SGP curled up, breathing heavy, but still swims after food

[Hannibal SPG]

Of course I checked my water. Everything is perfect.
1" SGP still in freshwater. I've had him about two weeks. his color is bright green. There's no stress marks on his belly. it's bright white. But his anus is visible. His waste is solid and salmon colored. He's just resting, curled up on the substrate floor, seems to be breathing hard and rubbing his tummy on the rocks slowly. then he comes up and poops a little. His tummy does have a few odd lumps he seems to be massaging them on the rocks. If a ghost shrimp swims by, he will go after it for a few minutes, but not eat it. He's eaten well today, one small feeder guppy, and one ghost shrimp. Oh and a small periwinkle snail. His tank mate is doing very well. Is this normal behaviour of a tummy ache?? I don't want to lose him!

[Pufferpunk]

Please read the Qs above in RED & don't skimp on your responses!

[Hannibal SPG]

Please read the Qs above in RED & don't skimp on your responses!

I read them. I didn't think that info was remotely important when describing normal or abnormal behavior to a new SGP keeper. But fine here's the importants:
) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity: PH 8 Am. 0 Nitrite 1 or 2. Nitrate between 3 & 5 freshwater. ...like I said, water is perfectly fine.

2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants: 12g. Marineland Eclipse tank w/biowheel. 3 feeder guppies, 5 ghost shrimp. 2 1" SGP. 76-78*f live plants

3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank I fed ghost shrimp in the AM. I use Stress Coat. I change about 25% of the water every Sunday.

4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. No changes.

5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? About 2 years constantly running. It use to be a cardinal Tetra/glowlight tetra only tank. Immediately before the GSP's were added the tetras were moved into another tank.



Now with those oh so important details provided, what's your opinion? BTW, he ate another small ghost shrimp, and isn't curled up any longer and is swimming around as normal. But was that normal behaviour?

[blondenblue]

I think there are some articles in the library and also in the pufferpedia on GSP's they are definately a good read if you havent already read them

[Myaj]

Well, nitrites are not good, they should always be zero so those are probably affecting your puffer. Puffers are way more sensitive to any ammonia or nitrites than fish with scales are. So, water is NOT perfectly fine, sorry.

Also, feeding live feeders to a species of fish already known for having internal parasite issues is just asking for more trouble (not to mention its not a healthy diet). His color looks good but behavior does not sound right and he has an "odd" look to his body shape.. could be constipation, toxins from the nitrites, internal parasites, ate too much (you can't let them eat all they want, some will literally eat until they split open), general stress..

What kind of filtration do you have on this tank? Puffers need some pretty heavy water movement, a filter that turns over the water 10x per hour is recommended.

[Pufferpunk]

See how important answering those Qs are??? It really isn't a very good idea to mock the questions we ask you, we're just trying to help. We have been doing this a very, very long time...

ANY amount of nitrite is toxic. 1 or 2 is extremely high! In the GSP article in our Library you will see that your tank is overstocked by at least 1 puffer & the guppies are also adding bioload to the tank. It's survival of the fittest in this case--the weaker one will die off, so the stronger can live in that small space.

What else are you feeding them? Please read the GSP article & also the feeding articles.

[t1gerbee]

odd attitude...

Hope the puff comes through ok.

[Pandora114]

Please read the Qs above in RED & don't skimp on your responses!

I read them. I didn't think that info was remotely important when describing normal or abnormal behavior to a new SGP keeper. But fine here's the importants:
) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity: PH 8 Am. 0 Nitrite 1 or 2. Nitrate between 3 & 5 freshwater. ...like I said, water is perfectly fine.

2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants: 12g. Marineland Eclipse tank w/biowheel. 3 feeder guppies, 5 ghost shrimp. 2 1" SGP. 76-78*f live plants

3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank I fed ghost shrimp in the AM. I use Stress Coat. I change about 25% of the water every Sunday.

4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. No changes.

5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? About 2 years constantly running. It use to be a cardinal Tetra/glowlight tetra only tank. Immediately before the GSP's were added the tetras were moved into another tank.



Now with those oh so important details provided, what's your opinion? BTW, he ate another small ghost shrimp, and isn't curled up any longer and is swimming around as normal. But was that normal behaviour?

Your tank is too small and he's feeling cramped he needs at least 30 gallons to himself, with no friends. He's also probably getting harassed by his tankmates
it's also the wrong Specific gravity for him since he's supposed to be in brackish to marine.

Nitrites are too high, and will poison him. Your water parameters should be 0 Ammonia 0Nitrites and less than 20 Nitrates. Do water changes.

So upgrade your tank to a 30gal brackish (hopefully fully cycled) then you'll see him act normal

[Pufferpunk]

This guy hasn't posted in over 2 weeks. Either the puffer is dead or he's not interested in what we have to say here or both.

[Sponge bob]

I would say lack of nutrients possibly and there brackish.And PP I saw the eye rolls smiley on his post.maybe he doesn't care about anything anymore and think its all fine bc having a fish like that aint that fine