The Puffer Forum

Okay, so I got this puffer because I saw it at a Walmart (seriously), with about 15 barbs in a SMALL tank. They were trying to feed it only flakes, and it was hurting. He/she is a little over an inch long.

I first don't know if I need to have a brackish or freshwater setup, which might be the problem.

I have had the fish for about two weeks, and it has gotten dark in color, more brownish compared to the bright green originally. It still eats plenty (thawed, frozen bloodworms and live snails QT'd) but has lost almost all activity. I changed the water twice this last week to see if it was water quality, but again I don't know if I need to increase the salinity for this fish. (Question #1)

It also looks like it has a fungal infection on its head. White, cottony discharge that is isolated in only that spot. I bought and have been using for three days Pimafix, but to no avail.

I have a 20 gal. tank with three small cardinal tetras in the tank as well (I am working on getting a bigger tank, but needed to save this puffer from the horrid conditions).

78-80, 6.6 pH, 0.0 nitrates. No salinity. Tank has cycled for two months. I have tons of live plants from an established, disease free tank.

Read the article on GSPs in the library. Also one of our members hasa GSP website http://greenspottedpuffer.110mb.com/ that should help you too.
Salt won't affect your puffer at this age, but you will need stronger meds then just Pimafix and Melafix.

Your puffer has had a bad start & usually this doesn't end well. I caution folks here over & over about "rescuing" puffers from Walmart. You should not support a store that neglects their fish in the 1st place. 2nd, you should choose a happy, healthy, nicely rounded puffer, that greets you at the glass. This will insure you of a puffer with a good start in life. God knows what maladies the Walmart puffers have gotten along the way & in their store.

With that said, please post your water parameters. If you are going to add any salt (recommended) you will have to remove your other, FW fish. You'll need marine salt & a hydrometer. You can raise the specific gravity in the tank as much as .002/week. This may help with the puffer's immune system. You will probably have to treat the puffer with something stronger than Pimafix (you can keep using that in conjunction), like Maracyn.