First Post ... Want to buy a puffer

[DjElite140]

Hello everyone. I was walking through Wal-Mart the other day and as usual I stopped by the fish section and they had just gotten in some green spotted puffers. These things were the cutest fish I had ever seen. There personality was just amazing. They came right to the glass when I looked in and it looked like they were smiling at me ... lol. I was hooked!!! It was all I could do not to get one right then, but I wanted to research a little first and I'm glad I did. I've learned they are a brackish to marine puffer. So I'm glad I didn't get one cause he would have been very unhappy. I have a freshwater 75 gallon tank. Stocked with 5 Serpe Tetras, 5 tiger barbs, redt tailed shark, and 2 (pretty large) blue mystery snails. Is there a puffer that would go well in my community. I simply have to have one. I did a little research and the Figure 8 seems like it might work, but I wanted some opinions from puffer owners. Thanks so much for any help.

[Jay.B.]

firstly, hello and welcome

puffers in general are unfortunately not community fish, although some members have had a little luck in this area.

F8s, although they will tolerate and survive freshwater, do a hell of a lot better in light brackish water, around about 1.005 on the SG

there are plenty of freshwater puffers, but again best kept alone, or possibly with one or two of it's own in the right setup.

have a flick through the pufferpedia, and some of the articles, there's plenty to read and learn about our fantastic inflatable buddies

[DjElite140]

ok thanks I'll do that. Obvioulsy I'm new to the site and still browsing around. Unfortunately I do not have room for another tank anywhere. I REALLY want to get at least one puffer if at all possible. Like I said in the first post I'M HOOKED!!!!

[Pufferpunk]

LOL, if you want one bad enough, you'll find room or rehome your other fish.

[SpockthePuffer]

I agree with pufferpunk, you'll find room! Green spotted puffers are amazing fish, I love mine, very lovable.

Welcome to the forum

[DjElite140]

lol ... guess you got me there. Not much i can really say to that. Good Point.

[DjElite140]

So you guys recommened completely cleaning the tank out and just putting the puffers in? I hate to have that big of a tank with only a few fish in there (even though I agree they are amazing fish)?

[SpockthePuffer]

Yes!

You could put two or three GSPs in there. And, as they get bigger you could move them to full marine (the are brackish fish, not sure if you knew that or not) and then get some other sw fish and live rock and such which is always fun!

Or you could get figure 8s and put a bunch in there with some other brackish fish like mollies, bumble bee gobies, dragon gobies and fun fish like that!

Don't worry about having only a few fish, they really fill up the tank and use all the space

how could you resist a face like this?

[Pufferpunk]

No, your tank is already cycled. Find a good LFS to take your fish the same day you get your puffers (you would make 2 of them very happy livinging in that tank) & move the puffers in at the same time. Then, through the weeks, you can add marine salt (measuring it with a hydrometer), to make the water brackish. We can talk you thu all that. You'll see, as they grow to 6", the tank won't look so empty & as they go towards marine conditions in the next few years, you can add a few SW fish.

Do not buy your puffers from Walmart, unless they look healthy & happy. They should have a rounded, white belly, no nipped/frayed fins & greet you at the front of the tank. If they look sickly at all--pass & go to a mom & pop store to buy them. Look there 1st anyway.

[DjElite140]

thanks for the picture. lol ... it really is hard to say no to that.

[Ikkle1]

Hi and

You could always do what i did --- get another tank

[DjElite140]

No, your tank is already cycled. Find a good LFS to take your fish the same day you get your puffers (you would make 2 of them very happy livinging in that tank) & move the puffers in at the same time. Then, through the weeks, you can add marine salt (measuring it with a hydrometer), to make the water brackish. We can talk you thu all that. You'll see, as they grow to 6", the tank won't look so empty & as they go towards marine conditions in the next few years, you can add a few SW fish.

Do not buy your puffers from Walmart, unless they look healthy & happy. They should have a rounded, white belly, no nipped/frayed fins & greet you at the front of the tank. If they look sickly at all--pass & go to a mom & pop store to buy them. Look there 1st anyway.

I'll have to talk all of this over with my girlfriends son. Its sort of "our tank" and he's had his heart set on the tiger barbs and the red tailed shark. Thats why I was hoping there was a freshwater puffer I could put in with them. I originally wanted to do marine, but this being my first real tank I was scared of all the extra maintance involved.

The ones at wal-mart actually did look very happy and healthy. They greated me at the front of the tank which was when I became HOOKED ... lol

[DjElite140]

Hi and

You could always do what i did --- get another tank

Thanks!

I would love to do that, but I don't think I have the room for another. The only thing I can think of would be get maybe a 30 gallon and put it on the stand under the 75, but I don't want to lay on the floor to look at them.

That picture is funny. My cat does that to my tank.

[Happy_Puffer]

I kept my f8s with platties they seem to do fine in light brackish water mine is 1.006, f8s can be calmer then other puffer IMO but I'm no expert believe me but I love the GSPs good luck in getting your puffer.

[zombiefetus]

I'd go with GSPs if I were you, they're such amazing fish. And when they're in the tank it doesn't come across as just one or two little fish. They're very active and love to explore everything. If you want to get into Saltwater, it's a good place to start, it gives you time to slowly work your way up and gather equipment as you need it. I keep my GSP with a false percula clownfish.