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GSP single or pair? + Brackish Plants?

Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 4:36 am
by pokeystar
So I went to the local pet shop to pick up antiseptic for a dog paw and came home with a GSP. There were three in a tank incredibly skinny and a quick conversation with the fish guy there indicated that he knew nothing of puffer fish "great fresh water fish, lives on blood worms, no their not skinny etc"

I brought one home immediately, its currently housed in a FW 50ltr quarantine tank I have with a cannister filter that I run for quick set ups. Keeping a close eye on parameters and little fellow being fed twice a day half a cockle, small amount of vitamin enriched blood worm.

I have access to a 280 liter and a 110ltr that are currently unused so I will set one up in the coming days I have two questions

I see others keeping GSP's in pairs how often does this not work? Are they fairly guaranteed to get along (I might go pick up one of the others today)

Any recommendations for brackish plants? I kept brackish tanks before - I know brackish is a transitional stage for a year or so for these guys but I always heavily plant tanks as I find it beneficial for fish, nitrates, cover, hunting, etc. In my previous brackish tanks I never had great success with plants.

Re: GSP single or pair? + Brackish Plants?

Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 9:54 am
by Pufferpunk
It really depends on the puffer's personality. I kept a pair without any problem. It's best to purchase as juvies & grow them up together.

Re: GSP single or pair? + Brackish Plants?

Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 5:50 pm
by pokeystar
I have the second. They so far are swimming together peacefully and only 2cm each so very young. Treating for IP as the third in the shop tank looked very poor with black stomach. My wife was not impressed with another tank however she has been caught watching them and says they are very cute.

Re: GSP single or pair? + Brackish Plants?

Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 12:31 am
by Blinkey
From what I gather, success seems to rely strongly on individual personality, as well as tank-size. Important to have ample space for fish to get away from one another when necessary. That 280 L sounds excellent for when they reach adulthood.

Re: GSP single or pair? + Brackish Plants?

Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 3:13 am
by pokeystar
Thanks Blinkey

Re: GSP single or pair? + Brackish Plants?

Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 6:14 pm
by sgtmyers88
I did the gradual transition but really in retrospect I would just go full marine and get it out of the way and drip acclimate the puffers.

Re: GSP single or pair? + Brackish Plants?

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 9:39 am
by Blinkey
I agree with going straight marine (assuming you can currently afford the initial investment), as it will pay off in the long-run. Also, it means you could have a sump refugium and try growing various marine macroalgae. I am currently in the process of installing one for my puffer tank.

Re: GSP single or pair? + Brackish Plants?

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 3:36 pm
by pokeystar
Its going to be the gradual transition, the first step was about a teaspoon of marine salt in 60ltrs of water, one puffer showed no change but the second developed grey flanks. I will hold at this level for a week. There could be a range of reasons for the grey flank, they had parzi dosed bloodworm yesterday the same one has a constantly large belly even the day after feeding so IP's may be a lingering issue. They have had to metro and one prazi doses in the last week so I will pause and wait.

Re: GSP single or pair? + Brackish Plants?

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2016 6:44 am
by Blinkey
Yeah it is not unusual for a bit of greying/darkening with anti-parasite treatment. I just gave mine a second treatment of Levamisole hydrochloride the other day, and went a bit dark from that.

Re: GSP single or pair? + Brackish Plants?

Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 5:49 am
by pokeystar
Just a quick update. They have moved from the 50ltr to the 100ltr. A bigger tank awaits. Salinity is now 1.004. Raising has been slow due to the tank change over, the cannister filter was working hard enough. They have grown very fast! Currently 4.5cm each and that's almost 0.5 cm in just a couple of week. The markings are lovely really black defined spots with snow white belly. One very green the second slightly paler. Eating well, worms, bloodworm, cockle, snail, and having a chop on anything that enters the tank (my hand included). Noticeable much more active than my Fahaka. While I have provided caves the swim constantly. Am going to be away for 10 days in a week so no more messing with the tank. Hoping it remains balanced. They will be fed by a friend on a reduced diet.