The Puffer Forum

I have 2 gsps in a 55 gallon aquarium. One is roughly 1-2 inches the other is 2-3 inches. The ph of the tank is 8.4, nitrate 20 ppm, nitrite 0, ammonia 0, salinity 1.008 sg. We feed them 2 times a day morning and night using a mixture of shrimp, blood worms and snails. The tank has been set up for 3 months and has an ehiem canister filter. The tank was cycled using top fin bacteria supplement. The water is changed once a week using prime with each change. The tank was treated with Marcel to cure ick about a month ago. This problem started occurring after last weeks water change and is affecting the larger fish only. The smaller one is still eating and very active. Any help is appreciated, thank you

They only need feeding once daily. Try not feeding for a day or so, or soak their food in garlic. Welcome to the forum

Thanks for all the great info! Usually, it's like pulling teeth from a 1st time poster here.
Sounds like you're doing everything right. Could possible just be overfed. I also suggest feeding with meatier choices, soaked in fish vitamins: library/category/feeding/

Thanks for the advice and the welcome. I will try both tactics and see if that helps

Well I've tried not feeding for multiple days, multiple times and the large one still will not eat. All it does is stay at the bottom, I've seen it nibble at some food once,but its lost a lot of weight. I have a feeling it may not last much longer.

Stock the tank with snails, crabs, or ghost shrimp. The puffer may be getting bullied when feeding non live food. Forcing both puffers to hunt for food may encourage the lethargic puffer out of hiding and provides it a chance to catch its own food since the prey is likely to disperse throughout the tank. There is also a good chance that the lethargic puffer is nocturnal now to avoid additional harassment while looking for food.

What about possible internal parasites? Being that they're wild caught, I hear that can be common. I may be wrong, as GSP's with IP may still eat, but I wanted to throw that out.

Good luck with your little guy.

Gwen

+1 to stocking with live food - you can sometimes kickstart a puffer's appetite by appealing to their natural desire to chase something crunchy down and smash it to pieces. Is his coloration still normal or has it changed?

Thanks for all your help guys, but unfortunately he died. Pufferme! I do believe you may be correct about an internal parasite. At this time i see it as the only logical explanation. The water quality was good and he never showed any visible signs of disease

Sorry for your loss.

Sorry for your loss. If you believe it might be because of ip's you need to treat the other ones food as he will likely also be infected

Poor little guy I'm sorry you lost him.

Gwen