The Puffer Forum

i have a spotted puffer that i just moved into a new 20 gallon tank from a 14 gallon. before moving him, he has been just laying on the bottom of the tank alot and im not quite sure why but didnt really think much of it.... and now hes doing it all the time. He eats when i feed him, but today he just nibbled a little bit then layed back on the bottom

any suggestions to what is wrong

Yep, I have a few suspicions, and we can prove or disprove them if you answer these questions. Then, could you confirm that your puffer is a green-spotted puffer? "Spotted puffer" is a bit vague. Also, are you using salt in the aquarium? If so, what kind?

1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers. (If you do not understand this, you will after you read the article mentioned in #5. Then, go to the fish store and get a test kit, preferably liquid and not dip strips, and tell us the results.)

2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.

3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)

4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.

5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.

Good luck! And welcome!

He is a green spotted puffer.
He is coming from a tank establish for about 12 months.
His other tank inhabitant was a red-tailed shark. But it committed suicide in the move to the new 20g.
I am using API Aquarium salt. Feeding a mixed diet of free dried krill shrimp and live snails.
Will get water parameters soon.

Tank is 20g long with live plants now, filtered by an aqueon 20g power filter. Tank mates are 4 neon tetras.

Thanks.

Okay, so the tank is cycled. Yay! The diet is fine for now, too, although you may want to vary it a bit. Check out the feeding and diet article in the Library when you get a chance.

However, he should be moved to a 30g ASAP. It is possible (I don't know the sizes of all your fish) that you have an overstocking issue. We'll find that out when you get water parameters. Please note that if you don't have an overstocking problem now, you will soon, as GSPs get to be 6" long, and each one requires 30g, plus additional space for any tankmates.

Also, aquarium salt doesn't make brackish water. It's actually a medicine. You need to use marine salt, such as Instant Ocean. To properly measure this, you will need a refractometer or a hydrometer. Unfortunately, the tetras won't do well in brackish water.

Please read the article on GSPs in the Library. It will tell you about changes that should be made. Also, read the article in Question 5 if you haven't already.

That being said, if you make these changes, you will almost certainly notice a huge difference in your puffer, and you'll come to love his rambunctious personality!

Welcome to the forum! Don't worry, he's not a lost cause - lots of us have been in your same position.

Most definitely follow LilGreenPuffer's advice and suggestions. It is truly amazing to see a lethargic, dark-colored GSP turn into an active and bright green little cutie once you start adding marine salt to its tank, so definitely get going in that direction as soon as you can.

If you can't test the water yourself, call around and see if an LFS will check it for free. Most will. Eventually, though, you'll want to get a test kit, because, well, that's just part of owning a puffer.

Those neons will become dinner. Did you read that GSP article yet?