4FlushCrush

Hi, i have a GSP in a 30 gal. BW tank (see details below). Well, I made the mistake of not covering the intake on the 330 Penguin/30-60 AquaTech filter and... I will spare you the sad details...

However, he's alive and kickin, eating fine and seems to be healing from his wounds. He lost his entire tail and his skin was peeled back at the rear. Of course I feel bad, like an idiot, etc... but will his tail grow back?

Also was curious about feeding him snails. I have a bunch of freshwater snails but he is very timid, considering his ordeal and wont come to the top to be feed. Will only eat after I leave the area... so, the snails usually fall to the bottom and what becomes of them i dont know, I assume they die and rot in the gravel. Is there some other snail I should use or other food to help with his teeth?

StartDate= 2 mo. (6 weeks no fish/cycle)
nitrate= 0
nitrite= 0
pH= 7.8
SG= 1.009
Tmp= 76 f.

Other Details:
Currently feeding him mostly freeze dried blood worms.

pinkfloydpuffer

Poor little thing!

It seems to me that if he was healthy then the current of a filter shouldn't be able to pull him in. Is there anyway we could see a picture of the damage to his tail? I would think that he can grow it back, but I am unsure at the extent of the damage to the area above the actual see through fin part of his tail.

If you're worried about decaying snails, you can try feeding your guy mussels/clams still in the shell instead. Make sure they aren't cooked or have anything added though. You can find them in the seafood section of a grocery store.

4FlushCrush

1 pic coming right up... The intake on my filter is 1-1.5" and I did not give it much thought to put something on the end of it. Thought he was much to strong to get sucked into it myself. I had just got him nursed back to health from his stay at Walmart (had very little tail left when I got him), then he got FW ICH. His tail had almost grown back completely when I transferred him to his new home, the 30g. So, he's already used up 3 of his 9 lives and I just hope he gets to live happily ever after now. :-)

PS. Anyway, it will be my first pic uploaded so it may take me a few minutes. I think clams may be to big for him, he's all of 2" now. Do you think the snails will survive long enough in the BW for him to feed on. All the websites say thats the best thing to feed them, of course most of them refer to him as a FW puffer also, so I'm just confused about it. Was thinking small pieces of crablegs maybe, dunno...

aquarist48

Oh no! Sorry to hear your fish isn't well. I assume by now you have something over the intake tube. I found a sponge from an old mag drive, it's round and slides right up the tube. You can use a sponge or even wrap filter floss around the intake tube. Good luck and hopefully he'll do well.

pinkfloydpuffer

If you want to feed him clams, scrape out most of the meat, just leaving a thin layer on the shell. You can freeze the rest to feed to him later. That way he'll scrape his teeth on the shell. Crab legs might work too, I'm not sure (vegetarian... doesn't know how hard crab legs are... lol)

4FlushCrush

with a sponge/outdoor type pond filter media.

4FlushCrush

So, I'm guessing that my FW snail nursery project is pointless then... because of the BW/SW environment? Well, I could put them to use in my Tetra tank since I have no cleaner/helpers in with them but will I regret it later?

PS. Sure wish I could learn about 3 yrs of Aquatics in an evening. I hate having to ask such basic questions, but at least its FISHY FUN!

pinkfloydpuffer

Haha. Well, I have a few of those FW clams myself. They're kinda fun I guess. Make good puffer food too once their shells are open