HeatherBenjamin

I just set up my 55gal again two weeks ago (been sitting for 6 years! about time lol) and I've been stocking it the past few days. The past two mornings I've noticed more and more fin nips in my little German Blue Ram Cichlids. I'm suspicious of my Green Spotted Puffers, but they were in the tank together for a couple of days until the nipping started. I know Puffers are nippy sometimes (had fish half my life), but I feed them a LOT (spirulina, blood worms, tubifex, veggie flakes, and live meal worms) and haven't noticed any territorial behavior at all from anyone. Today I added an adult pair of Bolivian Ram Cichlids and later in the day saw nips on them too. I saw them being a bit pushy with eachother and the Puffers were off doing their own thing as usual. Is it possible the German Blue Rams are nipping at eachother? I know one male and several females is a good recipe for peace with most cichlids, but they are too young to sex. HELP!

COBettaCouple

Welcome to Fishlore.

I'm not sure who the nippers are, could be either but it's definitely possible the GBRs are nipping at each other.

HeatherBenjamin

Should I get more of them? They're too young to sex. If the Bolivians are nipping eachother then I can easily go back to the local pet store and buy more females from that tank bcuz they're quite large. I really care and want to provide the best possible home for these little guys

But this is all they seem to wanna do! lol

Thanks!!!!!

angelfish220

I think it is the puffers, I had puffers and they were very well fed and they still attacked any thing that went near the tank.

steveangela1

I would say the puffer is the culprit, they are notorious for being a fin nipper even when you don't suspect them

HeatherBenjamin

YOU GUYS WERE RIGHT!!!!! I went to the pet store and bought two more female Bolivian Rams and right after I had released them and started feeding everyone I saw a puffer sneak around behind my little school of BR and nip. I FREAKED!!!! LOL I felt so stupid for getting as mad as I did cuz I smacked the tank to get him to back off long enough to catch him. Thankfully I had a friend who just set up his 29gallon and hadn't added anything to it (no fish or plants!) so he took the little terror off my hands that night. I still saw nips in the new BR females though so I think I might have to give all 3 of my puffers to my buddy. THEY ARE SOOOO CUTE THO!!!!!! Oh well.... I'll give them away for the greater good of keeping a balance in the force of my tank lol. LIVE AND LEARN!

steveangela1

you might want to get some melafix to treat your fish for about 3 days just to prevent an infection from the fin nips. I treat our african cichilds w/ melafix if they get too aggressive.

COBettaCouple

Vita-Chem, Fish Protector and Garlic Guard are also good for treating damaged fins.

steveangela1

I just read about the Vita-Chem.. I think I am goinig to get some of that! It looks really benifical to my meaners in my tank who like to nip back and forth to keep their fins healthy... (not to mention my fry in their tank)

COBettaCouple

Yea, those have been great for our 'loving' angel couple.

HeatherBenjamin

Wow, thanks u guys cuz I had no idea those products even existed. Could I find those products at Pet Smart or do I need to order them online? Do they speed up the re-growth of the fins too? It usually takes such a long time! I can already hear my husband saying "Darn fish just keep costing more and more money *grumble grumble grumble*" LOL he'll get over it tho cuz he always does. One of my poor German Blue Rams is just about tail-less now! Poor baby! I just txt my friend Austin to find out when he gets off work cuz I have more puffer fish to give him lol. I was hopeing that it was just one bad seed, but obviously one of the two is still naughty cuz its getting worse.

HeatherBenjamin

Do these products affect the other fish or the water quality? I clean my tank once (sometimes twice if the nitrate levels seem high) a week and change 25% or more of the water at the same time.

Lucy

I recognize that sound!

angelfish220

Those products can only help fish. and water quality so as long as you keep up with changes you should be good.

HeatherBenjamin

Hey Lucy! Glad to hear I'm not the only one lol!

Got PimaFix and Melafix today, just as u guys suggested. Hope that helps. My buddy Austin isn't complaining about the free fish either lol. I have one GSP left and I REALLY hope he will behave cuz I think the plants I got at Pet Smart had snails. They eat snails right? My plants r getting holes!

I'm having nitrite problems too! I feel confident I'm doing everything by the book, but my 5-N-1 Test Kit is telling me the levels are dangerously high. I cleaned the gravel, changed about 30% of the water, and bought this stuff called AmQuel+Plus. It's still too high tho. What's the problem? Should I add more of that product?

UGH I'M STRESSED! I wanna get this right! Hate to get these little guys home just to kill them out of ignorance lol.

Also, I added pix to my profile, but it says they are awaiting moderator approval. How long does that take? It doesn't say in the forum FAQ.

THANK U SO MUCH FOR ALL UR REPLIES! I GENUINELY APPRECIATE IT!

<-------my husband is army

MissMTS

Hi Heather,
Welcome to fishlore I am glad you found out who was the nipper in your tank. I just wanted to let you know that if you do really like puffers, you can get a dwarf puffer and keep him by himself in a 2.5 gallon tank. They are really cute and do great by themselves. Also, I would try to get an API mater test kit. It is a liquid test kit and it is VERY accurate. Everyone on this site swears by it

HeatherBenjamin

MissMTS

Dr. Foster's and Smith website has them for 15 dollars. Petco or any other local store will have it for about $30. They last a long time though.