The Puffer Forum

Things were looking better for Mookie, my gsp, after my nitrite spike. he was getting better and really being active. His colors were bright and his head was shiny for about two days. I went and bought some earthworms as was suggested and the first one I dropped in scared Mookie and he swam to the other side of the tank. So i cut a piece off before i dropped it in and he ate about a half inch of it and I removed the rest. After he ate, it did relax him but almost to the point of him seeming sick, with stress marks developing around his jaw. I've been giving him about a half inch of worm the past few days along with two snails. The worms seem to be having a negative affect on him as he's moving very slowly all the time now, developing stress lines on his jaw and sides, and is hovering near the surface. Starting today I've noticed his right fin is clamed. I wonder if maybe I've overfed him or maybe he's constipated? I haven't seen him poo lately...but I would think worms would be easy to digest. I've added plenty of hiding places (new things from the pet store, could this be it?) for him but he's just hovering at the top (where there's more oxygen I assume...so maybe it is still the nitrite poisoning from before...)

Tonight he didn't even go after a snail which has never happened. Before I got the worms I was feeding him mostly snails. I wonder if I gave him too many? I can't see his top teeth at all, although it's hard to get a good look. is it possible that all the snails filed down his teeth too much?

Also, one of his gills was closed, although he switched gills and now the other is closed. From what I've read and from what pufferpunk told me in chat the other night, this isn't anything to worry about. But maybe combined with the other symptoms it could mean more.

I have an airstone but that seemed to stress him out. I think maybe it's too powerful and created too much disturbance for him. but maybe I should plug it back in or get a smaller one?

I also lowered the temperature from 80 to 78 as I read that there is more oxygen in the water at lower temperatures. I did this at about the same time I started with the worms.

He is still in the 30g tank by himself and I have not started converting to BW. I have been adding 1 tbs of aquarium salt per 5g to help with the nitrite poisoning.

I've been doing daily 50% water changes. The past week the ammonia has been consistently 0, nitrite has been always below 0.20 and nitrate has been between 5 and 10. All levels went to zero after each water change.

Yesterday I did 20% as I figured it couldn't hurt even though my levels were good. Today is the first day that I haven't changed any water. My levels are currently:
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 10
pH - 7.8
temp - 78

I will change out 20% now, I don't know what else to do...

I really can't help you much.

But I was curious. When you do your testing, are you testing directly after water changes? Sometimes When I test right after a water change..the levels might be different in an hour or so.

And worms, at least in my tank, increase my levels..if I do not vacuum all of the left over little pieces within a couple of hours.

Just some thoughts..sorry I cannot help you much!

Thanks for replying! Lately I've been so obsessed with my levels I've beend testing probably once every hour that I'm home. My nitrite spike really scared me. But that's good advice, thanks.

I've been vacuuming with every water change also.

I just read your other post..and you know what..I think it is possible that you have something bad going on..I mean you had the cycling problem and levels spiking...I mean you really could have something going on here..and I promise you I am no expert..

But I wanted to say that it sounds like you have a rather spastic GSP. He seems to get freaked out a lot!

You talk about him having stress lines...but that does not mean he is stressed. One of my GSPs , huggles, after he eats he immediately turns his belly black..I think as an instinct..so that "predators" do not see his big fat belly. My other GSP , pickles, will turn two spots under his eyes black because he gets exited when he sees me bringing food to the tank-I always use the same bowls and bags.

And talk about spastic..I have to hand feed another GSP of mine, piggy, because she won't eat food if another GSP (her tankmate Huggles) has touched it.

Your little guy has a lot going on right now. He lived at Wal-Hell..He got a spot..and he is constantly going through water changes and he has turned his mommy spastic too.

Maybe he just needs some time to adjust and find some normal life!

yes...he has turned me spastic!

I was going to add to my post to say that I rearanged the furniture today in the room that he's in and maybe he doesn't like the new arrangement? : )

It's good to know that the stress marks aren't necessarily bad. I know he is going through a lot but I can't help but worry about the little guy and want to make sure it's not something else that would require medicine or something. He really does seem worse than he's ever been, even when he first developed the spot.

IDK but if you wanna feed him worms why not Bloodworms frozen. This way they're parasite free.

What kind of soil are the earth worms packed in? I have had problems in the past with the producers adding product to the soil they are shipped in so they keep longer. Make sure there aren't any chemicals in the soil.

The worms are in some black clumpy dirt but it doesn't look like there's anything added to the soil. The container doesn't say anything. I'm going to stop giving them to him. I bought some frozen bloodworms today and will try feeding him those tonight.

He's not doing any better. The spot on his head is changing slightly. There is a raised black bump right on top of one of his spots. Around it there is a cloudy area. The spot and the cloudy area don't change colors when the rest of his spots fade with his mood. But the cloudy area has been turning more whitish. Is it healing or could it be infected?? I tried to get some pictures of it. The first pic is what the spot looked like before.

If it is infected, how do I treat it? I'm getting really worried

Poor little guy. I hope you get the help you need soon

thanks J-P...

was just thinking the same!

hope he pulls thru for you, and his head heals well

they are cute wee fellas =]

I was wondering.. on that second pic it looks like the spot is fuzzy????? Like lint coming of of it or tiny, tiny strings coming off of it....fuzzy like cotton or wool..Is that how it is?

It looks like a fungus do a google search on Saprolegnia Fungus..see if that is what it looks like????

I don't have any suggestions but wanted to say I hope that things improve!

I know it looks fuzzy like cotton in that picture but the only protrusion is the black dot in the center. The rest is flush with his skin.

He did eat some frozen blood worms tonight. I'd say he's slightly better than yesterday but still not right.

He twitches every now and then and sometimes he looks like he's coughing.

he is a cute little guy... I really really hope he gets better. did you notice his heart shaped spot?

SammyDee wrote:IDK but if you wanna feed him worms why not Bloodworms frozen. This way they're parasite free.

Because earthworms are natural good live food to get a difficult to feed puffer eating. They aren't a staple food because of the lack of crunch but make good once a week food for healthy puffers.