The Puffer Forum

Hi there, I have had my GSP, Paubie for 2 months, he was given to me by someone who got him from wal mart had him in half gallon fishbowl, so i set up a 20 gallon aquarium and got him set up.

He is in a freshwater setup, I do not have a hydrometer as of yet, but I am picking one up tomorrow. I don't have the readings as of yet.

I did take a sample to a pet shop and they just told me the water was fine. No details or anything so they were not very helpful.

I think my problem is not converting, I talked to markrush in the chat, he was very helpful, but I do need the salt levels slowly added. I don't know how to convert really.

He lives by himself in his 20 gallon setup with a few hiding spots and some fake plants and gravel.

Now, about Paubie's problem, He is normally buzzing around his tank, always interested to see what I am doing, seems very happy, but in the past couple of days he has became disoriented, bumping into plants and the glass as he swims, his belly is white like usual and he doesnt seem discolored at all. He's just not himself. He eats well normally, 2x a day, he still eats, but just here and there, he used to eat everything I would put in at the time, now maybe 15% of it. His diet is a mix of bloodworms and Tetra Baby shrimp. I have done around a 20% water change a week. The tank had just had its filter changed as well. I did a 50% change last night.

I do care about my puffer, I just didn't know all of his requirements before I took him on, I am also very attached to him, and it is very upsetting to see him like this. I will do whatever is needed to help him. I just need to get pointed in the right direction to help save him. I just need any advice I can get.

If anyone out there might have had the same problem or just know what I can do, I will be VERY grateful. I am going to pick up marine salt and a hydrometer tomorrow due to markrush giving me some advice.

Did he see improved at all after the water change?

a little bit, he kinda floats when he swims, I mean he swims, but its like he can not maneuver well. He has calmed a little bit. Still bumping, I'm just hoping for the best right now.

That is usually a sign of high nitrite. Get some test kits while you're out shopping for fish stuff tomorrow. Sounds like he has a loving home.

hes eating, I put quite a bit in his tank and hes just about finished it up. Maybe things will look up a bit.

when you say you have just changed the filter... did you change the whole filter? im just wondering if you've just got rid of your beneficial bacteria and you're getting a build up of ammonia and nitrites

yep, that's what i thought...

Whilst you get yourself geared up with MARINE salt and a hydrometer keep doing 75% daily water changes...

fish often act blind with nitrite poisoning, trick is to remove as much toxin as often as possible until you can establish how your ammonia/nitrites are doing...

Did Mark say to only raise your salt levels by a mazimum of 0.002 a week? Avoids killing any good bacteria in the tank...

and make sure the hydrometer you buy goes all the way down to 1.000 .. as some only read marine levels, not low end brackish..