The Puffer Forum

1)
pH:7
Ammonia:0ppm
Nitrite:0ppm
Nitrate:~10ppm
Salinity:1.018

2) 10 Gallon; two GSPs

3) Feeding once a day of frozen krill (Fish King) - just started them on this about 1 month ago. Water changes approximately once every 2 weeks. Only additives are salt and dechlorinator (Seachem).

4) Added dead coral and shells to tank approximately 2 months ago.

5) 1.5 years. Don't remember how I cycled it -- maybe with shrimp?

Issue: In the past week, it appears that one of my GSPs is bloating, more and more every day. Its stomach just keeps ballooning out, and it does not look like it is going down. I do not believe it is puffed. Its stomach looks just like it does when it is very full. I feed them in the morning, and it seems to have a fine appetite. By the evening, the other one is slender and normal looking, but the problem GSP looks bloated. In all other respects, the problem GSP seems fine. It will swim around, eat, interact with the other, etc. Is this cause for alarm?

At first glance, the stomach area looks generally smooth and all-around bloated. But upon closer inspection, it appears that the left side of the GSP's stomach has some bumpiness.

Usually, internal parasites have the opposite symptoms--no matter how much you feed it, the tummy goes skinny soon afterwards. I suppose it could also look the opposite, if there are worms taking up that space in his belly. My F8s always look like that though, even after 3 days of feeding. It couldn;t hurt to treat for IPs anyway.

What are your plans for upgrade the tank? I wouldn't keep 2 puffers in a 10g tank, ever. Even as juvies, I recommend 10g ea, until they are >2" then 30g ea.

Thank you for the quick response. I was actually planning on getting a 20g tank next weekend for the upgrade. But, no doubt, I have kept them in pretty tight confines for a long time now. I'm sure the upgrade will do them both a lot of good. Regarding the bloated stomach, I will keep my eye on it and make sure to watch her behavior. As long as she is behaving ok, I think she should be fine.

I'd go for a 55g minimum. I know they are small but they will grow to 6". Then they will have plenty of space to grow into.