The Puffer Forum

Tank Details: 55 gallon, 1 juvenile GSP (1.75in), 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 5ppm nitrate, salinity = 1.005-1.008.

Background: the tank started off with 2 GSPs but one started bullying the other one and took chunks out of several fins and possibly the body, so I took the aggressive one back. A couple days before I took the aggressive one back, the other (the one who is in the tank now) started getting very skinny and his belly became concave (he was always skinnier than the other, but never concave). Because of this, and the markings under his chin, I believed he had internal parasites. However, after treating with melafix (for the fins and incase the markings were bites) and IP meds, nothing seems to have changed. I realize it could just take time but I wanted to post his markings on here to see if you guys think they are IPs, puffer bites, or something else.

The main markings of concern are under his chin. He also has grey spots in various places over his body (these looks different to the under the chin markings), which are circled in the last photo, but he had similar grey spots when I got him and they quickly went away originally.

Couldn't fit all the attachments in one post.

Circled grey spots.

Pufferbites. I hope you can fatten up this fella soon, now that his competitor is gone.

Thank you! So I will continue to treat for the melafix but should I continue the IP meds just in case? I suspected IP's for a while when I first got him because he was always noticibly skinner than the other.

I've been purposely over-feeding him with high quality, meaty foods for about 2 weeks but he still doesn't look any fuller.

Yes, do treat for IPs.