The Puffer Forum

My GSP (Russel) doesn't seem to be acting right and I'm in a state of panic. I only have the salinity, which is 0.09. It is a 29 gallon tank, and he has his long time tank mate (Murdoc). I feed them everyday at 5 PM, blood worms and pond snails. I mixed tap water with marine salt on Sunday and on Monday added half saltwater and half freshwater mix from a local pet store reading at 0.08 for salinity. They have just been moved in to their new tank from a 10 gallon on Monday. It's been set up for about 2 days now. I had been worried about Murdoc's stress but he finally calmed down today. And Russel seemed to have been fine during the process until now. Russel has always had a distinctive color to his belly. It usually a dark color. Not very dark but is noticeable since Murdoc's belly is white. But I have just noticed that Russel is now laying on the bottom of the tank, breathing heavier with a very almost black belly. I am very worried because this is not normal to me to see. Please help!!!

Please answer ALL the Qs above in red, so we can better access the situation.

Amonia strip read between ideal and safe so between 0 to 0.25. Nitrate at "okay" between 20 to 40. Nitrite at "stress" around the 3.0 mark. and PH reads at what looks like "ideal" around 8.4. and salinity is about 0.08.

NO ammonia is acceptable & the same with nitrite. Your tank is not cycled. How did you attempt to cycle it? Get some Tetra Safestart, do a 90% WC & add it to your filter.

james2019 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 30, 2018 6:04 pm Amonia strip read between ideal and safe so between 0 to 0.25. Nitrate at "okay" between 20 to 40. Nitrite at "stress" around the 3.0 mark. and PH reads at what looks like "ideal" around 8.4. and salinity is about 0.08.

strips are not accurate.
your water parameters may be much worse that you think.
get a liquid test kit.