The Puffer Forum

Hey, it's Pufferfattyfish -- haven't been on the forum for awhile now but am in need of some advice. I have 3 very large gsps, bought from 2 different pet stores about 3 months ago. At first, these 3 giants were doing just awesome, always swimming, mostly always white, just great. Lately though, (past 2 weeks appx) they have really gone downhill. They are constantly sitting on bottom of tank, they're always huffing like they're out of breath, they're always dark, and they've stopped eating for me. I'll give you the info you'd ask: They are in a 55 gal tank; ammonia is 0; nitrite's 0, PH 8.2; and KH reads my water may be a little too soft; I feed them snails, clams, krill, shrimp, and the odd crayfish, as well as blood worms just on occassion; water changes/tank cleanings done every week but lately i've been doing a 25% -50% water change every couple of days. If someone out there knows what could be wrong, how to fix it, I'd appreciate it. I don't want to lose these guys, they're the biggest, coolest puffers I've ever had (except my fahakas) and I've grown quite attached! THANKS!

It could be that they are in too small of a tank. It is recommended 30 gallons minimum for each GSP. How big are they?

From tip to tail they are about five inches and really fat! Sadly, the lps I bought them from had them in these tiny little sectioned tanks with barely enough room for them to turn around.

Okay, I was reading through my first post and I put tank size in wrong, sorry about that. I've got them in an 80 gallon tank, had 2 aquaclear 500 filters running through but at last nights cleaning I took one filter away. I also read that I should be leaving their light off more than on, is this correct too?

A 12hr light cycle is fine. Sounds like you are doing everything right... What's the SG?

What are your nitrates? And the temperature of your tank?

okay, at the risk of sounding stupid, what is SG? The nitrites read 0 on the test I did yesterday and I keep the temp steady at 80.7

Specific Gravity, the measurement of marine salt with a hydrometeror refractometer. You mean they are in freshwater?

God no, I've got them in salt water, sorry I didn't clarify that! I'll check that right now. Get back to you in just a bit.

Quick question, what should it safely be sitting at and which side of this do I read? The the "ppt" or the "SG"?

SG--are you using marine salt?

I'm using the salt I buy in bulk from the fish store, as horrible as it sounds, it comes in a clear plastic bag with just a price written on it. Owner there told me it was for brakish and SW fish. Um, will this thing read if I'm not using the right kind of salt?

Okay, the SG side of my meter reads 1.004 -- is this good?

At their size, I'd start bumping it up .002/week, till it's around 1.020 & then you can add a skimmer.

Okay, I'll do that. Do you think this may be what is wrong with them? Should I be changing anything else? Doing anything else?