I'm not sure what test kit I use. I use the ones at Advance Aquariums (LFS I've been referring to) here in town. I just go in every couple days and do all my water tests, he doesn't charge me anything to do them.
I guess 50% it is for tomorrow. I'll mix up 18g of salt water tonight.
GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.
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.
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32980
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.
Next time you're in there (like tomorrow), get yourself an API SW Master Test kit.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
LongGrain
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:38 pm
- Location (country): Green bay, WI, U.S.
Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.
i'm pretty sure his stuff is API.
for now I'll probably just keep doing them there.
1. its free
2. I don't mind the drive
3. I like going there just to hang out and BS with the owner about different things, last time I went, I ended up staying for 2 hours just looking at all the fish and picking his brain.
I'll put that on my list of things to buy though.
for now I'll probably just keep doing them there.
1. its free
2. I don't mind the drive
3. I like going there just to hang out and BS with the owner about different things, last time I went, I ended up staying for 2 hours just looking at all the fish and picking his brain.
I'll put that on my list of things to buy though.
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32980
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.
I find LFS guys don't shake the liquid as long as they should. Always good to have your own.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
LongGrain
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:38 pm
- Location (country): Green bay, WI, U.S.
Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.
nah I've been doing the tests myself, I just use his stuff, I make sure to shake the bottles well.
-
LongGrain
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:38 pm
- Location (country): Green bay, WI, U.S.
Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.
Will doing a 50% change screw with my melafix treatment?
I'm just going to do it now since I have nothing better to do.
I'm just going to do it now since I have nothing better to do.
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32980
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.
No, by all means, do a WC & add the normal amount of Melafix afterwards.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
LongGrain
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:38 pm
- Location (country): Green bay, WI, U.S.
Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.
this is how he looked today when I got up after doing 50% change last night.
pretty colorful.
I'm starting to think he's really not liking the melafix, because shortly after dosing, he went way darker and now he's just been floating in the top corner of the tank ever since. Before I put it in he was swimming around and his belly was all white.
Should I stop? I thought this stuff was supposed to make him feel better? I couldnt even get him to acknowledge any food when he's like this. I ended up just scooping it all back out.
This is what he looks like now, he hasn't really moved in 2 hours.
pretty colorful.
I'm starting to think he's really not liking the melafix, because shortly after dosing, he went way darker and now he's just been floating in the top corner of the tank ever since. Before I put it in he was swimming around and his belly was all white.
Should I stop? I thought this stuff was supposed to make him feel better? I couldnt even get him to acknowledge any food when he's like this. I ended up just scooping it all back out.
This is what he looks like now, he hasn't really moved in 2 hours.
-
sevenyearnight
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 1894
- Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:41 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: T. nigroviridis
Balki Bartokomous - Location (country): USA
- Location: South Carolina
-
LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 5301
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:26 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Dwarf puffer - Thumbelina (only mine in my heart now; she lives in CT with my friend)
RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond. - Location (country): United States
- Location: Kentucky
Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.
It might be reducing oxygen too much. Have you added extra water circulation? I suppose it is possible that he's having a bad reaction, though - people have allergies and side effects and reactions, and so do other animals; why not fish?
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
-
scpion
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 672
- Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 10:57 am
- My Puffers: 23in Mbu, donated to SEA Aquarium
4in Fahaka 150g - Location (country): singapore
Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.
