The Puffer Forum

Hello, I have just gotten a pair of GSP just over a week ago. At first they were stressed looking (dark bellies, pale, and hiding) but within a day or 2 they had great coloring and began exploring the tank. When I got them not of them had nipped fins so I bought some Melafix to prevent infection and help their fins grow back, and it is working. First, one of my fish began to spend a lot of time hiding on the bottom and appeared to breathe heavily, but then will regain all coloring and swim around looking healthy. Now the other one, who still has great coloring and looks healthy will not eat and began to start “twirling” upside down when swimming. It looks like he can’t control himself and now is starting to bump into things. Also neither of my fish will eat for the past 2 days. The other day my water was getting cloudy, so I did a 25% water change and added a new filter pad, and added carbon to the filter. The cloudiness has gone away mostly, but the fish are still acting strange. Before the water change the ammonia had gone up to 1 ppm, but as of now the parameters are: ammonia: 0, nitrite:0, nitrate: 0, ph: 8.0, salinity: 1.007, and temp: 79 F. I have a 50 gallon tank. With 8 snails, although I discovered today that 2 of them died so I removed them, along with the others that have been inactive just Incase (I put them in a separate tank) I left the snails who were actively suctioned and I knew were alive. I had the tank running for almost 2 months before I added any live stock and I did a fishless cycle with ammonia. Please help, I do not know what to do as I have been trying so hard to keep the water and tank perfect for my new puffers and they seem to be having so many issues

I can’t figure out how to add a pic or video on here so if anyone wants to see the video of him twirling email me liv1027@gmail.com and I will send the video

If you did the fishless cycle properly, then it's got to be the dead snails. How long did it take you to get the SG up to 1.007?

ANY amount of ammonia/nitrite is extermely toxic. Do a 90% water change & add Tetra Safestart to the filter.

If you do a 90% water change your going to start the cycle all over again and be back to square one in a week or less..
Do a 40% water change.
Clean all your filter thoroughly in the water you removed not tap water.
Ensure their is enough air flow and water flow.
Do a melafix dip for them in a separate container with an airstone and do not add melafix to your aquarium it is stinky, messy and oxygen absorbing!
Maybe add some bio balls to your filtration system and all the surface for good bacteria will help stabilise nitrification!
Also ensure that their are no areas where waste is collecting!
And don't rule out the possibility of swim bladder disorder!

You are absolutely INCORRECT!!!
NONE of your nitrifying bacteria is in the water column. It is all in the filter material & on surfaces of the tank, including substrate.
The most important thing is to make that water as least toxic as possible. The cycle is already crashed. Water changes, water changes, water changes, at least until Safestart is added to the filter. Then give it 48 hours to establish--unless the water remains toxic.