The Puffer Forum

My GSP is a little funky looking I'm worried about him. He seems happy, always a bright green when I'm around and since I've been feeding him a higher snail diet. The thing I'm worried about is he has what seems like a crick in his back. Where he bends his tail back and forth it tends to have a little crick so it bends a little when he just sits still, it doesn't seem to affect him but it is weird. Also He seems skinny compared to all the pictures of puffers I have seen on this forum and that worries me quite a bit. I know he eats a bunch and usaully after feeding he has a little belly bump so I know he is full. I have had him for about a week now, he is kept in a ten until I can convince someone to let me set up my 38 gallon. His tank is freshwater right now, no salinity, ammonia 0ppm Nitrite 0ppm Nitrate 0ppm (probably from the amazon swords and anubias I have in there) and a PH of about 8.2. Does anyone know why he is so skinny? Is there anyway I can fatten him up so he looks more normal? Is the little crick in his back gonna affect him too much? I'm thinking fowl play at the LFS, but who knows.

Sounds like he might have IPs. Have you treated him for this? Pic???

I have not yet treated him for IPs, what is the best thing to use for this? I'm working on uploading images.

Lots of us have had good success using Jungle Parasite Clear fizz tabs. Soak his food in it.

I will get some of that today and start feeding him his food soaked in it! Thanks so much!

Looking forward to some fat, "after" pics!

One more question PP.
How many treatments should I give Alf?
I read in the library that a large water change is a good thing to do the day after so is this more than 50% (I just did a 50% water change this morning)

I wouldn't put it in the water, I soaked the food in a very small amount of tank water with the medication. I added some minced garlic for medication taste masking.

Treat the food & feed with the medicated food for 3 days.

Alrighty I'll get on that. can I maybe use garlic powder with the medication to mask the taste?

By all means.

Alright. a Few final questions
These tabs are huge, Do I need to use the entire tablet?
How long should I let the food soak?
and What food would be best to soak... (I have snails, freeze dried blood worms, fd baby shrimp and fd brine shrimp)?

Break off just a piece, soak for an hour. I'm not sure if something on that list is a better absorber.

Okay are there any good foods for my GSP that they typically love. I'm open to anything I don't mind buying more food for him as long as he is happy.

Try live/frozen worms.