The Puffer Forum

Hi-I am a new comer to the wonderful world of puffers. I have a 2 and half year old gsp. His name is Dave. He is currently in a 20 gallon tank (long) all by himself. Jimmie his brother didn't make it

I have been doing wc every 2 weeks faithly. His salinity is between 1.008 and 1.010. Ph is 7.5 temp 80 . Amonia 0 nitrite o nitrate .5. Sand substrate. Double filtration system
Lots of airation. Tank fully cycled.

I feed him hard pellets for his teeth. Some occasional dried krill, blood worms and clam on a half shell.

This past week he was acting stand off-ish and not eating. I took readings and it appeared the amonia was reading at .25. I immediately did my w c (30- 40 %). I found one filter clogged and the other other needing filter replaced. Which I took care if. Also I think I may have over fed and not cleaned the substrate very well in the past month. So I ended up doing 4 consecutive wc . I finally stopped. I think the amonia levels may have been fine all along and I may have misread ( I lost the saltwater chart and was going by the freshwater).

Dave went 8 days without food. I enticed him the other day with blood worms soaked in garlic. He went to town!! the next night I gave him clam on the half shell dipped in garlic and he are some. Today these no longer entice him. He just swims around and sits at the bottom. Go up near one of the filters.

Color looks good almost happy coloring . In at a loss. I live in a small town. My api kit amonia ran out . Using Jungke test strip. Coming up "safe" for amonia. I plan to go to the big city this weekend for a water testing.

I will be grateful for any advice or suggestions. I love this little guy with my WHOLE heart. Thank you

Test strips are inaccurate. Get yourself an API liquid test kit. Also, he needs minimally, a 30g, 55g would be best. At his age, he could be in full SW. It it is recommended to do 50% weekly WC, for FW/BW tanks. If moved up to SW, you can do less, as there is much better biological filtration (live rock, sand).

Thanks . Yes will definitely buy a API test kit t( i hate the test strips too ) this weekend. I increased his salinity slightly above 1.010. Will start doing weekly wc . I have live rock. Thanks again!

What salinity is this LR in?

1.010 is the salinity.

Then this is not "live" rock. The bacteria & detritus-eating creatures that make it live won't survive <1.018.

Interesting. I didn't know that. I guess the bio filters are working pretty good then.

My guy is finally pooping !! It looks like the Seachem magnesium treatment worked for my 20 gallon ( but really a 15 gallon ) one and a half tablespoon dosage. Appears to have worked within 24 hours. Soooooooo happy !!!!

That's great! You just paid more than necessary for Epsom salt though.