Can you tell the salinity based on your puffers color ?

Tain't fresh, and tain't marine! Talk about brackish setups.
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sparks42
Figure 8 Puffer
Posts: 230
Joined: Mon May 07, 2007 12:45 pm
My Puffers: Green Spotted Puffer named Chomper!
Location: London Ontario Canada

Can you tell the salinity based on your puffers color ?

Post by sparks42 »

Hello, I've had a GSP Chomper for about 6-7 years now, so I guess I'm doing something right.
He is happy and seemingly healthy.

He's alone in a 75g however he only grew to about 3 inches.

Anyways, I just want to say that I've really only measured salt once or twice, I've successfully been "winging it" when it comes to the water.
I've noticed that if there's not enough salt, his green/yellow seems kinda dull, and if it's bordering too much salt, the top of him kinda glower or appears really bright.

Have I just gotten very lucky, or does anyone else use this method to tell if there's the right amount of salt ?
I thought GSPs were very picky and sensitive when it came to this stuff.

I know this sounds horribly negligent, but again he's been here for 6-7 years now so I must be doing something right.

Also, I just treat it like a freshwater aquarium, just with some salt in it.

Also also, because he's no longer young, am I supposed to continue increasing the salt forever? Or was that just until he's done growing?

Thanks all :)
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G S P Freak
Green Spotted Puffer
Posts: 421
Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2012 6:58 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: Figure Eight Puffers, Binks (29G)
Dwarf puffers, named "He-Puffer" (male) and She-puffer (female) (10g)
Non-puffer:
1 Red-eared slider, Tortuga (female)(100g)
1 rubber lip pleco
Location (country): USA, Indiana

Re: Can you tell the salinity based on your puffers color ?

Post by G S P Freak »

I was always under the impression that a bright green head and white belly meant the puffer was happy. If I were you id go buy a cheap refractometer and stop guessing :P
Adult GSPs are best suite to full marine conditions.
No human being, however great, or powerful, was ever so free as a fish.
-John Ruskin-
"I have to laugh when people call fish-keeping a hobby, if anything, it's a science... and for some, an obsession." - Me
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purplecandle
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 2019
Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2010 2:18 pm
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Currently
2 Adult Green Spotted Puffers
1 Fangs Puffer
1 Baby Green Spotted Puffer
Location (country): USA (NC)

Re: Can you tell the salinity based on your puffers color ?

Post by purplecandle »

One of my old gsps was dying for a month but he never lost his bright green spot. :(
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G S P Freak
Green Spotted Puffer
Posts: 421
Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2012 6:58 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: Figure Eight Puffers, Binks (29G)
Dwarf puffers, named "He-Puffer" (male) and She-puffer (female) (10g)
Non-puffer:
1 Red-eared slider, Tortuga (female)(100g)
1 rubber lip pleco
Location (country): USA, Indiana

Re: Can you tell the salinity based on your puffers color ?

Post by G S P Freak »

purplecandle wrote:One of my old gsps was dying for a month but he never lost his bright green spot. :(
Further proof one should use measuring equipment and not puffer color... Ive heard of Gsps with grey bellies who are perfectly healthy too, just emo XD.
No human being, however great, or powerful, was ever so free as a fish.
-John Ruskin-
"I have to laugh when people call fish-keeping a hobby, if anything, it's a science... and for some, an obsession." - Me
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Welch4
Fahaka Puffer
Posts: 698
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:22 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: 1 GSP
Location (country): USA
Location: Abington,MA

Re: Can you tell the salinity based on your puffers color ?

Post by Welch4 »

I monitor my levels like a hawk and my puff will go from bright white to greyish at different times of the day. Always super happy regardless of color unless i just woke him up.
Forget other advice about puffers you don't hear here - Pufferpunk
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