The Puffer Forum

pH= 7.7
Ammonia=0
Nitrite=0.3
Salinity=.002(maybe a little less, or a little more, i need a different hydrometer)

I clean my tank at least twice a week, the last time was yesterday, and that was the first time i started using instant oean to slowly start my brackish water. The tank has been set up as a freshwater tank for months now.

Problem- My somewhat new GSP is still acting weird. He isnt floating on the bottom as much any more like he used to, but I just now discovered a new problem(if it even is one). He acts like he is chewing on something but he isnt. I can see his teeth moving up and down like he is and his left side is making a "gasping" motion, but the right side is fine. Maybe he is constipated? I really dont know. My first puffer that ive had for a month or so now is perfectly fine. Do you think my new puffer wasnt well from the start? I appreciate everyones adivce

Nitrite=0.3 = gasping

Just cleaned it yesterday, and thats as low as the chart goes! I dont get it, i really dont. My other puffer is fine and ive had her wayyy longer, i think he was ill to begin with before i got him.

It's because of the nitrites. You used a hydrometer that started at 1.012, right? (Other post.) So, how do you know it's only 1.002? You could have raised it a LOT more... and that could be why there's nitrites. Keep a very, very close eye on water parameters, since you could have a mini-cycle any time now. It would be a very good idea NOT to add any more salt until you get a new hydrometer.

Lilgreenpuffer- you could be right, i know it was stupid of me to guess, but i knew i had to get them into some sort of brackish water. I tested it today with the hydrometer and it still read as if there were no salt in there so it cant be too high, but you are right. And i did order the right one today, off of Dr Foster&Smith. I hope that makes you feel better lol it makes me feel better. But its weird because my oldest puffer is soooo active and her color is great thats what confuses me. Even since i got the new one (2-3 weeks ago) hes the one thats been a little "off" and he looked a little "off" when i saw him at the LFS, and i thought i would help him since my oldest puffer is doing great and i thought i was doing the right think ya know? But i appreciate everyones help

They can live for years in FW. It's not healthy, but it's not deadly. It's way more important to take good care of the biofilter than to get them into BW ASAP.

Is it a swing arm hydrometer? I haven't seen any of those that measure below 1.010 or 1.012. Anything below that you may need a refractometer or one of those old school glass hydrometers.

Lilgreenpuffer- yea i heard they can live in FW but i know they do better in BW and than SW. I'm going to wait till i get my new hydrometer first before i do anything else with salt. I will move them over tho...i want them to be healthy and live a long time! By the way...i did a 100% water change today(just got done) and my nitrites are below 0.3 according to my chart, so im good with that.

Seventy- You can order this hydrometer off of the Dr. Foster&Smith website for only $6.69. i just ordered it today. It goes as low as 1.001, most of the ones in LFS dont sell ones that go that low unless its electronic i think. If i were you, id order one off the website. My total came up to just about $17.00 after everything else was added onto it like tax and stuff

Did you sign up for that rebate? You should have gotten a lot more off if you did (as a rebate).

Pufferpunk- i didnt sign up for the rebates because my fiance doesnt want a chance for viruses and he said that they can have a thousand different URLS that can be affected and they can easily just close them and start a new one, and that its just way to easy to get a virus, but i got a good enough deal and buying from them is totally worth it anyways.

I've been using Ebates for 2 years. I have never gotten a virus or spammed by them selling my email. I have made back over $250 from them so far.

trust me i really want to do it, and if it were my computer i would haha but i wont because i respect him. What kinda fiance would i be if i didnt

Grrrrr... so he doesn't trust me?

No...he doesnt trust the computer haha. We just had this one virus attack us twice for no reason at all, so now hes petrified of getting anymore

I've never gotten a virus for "no reason" - it's usually because you're using internet explorer with autoinstall enabled, or letting pages like myspace load apps, etc. I don't run an antivirus or a firewall, and have a really out of date copy of windows XP, just running firefox and not downloading strange applications without googling them first will eliminate 99% of possible issues with viruses and worms.