is more than likely his spikes. The Nitrates are way too high for a puffer as they are sdensitive little things so maybe that is irritating his skin? I would suggest a large water change to get them down to 5ppm
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Hilly
- Mentor
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Tetraodon Sabahensis
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Carinotetraodon Salivator - Location (country): UK
- Location: Nottinghamshire, UK
Re: Black Spots
I've never had any problems with nitrates at 20ppm causing skin irritation. I dont let it get higher than that but it doesnt cause a problem. Trying to maintain 5ppm could be an impossible task depending on the size of the puffer.manutius wrote:It is more than likely his spikes. The Nitrates are way too high for a puffer as they are sdensitive little things so maybe that is irritating his skin? I would suggest a large water change to get them down to 5ppm
My Sabahensis sometimes gets some black spots, slightly raised, almost like a pimple. Then they disappear on their own. Keep an eye on them to see if the change in appearance. I tried the usual skin treatment of Melafix but it seemed to make no difference.
Hilly
Re: Black Spots
Thanks, I was just curious because Id never seen them before and was worried because I just moved him, he doesnt act different then normal, happy and curious, so thanks, I feel better:D