The Puffer Forum

I have a GSP that i got 2 weeks ago, a F8 that I've had for 3 months and a guppie.

GSP is very lethargic during the day. His right gill opening is MUCH larger than his right and when he breathes i can see something white inside (not sure if its supposed to be there).

He has a lump under his skin on the right side. No bleeding or leaking just a lump.

His tail/spine curves almost always as well.

I have attached a movie of him i took this evening.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpS_Ulfwzzk

PLEASE HELP!

Please answer the questions in red so we can help you better.

So sorry you had to join under these circumstances.

ph- 7.6-7.8
ammonia-unsure
nitrite/nitrate= 0

10 gallon- GSP, F8, guppie, ghost shrimp

1 frozen cube of blood worms every night.

Water change about once every 2 weeks, 20-30 %

Been set up for 3 months or so. Used to have nitrates.

Brown algae started to grow, problems apart from the gill one have def been there since I bought the GSP

Oh my...You need to do a 50% water change right now and continue doing that daily.

Do you have a test kit or did you take a sample to the pet store? If you are taking a sample then do it tomorrow? I guarantee you that the numbers are off the chart. You are severely overstocked and every one of those fish are going to die if you don't do something immediately.

Again...Do at least a 50% water change right now! Don't forget the de-chlorinater and try to get the new water temp as close to the tank water temp as possible. And do not feed them anymore until you get some more advice from this forum.

I already did a 30% or so water change today.

Should I change it AGAIN????

Did you cycle the tank? If so, exactly how?

You need to read these articles:
library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
library/puffers-in-focus/fig8/
library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/
library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/
library/category/feeding/

I think that lump is a tumor, but I'm not sure.

jakjak1220 wrote:I already did a 30% or so water change today.

Should I change it AGAIN????

I would.

And tomorrow when you go to the pet store, pick up a product called "Prime" and use the dosing directions for high ammonia and nitrite. Those fish are in alot of trouble and I've never seen a F8 or GSP with a belly as dark as your GSP. That means he is extremely sick from the ammonia and nitrite poisoning.

For right now just work on getting the water clean with water changes and Prime. Very, very soon you are going to have to make some big decisions as what to do about keeping these fish. You are going to get a ton of advice here.

Thoroughly look over these posts...That is after you do a water change.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=24703
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=24662
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=24737

I would do 80% or so daily.

just did ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite test.

ALL CAME BACK "0"
WHAT THE HELL

What type and brand of test kit are you using. How old is it...There should be a date on it somewhere.

test kit is brand new. Its the "master kit" that is most recommended on forums i've seen. comes with 4 glass test tubes as well

Did you read the directions, shake the bottles, and wait the correct amount of time?

jakjak1220 wrote:test kit is brand new. Its the "master kit" that is most recommended on forums i've seen. comes with 4 glass test tubes as well

That's odd.

Check the date on the bottles anyway.

The API master kit's nitrate solution #2 bottle has to be shaken for atleast 30 seconds before using and the test tube should be shaken for atleast 1 minute or it will give you a zero reading.

Did you use 10 drops each solution for the nitrates
8 drops each solution for the ammonia, shake for 5 seconds
5 drops for the nitrite?


There is absoloutley no way that that tank has "0" readings. And with only 30% water changes every 2 weeks you should show high nitrates.

JRC3 wrote:

jakjak1220 wrote:test kit is brand new. Its the "master kit" that is most recommended on forums i've seen. comes with 4 glass test tubes as well

That's odd.

Check the date on the bottles anyway.

The API master kit's nitrate solution #2 bottle has to be shaken for atleast 30 seconds before using and the test tube should be shaken for atleast 1 minute or it will give you a zero reading.

Did you use 10 drops each solution for the nitrates
8 drops each solution for the ammonia, shake for 5 seconds
5 drops for the nitrite?


There is absoloutley no way that that tank has "0" readings. And with only 30% water changes every 2 weeks you should show high nitrates.

I did everything as you said except for the Nitrates test. Retested after shaking bottle #2 and got a reading in between 40 and 100...

all bottles are less than 10 months old from date of bottling. API says they are good for 4 years i think.