The Puffer Forum

Ok guys, I need your help. Long story short I've been given two small GSPs in a 25gal tank. They were given to a young cousin who had no idea how to look after them and what it would involve. They were going to get rid of the little guys but I took them in because I didn't want that, so everything is a bit sudden! Bare in mind that I am a first-timer who's following the advice on this website as best he can!

There's two of them, one of which seems fine, chirpy, swimming about as they should. But the other is lying at the bottom of the tank not moving, fins against his side and barely breathing.
the original water has been in the tank since Tuesday and was (apparently) treated with a dechlorinator.
Here are the water readings as best as I can take them:

Nitrate: 25ish
Nitrite: 21

I did a roughly 30% water change half an hour ago, used dechlorinator (Nutrafin Aqua plus) and Nurtrafin Cycle on the water.

I find it really confusing as one fish seems to be happy, but the other seems very sick.

As I said, I'm trying to be as accurate as I can be, but I'm an amateur who's been dropped straight into caring for these two. I'd really appreciate the help as I want to make sure these guys have a good home.

Oh and I tested the water for ammonia, I'd say it comes in at around 0.25.
I assume it has to be way lower than that, but I just did a water change so I will wait for further advice before changing it agian.

Ammonia should be 0, nitrites should be 0 and nitrates should be below 10ppm. 2 GSPs in a 25 is WAY to small. GSP's should be in 30g per specimen

Do 50% water changes till your tank has finished cycling

Ok I'll change the water again. How soon after changing it should I change it again?
Just to be sure, I need to add the dechlorinator and Nutrafin cycle into every batch of water I put in? And marine salt too? Just need to ensure that the salt is dissolved before adding it into the tank.

As for the tank size, I may take one to the pet store and give him to them so I can look after the one puffer in a 30g tank.

Don't worry about salt for a few weeks. For now do several large water changes per day until you get the water values that you want to see. Then we can help you with salt. Also, you don't need to add the cycle, just stick with a dechlorinator.

Do you know anyone with a tank that you can get some used filter media from?

ETA: You can change the water again now. Two large changes per day will be safe.

Cycle isn't going to help at ALL. It's dead bacteria in a bottle. The only ones I know of that work are Dr. Tim's, Tetra SafeStart, and Bio-Spira (which is a saltwater product anyway).

Yes, you'll need dechlorinator every time.

You should change the water every time it shows any ammonia or nitrite. You can change as much water at a time as you want - as long as the fish stay underwater, you can't change too much!

Don't try and add salt yet. That'll slow the cycling process down a whole lot. Start by cycling the tank as freshwater:
library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/

This is also good reading, for a good understanding of the nitrogen cycle:
library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/

GSPs:
library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/

Good on you for rescuing these fish!

Shall I put the dechlorinator straight in the tank when it's full or shall I put a tiny bit in per bowl of water I put in? Using a plastic bowl to take a bit out at a time, so I can't refill the tank in one go. just making sure that if I add the dechlorinator to the water that it wont poison them.

As for the used filter media - do you mean a kind of filter cartridge?

Yes. Like foam or filter floss or even the squeezings from some. Even some gravel will help.

For water changes you remove the water, put dechlorinator in for the entire tank volume (e.x. dose for 25 gallons), then add the new water. Make sure the temperature change is very small.

I like to add the dechlorinater to my exchange water and give it a few minutes to work before I add it to the tank.

i can post some will take a couple of days though

I add my prime before I start to refill my tank

and +1 to xray and seven

sevenyearnight wrote:I like to add the dechlorinater to my exchange water and give it a few minutes to work before I add it to the tank.

Yeah, that's what I do. I take a bucket of water out, I fill the bucket with fresh water, add enough dechlorinator for the bucket, and mix it up really well before putting it in the tank. Either way works fine.

I also use a bucket that I ONLY use for water changes. If you use your mop bucket or something like that, you can get all kinds of soaps and bleach in there, and that can kill your fish easily.

Ok guys, I did a couple of water changes and the levels are much better.
The fundamental problem is the size of the tank, it seems. As sad as it may be, I may take one to the pet store and see if they'll take him off me, as the two of them in one tank are poisoning themselves, and I don't want them to die.
Do we all agree that just keeping one for now, until I can get a bigger tank, would be my best option?

And no, I don't have filter floss or anything like that. What will that help with? (amateur!)