The Puffer Forum

good luck with this guy! im interested to see what exactly it is too. i would start raising the salinity asap so that the healing properties of the salt can start to help along with the melafix

I am new to the puffer fish keeping world but I would say that is definitely a GSP of some kind. With the ones I have, I have noticed their coloration and patterns are somewhat different. How big is he in those pics?

When you all say to add salt... Aquarium salt or marine? I added aquarium salt the night I brought him home....but I thought I should make sure I am understanding correctly.

marine salt, unless it is on a plate with a dash of pepper and a squeeze of lemon

J-P wrote:marine salt, unless it is on a plate with a dash of pepper and a squeeze of lemon

Nah.. I believe for puffers, they use soy sauce.

Pufferpunk wrote:We really need a pic. For now, add 1 tbsp salt/10g & Melafix.

This posted made me think aquarium salt.... So I will do a watters change today and add the marine salt.

don't worry about it... you asked the question. That is what is important. Action without questioning is not always the best choice.

Do you have a hydrometer to measure the salt content with?

I do have a Hydrometer. I currently have water mixing, should be a 0.010 so when I do a 1/2 tank water change it will be 0.005..... Or is that too strong? It has been so long since I increased my other GSP's tank to full saltwater I can't remember if the salt increase is suppose to be .005 or .002.... .002 seems to be what I should be going for first.

He is still alive and a bit more active than he was, but still seems to hide a lot. Sits on the bottom and just stares straight ahead. I though he was dead a couple times, but after watching very closely I would catch his eyes turn just a bit or a fin flick.... I guess the good thing is his breathing doesn't seem labored or anything. His tummy is a bit lighter I think..... but the rest of him is still very brown. When I first got my other GSP, he was dark and unhappy but at least he had his headlight on.... this guy won't even give me a glimmer of green. He looks so pathetic and sad.

So I have added Melefix, will add 1/2 a dose more after the water change.... got my salted water mixing..... what else can I do for him? Anything or is it just a waiting game now? I feel so helpless at this point.... Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! Even if it is just to reassure me that I am doing all I can do...

Do not raise salinity by more than 0.002 per week or you will kill the good bacteria

That is right.... .002 to preserve the bacteria. So I will only do little less than 1/4 tank water change.... No, I will go dump 1/2 the water and refill so that I can still give him a 1/2 tank clean water. I think the larger water change will be better for him.

Right clean water is the best thing for him right now, right??

Thank you PufferPunk... I was looking for that but couldn't find it.

Water is still mixing.... (and I did forget the 1's in my earlier numbers)

I did split the water so that I wouldn't waste the salt and added more to the larger portion so that I will just change water in both the SW and the BW tanks tomorrow.

So now it is just down to time...... Hope it is on his side.

thank you all for your advice and help....

.... but sorry to have to come here and report that this puffer passed away about an hour ago.

After the water change this morning he seemed to really perk up, his belly turned almost completely white but within an hour or so he settled back on the bottom of the tank and would just sit there. I checked on him regularly and he would swim around a bit but always settling back in the same spot on the bottom after a short time of swimming. The last time I checked he would not swim up and then he passed. So sad....... But at least he did not pass away in a small tank with other puffers picking at him and making his final days miserable and torturous.

Again... thank you all for your advice and knowledge with helping me try to save this little guy.

awww, I was rooting for the puff . Atleast you gave it a good home for its last few days!