The Puffer Forum

I think my GSP is sick or dying.

pH 8.2-8.4
Ammonia 1.0ppm
Nitrate 20ppm
Nitrite 0-.25ppm
Salinity 1.010

I have two GSPs about 2-2.5 inches each in a 46 gallon tank wiht 2 ghost shrimp. On Tuesday 8/12 performed a 40% water change with matched salinity. I added a new plant (fake), and rearranged the decor. They are fed once daily in the afternoon either snail, scallop, or mussell. I use Instant Ocean marine salt and added Aquasafe to nuetralize chlorine. We have a marineland bio filter. The tank has been set up for 4-5 weeks and this is the first water change I did. The tank never cycled. Only having a problem with one fish. Please help. My husband bought these fish thinking they were freshwater and after some research found they are brackish we decided to keep them and bought an entire new tank setup to do so. Also, is there a way to tell male from female?

They can't be sexed--only the puffers know for sure.

See if you can get a hold of some Bio-Spira (NO SUBSTITUTIONS!!!). Add it to your filter after an 80% WC, getting the SG down to 8 or less, so the product can work better without killing off the live bacteria in there.

Do an 80% WC now if you have the water ready, otherwise you need to do whatever possible to get that ammonia down to 0.

Why the high SG? Is that what the shop had them at?

One website I read said that the GSP should be between 1.008 and 1.012 based on the size of the fish. I will work on getting the ammonia down but the one I thought was dying did. What is Bio-Spira and what does it do?

Bio-Spira contains the exact same live bacteria that cycles a tank. No other product contans the exact same live bacteria. Enough to fully stock a tank. Everything else is bunk. If a tank isn't cycled, adding the salt stresses the bacteria as it develops. How large are your puffers?

Hi mLee -

I am going through a very similar situation - so do not feel alone.
I would highly recommend reading this article by PP on GSPs in the Library - it is very helpful
library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/

I also second PPs advice on an immediate WC - and BioSpira. Bio-Spira is GREAT - it is what I had to use to cycle my tank after I messed it up by panicing (They were sold to me as FW - read they were BW and added salt to the tank to raise the SG). None of the other cycling things work - trust me on this. If you can not find at LFS (make sure it is in the frig and check experation date) order on line. Once the tank is cycled with the Bio goodness - you can treat with Seachem's Prime (red bottle) you can buy this at PetSmart - it helps keep the Nitrites and Ammonia down and works fast.

Your puffer will start acting better once the tank parameters are where they need to be.

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