I Need All Kind Of Help And Quick

[robind101]

So here is the story. My daughter's boyfriend bought her for Valentine's Day 2 Green Spotted Puffer Fish and an one gallon aquarium starter kit. You have to love teenagers no reading, no nothing. So I realized right away that this tank was not going to be big enough. So we went to Petland today and the sales guy recommended a 10 gallon tank. So my first question is pertaining to filters. I am going to look at a 10 gallon tank tomorrow that I saw on Craigslist. it has a hood, light and filter the filter is a Marineland Penguin BIO Wheel. The second choice is a 10 gallon starter kit from Top Fin. I know I will need to get a heater as well. But which of these two is the better filter? My understanding is the better the filter the better the tank. Also what kind of heater? Right now they are in a 1 gallon tank that was not cycled. So I am very worried they are not going to make it. What can I do.?We did take the water to be tested today and the PH was off so we bought some stuff for that. Right now the water is cloudy. I don't know if that is because it has not been cycled or what. My next questions is saltiness. Right now we have a half of tablespoon for 1 gallon. By what I have read they like the water on the saltier side. So how much salt should be in the one gallon tank? Also when I get the 10 gallon tank how much salt should be in there? How long should I wait to move them into the 10 gallon? Keep in mind they have only been in the 1 gallon for 1 day. OK and now food. She gave them flake food yesterday when she got them but they didn't seem to interested. So she bought the dried brined shrimp. When we put it in the tank, the block seems too big for the tank. Which I am wondering if that is what caused the cloudiness. But they didn't seem interested. I do think they ate a little but not much. We bought blood worms today so I am hoping they will like those. Please give advice. I am afraid they are not going to last a couple of days if we don't do something quick. I know this is alot of questions at once. We were not prepared for this at all and I just want to do what is best for the fish.

[puffertt77]

Maybe take them back to the store her boyfriend got them from and leave them there until your tank has cycled

[julianchan]

First off, the tank size requirement for one GSP is 30 gallons, so unless you will be able to care for a 60 gallon tank in the near future, you will probably have to get the kids to figure out if they can care for them.

In the mean while, the 10 gallon should do for the short while. To quick cylcle it, you will need to get some Tetra Safe Start. Adding that when when you add the fish will cycle the tank almost immediately. Though I would still monitor water parameters.

As for the food, I think one brick is way too much. you should feed a bit at a time. Till you see they have nice round bellies. Feeding too much will hurt water parameters. While they are still in that 1 gallon starter kit, they will need daily water changes to keep the water in good shape.

Please take a little time to read these two pages here on TPF

ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Brackish/T_Nigroviridis/

and

library/puffer-care/the-story-of-puffy- ... ed-puffer/

[Jase]

10 will do for a short time, but as long as you're on craigslist, look for a bigger tank. a 55 gallon will do for two GSP.

The salt should be sea or ocean salt and not aquarium salt. they will eventually need to be in high brackish, or full marine. most people do full marine because it's easier to maintain... If they are little and were bought in fresh water, then you can leave them in fresh water until you get the tank sorted out.

We have a feeding article to help as well:
library/category/feeding/
"Feeding Your Puffers" in particular

[Christemo]

Honestly, I would return them to a local fish store that's not walmart (the flush all their returns). They are a big time responsibility, and people need to start understanding that puffers are beautiful animals, and not gifts.
Edit: Some teenagers *do* do their research before buying.

[Sponge bob]

Yea 55-60 gallons for to GSP..Its kinda crazy but the get up to like 7inches long. And Christemo I do do my research but Im almost a teen.Almost

[robind101]

Thank you for all of your help. I was thinking about returning them but they were bought at Walmart, so I will start looking for a 55-60 gallon tank. I wish my teen would have been as responsible as you are. Well not really her but her boyfriend. Had she had known he was going to do this she would have done her research. I am just a little frustrated with him right now. I agree with you they are beautiful and they deserve someone who knows how to care for them. I am going to do my best.

[ryverrat]

We're gald to help anyone who is trying to do the right thing. Check craigslist for used tanks and be prepared to do water changes more often while they are in the 10g tank (at least 2x week). If you lived near northeast PA I could loan you a 30g until you got a bigger tank (you will need a 55g min. I just move my 2 out of this 30g because I found a 55g at a good price) PM me if you live close enough and would want to borrow the tank.

[Pufferpunk]

Great advise offered above. Be sure to read all the recomended links. In the meantime, you're going to have to do 90% water changes on that 1g, 2x/day. Be sure to use Prime to dechlor. Don't add anything else. Get those puffers into a larger tank, ASAP & instant cycle with SafeStart. DO NOT LET THE SHOP TALK YOU INTO ANY OTHER PRODUCT!!!

[robind101]

Thank you so much for such a generous offer, but I live in South Carloina. I am meeting a guy tonight to look at a 10 gallon, if that doesn't work out I am just going to hit the pet store. Thanks for all the help.

[Christemo]

And don't forget that they will eventually need full marine.

[robind101]

At what point to you switch to all marine. When do I know when to do this?

[jmbishop]

Thats nothing to worry about right now, you just need to get the right sized tank ready for them, once its cycles and long as the puffers are around 4" you could keep raising the SG .0002 every week untill it reached marine levels.


Tell her boyfriend to buy a puppy next time he is going to buy her a pet that will last 10 years, its cheaper and there are less hidden costs.

[Iliveinazoo]

And don't forget that they will eventually need full marine.

That's not strictly true but they will at least require high end brackish.

[Pufferpunk]

At what point to you switch to all marine. When do I know when to do this?

Read the GSP article in our Library.