The Puffer Forum

Hi all,

Havent posted in a while but need to tonight...

My GSP has been exceptionally healthy for 2 years. Today I noticed him much grayer, sitting at the bottom of the tank alot and now he is scratching or flashing against plants, etc in the tank.

I dont have the water parameters, but he is due for a good cleaning (which I was planning on doing tomorrow anyway).

I changed out the filters 2 weeks ago, he is in a 25 gallon, I use marine salt, have added nothing to the tank.

He is changing from grey to a nice white on his tummy with no outward signs of lumps or fungus or parasites...

I am at a loss...

Michele

Ok...water parameters:

Nitrate = 0
Nitrite = 0
Ph = 8.6
Chlorine = 0
Kh = 300
Ammonia = .25

Salinity = 1.010

He is eating fine...just gave him a bit of krill. He is breathing rapidly though, and now he is hanging out at the top of the tank...

I usually feed him every other day...

He eats krill and sometimes will eat a bit of bloodworms too...he is very fussy...

Until now he has been in great health. I have a air wand in the tank and a 55 gallon filter on the 25 gallon tank he is in. I use two filters at a time...

Hope when I change the water tomorrow and clean out the tank and he will be better...I have only artificial plants in there and he is the only inhabitant.

There is a thick layer of green algae on the decorations...

Any ideas now that I have given you more info?

Michele

How often do you do water changes & how much do you change? You should br doing 50% weekly. Ammonia is your problem.

Would this make him scratch on plants and stuff?

I have gone a while without changes before (on vacation) and he has always been fine?

Could this be an infection or infestation of some sort?

Thanks!

Nah it's gotta be the ammonia. I doubt it's an infection or anything. Do a 50% water change and see if that helps.

Just did a 60% water change and got rid of old plants and decoration...when I put him in the holder (he swam in all by himself!) he returned to normal...super white tummy, swimming around and tail unclamped. Now I am floating him to regulate temp and then I will introduce him to his new tank...I kept in his favorite decoration that he likes to sleep in...

More to follow when I observe him later.

Thanks for the help!!

I seem to have a very happy puffer...he is swimming around investigating everything...still has a slightly grey tummy, but not dark grey.

Yea!!

gruntle wrote:I seem to have a very happy puffer...he is swimming around investigating everything...still has a slightly grey tummy, but not dark grey.

Yea!!

That is so awesome! I'm new to the forums but would like to tell you grats. Hope your puffer is happy