The Puffer Forum

I bought two green spotted puffers, they're in a six gallon tank for now BUT im gettin a 20 gallon in a week. So they should be fine for now

My specs:
NO3: 20
NO2: 0
Ph: 6.5
KH: 120
GH:60

My puffer is around 2 in. his whole underbelly has this blackish tint to it that fades in out. It will seriously be completely black and greyish and then under a minute latter will be completely normal (creamish) color, i dont get whats happening hes not as active as he used to be im sure he's sick but could someone help me

I just fed him, all the blackness went away he ate and was active and happy, then he stopped eating and now its blackish again

Do you know what your Ammonia is?
How long has the tank been set up? and how was it cycled?

i dont know how to check that, and i cycled it for two weeks i had tetras in there and they were fine, then i moved out the tetras and moved in the puffers

You will need to get an ammonia test from an LFS. Also what kind of tests are you using? If you're using the strips just beware that they are pretty inaccurate, most LFS will have the master test kit which is liquid tests and they are for nitrate, nitrite ammonia and ph in one kit.

The tetras probably didn't cycle it enough for the two puffers because they produce way more waste than them. I would do a water change and keep on doing water changes daily while they are in the 6 gallon.

Although a 20g is good for a short while, you will eventually need a minimum of a 55g for them (30g is generally ther minimum recomendation/GSP though). A 20g will only hold them while they are <2". Then you'll have to upgrade again.

Your pH is extremly low. My guess the tank is not fully cycled & the low pH is due to the acid in the ammonia they are producing, so no, they are not fine for now. You must start doing 80% daily water changes on that tank ASAP & add Prime to the tank before you add the new water.

So my puffers belly is completely white again, i woke up this morning and he seemed to be doing ok, i still went to the store and got an ammonia tester and some "prime," i havent treated the water yet or done the 80% water change (since he seemed ok)

But i tested the water and my ammonia is 2.4 and my ph is 7.0

then i looked at the little chart on the ammonia test kit and since my ammonia is 2.4 and ph is 7 this gave me a reading of 0.01 i dont know what this represents i think its the "Un-lonized ammonia (toxic form) NH3 mg/L (ppm)" thats the exact quote of the chart title

Can anyone tell me what i should go about doing next?

more water changes.

ammonia is more toxic at higher pH, IIRC.

While doing the 80% water change and adding the prime i should take the fish out right? Dumb question... i just wanted to check...

Nope. Don't remove fish unless they need to be in another container for some reason, like a medicinal bath.

Ok thanks, i'll keep you guys updated

Ok i think he's doin better, i've been doin water changes daily and treating with the prime. My ammonia is down to 1.2 (from 2.4) and my ph is between 7.0 7.2. Should i stay on the same routine or try something different?

Keep doing water changes. You can do more than 1 a day if needed.

What numbers should i be shooting for?