adult gsp info

[craigjkelly]

Hi. I have a 1.5 inch gsp in a 180 litre tank, which he explores endlessly. I was hoping if anyone had any information about their own experiences with adult gsp's. Such as 1) how big do they grow?
2) How long do they take to grow to their actual size)
3) What food your puffer prefers and dislike?

I know it sounds like im asking obvious questions, but people say each puffer has its own personality. Im just wondering what your little gsp is lke? Hope to hear from you soon.

[Boxermom]

Please read the GSP care sheet by Pufferpunk and the food articles in our Library.

[Hilly]

The maximum size of GSP is listed at 6", however if you get to 4.5-5" you will be doing well. They are not the fastest growers so it could take a while to get to this size. The best thing to do with foods is try as many foods as you can and see whaqt he likes and dislikes. The more foods he takes the more varied a diet and all the better for your puffer.

Welcome to the site by the way.

[craigjkelly]

i will look at the puffer care sheet, thankyou. Im new to the puffer scene and already i have been captivated by curiusity of my gsp. Can a large pleco go in the same tank as my little puffer? The algae is becoming hard work, and i know a pleco would love it. Also, if a pleco cannot go in the tank, what sort of algae eater may be suited? I understand the salt leels will rise as he gets older so i know an algae easting tankmate is perhaps a long shot.

Any ideas.
And thankyou welcoming me to the site. I just turned 16 and i already have 6 tanks planted arounf the house!

[Hilly]

You think the algae is bad now, wait until you head into brackish, lol. You'll be overrun. The commonly available plecos only like freshwater so once you go brackish they are out of the picture. You're best friend at this point will be an algae magnet and one of those wands with the algae pad on the end. I've got ocean rock in my brackish tank, it was a lovely white when i first got it, now its covered in brown algae, I take it out every now and then and get the hosepipe out on it.

[edmlfc1]

My GSP puffers like the freeze dried bloodworms, freeze dried shrimp, freeze dried Krill, frozen brine shrimp, frozen marine cuisne also just tried them with meal worms by nutridiet. I will try the shrimp by nutridiet tomorrow. I try to feed them a variety. Most of their food I order from Drs Foster and Smith. I only had them about 3 weeks now but they seem to pretty much like anything I give them.

[zombiefetus]

My GSP puffers like the freeze dried bloodworms, freeze dried shrimp, freeze dried Krill, frozen brine shrimp, frozen marine cuisne also just tried them with meal worms by nutridiet. I will try the shrimp by nutridiet tomorrow. I try to feed them a variety. Most of their food I order from Drs Foster and Smith. I only had them about 3 weeks now but they seem to pretty much like anything I give them.

They should really be getting a diet of gut-loaded ghost shrimp, clams, mussels, snails, small crabs. What your feeding them has very little nutritional value. And they'll need the hard shelled things to wear down their teeth.

[craigjkelly]

Brilliant, im feeding mine the right foods. Im breaking the shells of ramshorn snails becuase their too big big for my puffer. By doing this he still has to break away part of the shell. Is this the right thing to be doing?

Im also feeding him ghost shrimp that i put im my discus tank so they get fed for a few days before i give them to my puffer.

One more question. Is there any true brackish plecos that could be put in my aqaurium? Thankyou for answering my posts.

[Hilly]

crushing the shells is common practice with smaller puffers. they still get some crunch factor whilst getting a feed.

[Myaj]

There are some true brackish water plecos, but they are extremely rare in the hobby.

Also I don't know if they can handle the salinity levels a GSP will need, or if they are only lower end brackish.

[craigjkelly]

i would really like a pleco to go in my gsp tank. I have many nice live plants in the tank that i wouldn't want algae covering. I was asking about the pleco becuase it will be able to cope with an annoying little puffer trying to bother him!

Also, when people have said to feed him crabs, at what size should my puffer be for him to be fed a crab? Theres live crabs at my lfs at about 2.50 english pounds (approx 1.25 us dollers). there all at about 1inch big. My puffer is about 1.5 inches long. And there are frozen clams at my lfs, should i crush them as well like i have done with the snails?

I appreciate all this information.

[Hilly]

Even a relentless small puffer would be able to do some considerable damage to a pleco if it was annoyed by it. As it grows so does the bite power, At adult size the shell of cockle is crushed into tiny little pieces so the armoured scutes of a pleco wouldnt pose any problem at all.

As for crabs, live ones would need quarantining for a few weeks before feeding, you never know what parasites or diseases they could be carrying which could harm your puffer. At the size he is now buying a crab would be an expensive treat, you may find that most of the crab is wasted as he's had his fill before getting through most of the crab.

[Nick]

Your puffer will be in water too salty for any pleco, besides, all the brackish ones are HUGE and need tanks over 100 gallons anyway if I'm remembering right. On the other hand, your tank water will soon be far too salty for those plants, so you won't have to worry about keeping them clean.

[only120xs]

I've got ocean rock in my brackish tank, it was a lovely white when i first got it, now its covered in brown algae, I take it out every now and then and get the hosepipe out on it.

Thanks Hilly... that's makes me feel even better about mine being green & yellow and colorful!

[craigjkelly]

okay. i understand the that having a pleco wouldnt be the best of ideas.

im really keen on giving my little puffer the best. Hes on a varied diet, very healthy and he looks great. How long does a small gsp take to reach adult size?