The Puffer Forum

Fish: 1.25" GSP, have had him for about a year with no problems.

Tested the water right away when I noticed he was sick.

pH = 7.8
Amonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrates = 10 ppm
Tests were done with API test kit (not strips)

Salinity = .011
Feeding = Feeding every day, snails every other day, frozen blood worms, frozen mysis shrimp, spirulina shrimp, cockles, raw shrimp from the grocery store frozen at least two weeks. Food gets soaked in Selcon
Tank Size = 20g
Inhabitants = just the GSP
Water change = 50% every two weeks, using prime water conditioner, three drops per two gallons. I also use about a teaspoon of Melafix once a month.
Temp = 79 F

Symptoms: Was fine Sunday night before going to bed. Didn't really notice anything this morning. Stopped home this morning and he was sitting on a leaf with his skin noticeably darker and his belly partially black (it's normally pure white). He's also very lethargic

On Saturday I upgraded the filter from a Whisper in tank filter to a Fluval U3 in tank filter. I also have a power head with a sponge filter on it in the tank. I pulled the sponge and filter out of the whisper and left it sitting in the tank next to the new filter (no they were not out of the tank longer than the time it took me to pull them out of the filter and set them back in the tank). Everything was fine on Sunday.

My first thought was that I had disrupted my cycle to some degree. Two days would be a reasonable time line for that to show up but when I tested the water nothing came up. I've considered setting up the old filter again (the filter cartridge and sponge have been in the tank) but thought I might just prolong whatever is going on by changing things again.

Don't know if this has anything to do with it but the flow of water was significantly increased with the new filter setup and it's also reversed (this setup allowed the most effective filer operation keeping the intakes free as possible) . I had the filter blowing down the long direction of the tank. I was concerned at the time that it was too much current in the tank it might stress him out. It seemed like he had plenty of space to avoid the current though after I pointed it up and towards the glass more reducing the overall effect on the tank. There were no issues until now. Just to be sure I've now set up the filter so it blows the short direction across the tank and more into a corners to further reduce flow and it's going the same direction around the tank that it used to. I could remove the power head to further reduce flow (which has always had it's flow reduced) but that would further disrupt my cycle).

I know the best thing to do first is always a water change but I don't have water prepared so it would be a day at the earliest that I could have water ready. I could use water that has stabilized but that could just compound my problems.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Is he eating?

I dropped a couple snails in and he didn't go for them right away. I didn't see him eat them before I left so I'm assuming he's not going to be eating. Normally he's got them before they hit the bottom of the tank but maybe he's just taking his time because he doesn't feel well and he's going to eat them.

When I get home I'm going to try some other food he likes to make a final determination. I'll post results as soon as I have a better answer. Hope for the best.

Any help or advice would be very much appreciated. I'm really not sure what course to do. I could call the fish store but there suggestions are always questionable.

Its difficult to hazard a guess at what could be wrong. When you saw him just sitting on the leaf & his colour was darker - did he start to move around when he saw you & did his colour lighten again? Its normal for GSPs to darken when they rest but usually they are quick to turn bright again. Mine go through a whole range of colours - darker when resting to almost fluorescent greeny/yellow when they are hunting. Certainly be useful to know if he is eating - try live earthworms.

That's a really good point. Your post reminded that he has some what done this before. I came home late one night and woke him up and he looked awful. I tried to give him food and he didn't come around. I even got water ready in the middle of the night for a next day water change. After an hour he still hadn't come out his funk. I was sure there was trouble ahead. I went to bed and woke up in the morning to find him bouncing around happy as ever like nothing had ever happened. It's very possible that this is something similar.

He did start moving around more when he saw me. I was home for about 30 min and he still hadn't come around but I at times he wakes up really slowly when he's really out.
I'll know when I get home.

So after getting home he seems improved but not normal. He is moving around more freely but his underside is stil dark towards his tail. He did eat some blood worms but only about half a meal. I dont think he touched the snails from earlier.

He seems very apprehensive and scared. He wants to stay close into the plants and for the most part on the opposite side that filter and power head is on. He was carefull about coming up to eat and he was a little skitish?

I've noticed that the power head in the tank seem to be making more noise than it used to. Could that be bothering him? I'm sure he can sense vibration and maybe an increased vibration is making him mad? I could turn off the power head but I jeoprodize my cycle more.

Should I do a water change tomorrow?

I really appreciate any help. I'm just trying to do what's best for him.

Thanks,

Those parameters were taken how far after the filter change?

Those parameters were taken this morning. I've just tested again to double check and got the same results which is good I guess but inconclusive.

The good news is that he seems to be improving. His belly is almost back to complete white and even ate a couple of the snails I threw in earlier today. Since my last post he already seems much calmer almost like a different fish? Hopefully whatever it was it has passed.

Maybe the cycle was slightly disrupted or maybe he just ate something that didn't agree with him? Anyone have any thoughts because I don't understand it. I'm going to keep a close on him the week or so to make sure nothing else changes.

I appreciate everyones help. I feel so much better. I was pretty stressed about the whole thing. Thanks again and any suggestions on what might have happened would be great. I

I know my GSP gets really sulky looking when there's added noise to the room he lives in, like loud music or a sub woofer or something, even when I drop something on my desk he gets kind of antsy. Maybe it was the added noise/vibrations from the new powerhead! It might be a little overwhelming at first, makes sense to me anyway...like the first few songs of a show before you're the right amount of deaf. I'm glad your guy seems to be doing better though!!