When I first started with puffers, I think I had ard 7 GSPs in roughly a 55g FW tank. Was duped by the LFS too. They insist that they are all FW. I was a total noob that time. That was way b4 I found this forum. Had them in FW for a year without any problem at all. 1 yr is not long considering they can live for over 10. I eventually gave them all away. I stress again that was way b4 I join this forum so pls dun blast me.....
what I wanted to say is that I never find it urgent to bring them to SW asap even till now, though I dun own any now. In your case, I read that originally it might be in FW. I felt that it would be better to nurse him back to health b4 acclimatising him to SW. The process could be too much for a sick fish. This is entirely my own opinion and what I have gone through. But, none of that matter now.. Birdy was that skinny when I got him too. It was alot of work to bring them back to health. Your time and $ spent on this buddy is really admirable. While many idiotic keepers would have probably flushed it by now. hope that he will make it and even if he doesn't, I believe U have learnt enough to be able to care for another one. Good job!
what I wanted to say is that I never find it urgent to bring them to SW asap even till now, though I dun own any now. In your case, I read that originally it might be in FW. I felt that it would be better to nurse him back to health b4 acclimatising him to SW. The process could be too much for a sick fish. This is entirely my own opinion and what I have gone through. But, none of that matter now.. Birdy was that skinny when I got him too. It was alot of work to bring them back to health. Your time and $ spent on this buddy is really admirable. While many idiotic keepers would have probably flushed it by now. hope that he will make it and even if he doesn't, I believe U have learnt enough to be able to care for another one. Good job!
Last edited by scpion on Sun Jan 15, 2012 8:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I am not a Troll, I am just pissed..!
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32980
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.
What's the Melafix for again? He's really suffering from those IPs. 
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
Puffer King
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 378
- Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2011 5:38 am
- My Puffers: Colomesus asellus
Lilly the Fahaka
Dwarf Puffers
Figure 8
Have kept in past,
Spotted congos
Red eye red tailed puffer - Location (country): Bristol , UK
Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.
that sunken belly doesn't look good at all , get some jungle fizz tabs and soak the food in a solution of jf and tank water .....try that for a couple of days and if you don't see an improvement treat with maracyn at half dosage ....scrap the melafix , good stuff but this puff needs treating from the inside out ...
'Rare do Tom agree in the rated room with the retard moo ! '
Free Elf Girl Pun 2012
Free Elf Girl Pun 2012
Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.
scpion wrote:
what I wanted to say is that I never find it urgent to bring them to SW asap even till now, though I dun own any now. In your case, I read that originally it might be in FW. I felt that it would be better to nurse him back to health b4 acclimatising him to SW. The process could be too much for a sick fish. This is entirely my own opinion and what I have gone through. But, none of that matter now.. Birdy was that skinny when I got him too. It was alot of work to bring them back to health. Your time and $ spent on this buddy is really admirable. While many idiotic keepers would have probably flushed it by now. hope that he will make it and even if he doesn't, I believe U have learnt enough to be able to care for another one. Good job!
There were a few reasons why it was suggested that LongGrain go full marine to start. His GSP was covered in ich. With the current setup that the fish was in at the time he was unable to treat with the heat and salt method. He needed a tank upgrade and to be treated so going full marine to start was killing two birds with one stone.
Your main problem now LongGrain is trying to get those IP's under control
.-
LongGrain
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:38 pm
- Location (country): Green bay, WI, U.S.
Re: GSP is still sick, fighting an uphill battle here.
I've treated the water twice with jungle IP tablets and I soaked his food for a week, but he won't eat it. He won't even really eat untreated food anymore. He'll eat crushed snails (without much enthusiasm) but won't touch blood worms anymore, and he used to LOVE blood worms. I know he has IP's, I just can't seem to get any treatment into him. I'm going to soak more snails in that medicine to try to get more into him, but i'm running out of snails small enough for him, and I've pretty much cleaned out the LFS as I've been taking them faster than they can reproduce haha.
I was dosing him with melafix because his tail is clamped all the time and its pretty tattered at the end when I catch him fanning it out. I was told in addition to helping this, it would also sooth him and make him feel better/more comfortable, but it seems like it might be doing the opposite.
I was dosing him with melafix because his tail is clamped all the time and its pretty tattered at the end when I catch him fanning it out. I was told in addition to helping this, it would also sooth him and make him feel better/more comfortable, but it seems like it might be doing the opposite.