The Puffer Forum

My husband just found one of the GSP's in back of the tank. Looks very lifeless. However, I remember when I first logged onto the web site about a man whose wife pulled a puffer she thought was dead out of the tank & through it out. He pulled it several hours later & tried to flush it & it started moving. So I told my husband to through him back in the tank. Have been gone all day & have no idea when he jumped. I have read about "burping" them, should I put him in a bucket with melafix, etc. Any suggestions, he is not moving, he is vertical with face pointing up in the tank.

Is he moving at all, or just floating there lifeless?
How long had it been out of the tank?
I think it's probably dead....

I deleted your post in the general discussion. One post is enough to get everyones attention, and this way all replies will be in one place.

Any update an 1/2 hour later?

lifeless, floating. Don't know how long he has been out of the tank. I tried to massage any air out of his belly...more harm than good? Didn't know if I should try puting him in cool or salt or medicated water...any combo of the above?

One of my GSPs jumped out a week ago and fell 6 feet to the floor. Luckily I was there to see it and had him back in the tank within seconds.

Hard to say if yours is still alive without actually being there. I'd wait a little while to be sure though before pulling it from the tank. These guys are tougher than we think sometimes.

I just noticed a bad gramatical error in my first post. Anyway, we are now down to two GSP's in a 70 gallon. He is gone.
Thanks for your replies. These fish are driving me MAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Be sure there is a well-fitting cover on your tank & fill in any open gaps in the back. Don't forget to close the lid, as soon as you are done feeding, cleaning etc. I bet you won't let that happen again--sorry foryour loss...

Heather wrote: Anyway, we are now down to two GSP's in a 70 gallon.

I think that's a great stocking level. I have 2 in a 72.

I agree. When we first wrote into puffer forum about our problems (which stemmed from lack of information & research on my end before purchase) we were told min of 30 gallons per fish. So they will be the only two in the tank from now on, its just a shame we lost another one to get here. We were planning on moving them into a 90 gallon in a few months & playing musical tanks. It saves me from buying another tank right now I guess.