The Puffer Forum

1) ph: 7.2
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrates: 5
still freshwater

2) 15 gallon
1 ghost shrimp

3) Feed every day. Every other day I feed him frozen bloodworms. On the other days, I feed him freeze dried baby shrimps. And I drop him a few snails here and there to help out with his beak. As for water change, I've been changing about 10% of his water every week because I have to clean his tank frequently due to his waste. Last week I did a 30% water change (I've only had him for a month so that was his biggest water change) and I used prime.

4) I've just moved a couple clay pots around inside. And a week and a half ago I got him a bubble curtain which he LOVES!

5) I've had this tank for a few years now but it has been re-cycled for a year now and I did a fishless cycle.





So the story. I've only noticed last week that my gsp has been breathing from one gill (his right one if that matters). I'm honestly not sure if he's been doing that the whole time but I have only noticed recently. He acts pretty normal though. He doesn't bump into things (only after he wakes up though. He's groggy when you wake him up haha.) and he explores frequently. He plays in the bubbles and will window surf once in a while. He does have the stress line once in a while (once again, usually after he wakes up). And he'll lay beside the ghost shrimp.

Maybe he's been breathing through one gill the whole time and I am just noticing now or maybe he just started but I don't see other symptoms that will point me to any direction. He does breath heavily but I am getting that is because he is only breathing through one side of him :/ I forgot, he also coughs here and there.

Should I just go ahead and treat him for something/anything just incase he does have something?

Any advice? Thanks all!

I often see posts like this. Tomorrow, it'll be the other gill.

As long as the gill is not red or has visible parasites..You should be fine. And as long as he is not a smoker, coughing once in a while won't hurt him either.

If he Always breaths through one gill or breathes rapidly rapidly a lot..then yes get concerned!

HOWEVER....you have a few other problems
He needs a better diet
He needs high brackish water
He needs 50% weekly water changes
And he needs at least a 30 gallon tank

Other than that it sounds like you are doing good with the little fella

A couple years back My F8 used to do this. Also sometimes he would decide to only use one pectoral fin...He was as healthy then as he is now. I just think they do it for whatever reason.

Agreed with all of the above. Puffers can be quite odd at times. I have witnessed my puffers do the same thing with their gills and fins.

Thanks everyone!

purplecandle wrote:As long as the gill is not red or has visible parasites..You should be fine. And as long as he is not a smoker, coughing once in a while won't hurt him either.

If he Always breaths through one gill or breathes rapidly rapidly a lot..then yes get concerned!

HOWEVER....you have a few other problems
He needs a better diet
He needs high brackish water
He needs 50% weekly water changes
And he needs at least a 30 gallon tank

Other than that it sounds like you are doing good with the little fella

Yeah I've been planning on hopping over to my locals farmers market and grabbing some clams for him and some fresh shrimp Ghost shrimp seems to be out of the question still because he really has become buddy buddy with the one I have in there with him.

As for the tank, my best friend is giving me her 90 gallon tank for a graduation/first job gift But my gsp will still be in the 15 gallon for a little bit more time until I move. I will though do larger water changes and I will start converting his tank this weekend!

I think I'm just over paranoid that I am going to lose this guy especially since he's still new. So I tend to automatically assume that there is something wrong when he does a single thing differently :/

laauurreeennnn wrote:Thanks everyone!

purplecandle wrote:As long as the gill is not red or has visible parasites..You should be fine. And as long as he is not a smoker, coughing once in a while won't hurt him either.

If he Always breaths through one gill or breathes rapidly rapidly a lot..then yes get concerned!

HOWEVER....you have a few other problems
He needs a better diet
He needs high brackish water
He needs 50% weekly water changes
And he needs at least a 30 gallon tank

Other than that it sounds like you are doing good with the little fella

I
Yeah I've been planning on hopping over to my locals farmers market and grabbing some clams for him and some fresh shrimp Ghost shrimp seems to be out of the question still because he really has become buddy buddy with the one I have in there with him.

As for the tank, my best friend is giving me her 90 gallon tank for a graduation/first job gift But my gsp will still be in the 15 gallon for a little bit more time until I move. I will though do larger water changes and I will start converting his tank this weekend!

I think I'm just over paranoid that I am going to lose this guy especially since he's still new. So I tend to automatically assume that there is something wrong when he does a single thing differently :/

I figured you were gonna upgrade him.

You can never be too concerned with puffers..they go down hill fast. Best to ask before it's too late!