The Puffer Forum

Tank: 10 Gal. Fresh with some live plants
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10
Recent Changes: 30-40% water change and deep gravel vaccum. Addition of 2 tablespoons of aquarium salt.
Tankmates: Pleco >1

After I did the Gravel vaccum my puffer just sat at the bottom of the tank. Yesterday I didn't feed him at all and today his belly is still a bit round as if he ate a few hours ago.I noticed that his feces came out white, almost milky. He has been particularly lazy the past couple days. Is he constipated? If so, what can I do to help? Today he seems weak and not very responsive. I want to help him out any way that I can.


Any advice is appreciated.

What kind of puffer? Also have you treated for IP's ever?

GSP never treated for parasites. Had him for a month now. When I purchased him he had a nice rounded belly which shrank little by little as time passed after I fed him. Also lately I noticed some nematodes swimming in the tank and have been doin recent gravel vaccums to help. Any suggestions for treatment?

Sounds like internal parasites, and possibly constipation. I'd add in some epsom salt (search through the forums for the correct tank dosing, it's something like 1 tbsp per 5 gallons, but please double-check) and treat for internal parasites. Your best bet if he's not eating is to pick up some Jungle Labs Parasite Clear tablets and dose the tank as per its instructions. After he (hopefully) clears out some parasites and regains his appetite, treat his food with the medication to make sure the worms are completely expelled.

For the next couple weeks, you'll have to do daily water changes and gravel vacs to make sure that all of the parasites are removed and that the water stays clean (don't forget to add back the epsom salt after the water change). You shouldn't need to dose with aquarium salt, so you can stop doing that (saves you some effort). You should get rid of the pleco as soon as possible (probably AFTER you've completed the treatment for internal parasites), as you're adding too much bioload to such a small tank.

Lastly, you'll need to upgrade your GSP to a 30 gallon, so I'd look around for used fish tanks, as you should be able to find a 30 gallon pretty cheap (they're a common tank - 30" x 12" x 20ish"... might be 36" x 12" x 20ish", though).

Sorry to say...Kiwi passed this morning. It was an awful sight....he passed so quickly, not long after I started treatment.I guess the combination of things I had done wrong finally did him in... poor little guy. It was completely my fault and I feel horrible.

I have a 30g cycling now and I'm just staring to see nitrite readings. I'm just sad he didn't get to experience it. My GF saw how heartbroken I was and offered to buy me another one right away. I opted not to in order to address the problems already existing in the tank. Besides, once the 30g is cycled I can buy another GSP and probably just use the 10g as a breeder tank for snails or as a hostpital tank.

I just want to thank you all for your help and ideas...hopefully next time I'll get it right

Sorry to hear about your loss. I lost my first puffers, too, for similar reasons of just not knowing how to handle the situations.

Luckily, you've learned what you now need, so don't worry, things will come around. Just don't be too hard on yourself and learn from what happened.

sorry to hear about your loss. i most my first puffer because i didn't know what to do to either. its a hard loss. just don't let it get you discouraged too much, just get everything set and try again, next time you'll know what to do.

Sorry for your loss. There is so much bad info out there for new puffer owners and not many LFS or chain stores really care to learn the truth about them. They make it seem like you can just plop them in a tank and feed them flake food and unfortunately new puffer owners pay the price. You now have some experience with GSP's and have an advantage for when you get your next one.