New to Pufferfish and need some help

[StreetlightPuffer]

Hello!

As of yesterday my gf got me a figure8 puffer fish and i have some questions so that it may live a fully happy life.

Its currently living in a 2.5 gal tank(i know its way to small)and my fish is about 1in maybe 1.5
how big should i get exactly, ive read about 30 but i dont have a large sum of money and was wondering how high a priority it is for a big tank

I'm feeding it sun dried shrimp.
should i give my pufferfish live food(i had ghost shrimp in mind)? I do plan on buying snails in a few days if that will be enough.

Is their a specific filter i should get? bio wheel maybe?

How important is it that i use sand over gravel?

The tank im using was used by my guppies for about a month maybe a little more, then went into storage for a short period of time.I understand i need to cycle it but everything ive read has either been to vague or gone over my head.i pick up that i need to do something with bacteria and nitrate?

Thanks for any help in advance!

[Christemo]

You MUST get that fish into a 10-15 gallon tank SOON. You don't need a 30 gallon for an F8.
You also shouldn't feed him sun dried shrimp. Try giving gut loaded ghost shrimp and frozen, raw crustacions bought in grocery stores (raw, unseasoned).
The kind of filter really doesn't matter, as long as there is a biological portion.
Substrate doesn't matter. Gravel is easier to vacuum.
If the fish is already in there, you can hope that the waste products itself can help cycle the tank. Just make sure you do water changes.
When you pick up your new tank, it will take up to a month to cycle. I usually cycle fishless just using cheap flake food.

[Pufferpunk]

Did you cycle that tank before you added the puffer? Please read the articles on this on our Library. Good article on F8s in there & also many feeding articles.

Get a 15g tank set up ASAP for this guy or return him until you can get it & have it cycled & ready. I'm afraind he won't last more than a few days in an uncycled 2.5g tank.