HELP...NEW TO THE PUFFER NEED ADVICE!!

[kaylanmc]

SORRY DONT KNOW WHAT THE TOPIC ICONS MEAN! BUT I NEED HELP!

I BOUGHT A YELLOW PUFFER WITH BLACK SPOTS FROM WALMART. I TALKED TO A PETSMART REP, THAT SEEMED TO BE VERY KNOWLEDGABLE ABOUT FISH. I FEEL I HAVE GOTTEN SOME WRONG INFORMATION FROM WHAT LITTLE I HAVE READ.

1. HE IS ALONE IN A 2 GALLON FISH BOWL.
2. I WAS TOLD HE WAS FINE IN FRESH WATER.
3. I WAS TOLD I DID NOT NEED A PUMP IF I HAD PLANTS SINCE HE/SHE WOULD BE ALONE IN A SMALL BOWL.
4. I WAS TOLD IT COULD EAT TROPICAL FLAKES BUT I HAVENT SEEN IT EAT ANYTHING.
5. OFF OF NUMBER 4, MY PUFFER IS CONSTANTLY AT THE TOP WITH ITS MOUTH OPEN JUST SWIMMING AROUND. IS MY PUFFER HUNGRY.

PLEASE HELP HE'S SO CUTE AND I DONT WANT IT TO DIE.

[Pufferpunk]

Thousands of folks buying puffers from Walmart make his same mistake.
Some reading for you: library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
Also: library/category/water-filtration/

You should have lots of questions after reading all that. Also, posing in ALL CAPS is considered YELLING on the net.

[kaylanmc]

Thanks...sorry not yelling

[LilGreenPuffer]

The gaping at the surface is a sign that he's not getting enough oxygen. Agitate the water by lifting a cupful of water and pouring it out six inches over the bowl, ten times or so, every hour. Also, do a 100% water change every day - or as much as you can change without removing him from the water. This will help get him oxygen, and it'll help prevent waste buildup. Actually, I'd do it twice a day, in such a small bowl.

Ignore the PetsMart and Wal-Mart people! They know nothing, as you'll find out in your reading.

[busybones]

You need to be looking for a larger tank...ASAP! A GSP needs at least 30 gallons when grown. Right now getting a ten gallon will help out tremendously. Make sure you get a heater, filter, and an air pump. I'm going to guess that your tank isn't cycled either..Please read this library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/

[LilGreenPuffer]

busybones, since it's an unfiltered bowl, it's impossible to cycle! D: No oxygen for the bacteria.

kaylanmc, try craigslist.org for a cheap used tank. I got a 10g with a filter for $10 once. Look under "pets" and "household."

Whatever you do, don't return it to Wal-Mart. They FLUSH all returned fish alive! If you decide you can't keep it, perhaps a small local pet store might take it.

(edit for typos)

[busybones]

busybones, since it's a, unfiltered bowl, it's impossible to cycle! D: No oxygen for the bacteria.
.

True, but they'll need to understand the process if they get a new tank.

[LilGreenPuffer]

Ah. I thought, when you said "I'm going to guess that your tank isn't cycled either," that you hadn't noticed the bowl part. Never mind, you got it!

[busybones]

Lol..
It would be great if you could get a used tank that is already cycled..I've seen a few on craigslist. Just make sure the tank had healthy fish in it before!

[bazil323]

If you can get your hands on some Dr. Tim's One and Only, that will help cycle your tank once you get one that you can filter. As was said, the puffer you got is most likely a green spotted puffer (GSP) and will need at least 30 gallons. It will also need a heater and filter.

One of the reasons it has not eaten yet is that puffers have to be practically starved to eat flakes, pellets, or wafers. Even then most will not touch them. Puffers eat a variety of crunchy and meaty foods like shrimp, snails, mussel, crab, etc. If you can find some raw frozen shrimp with the shell on or crab with the shell on, you can use this to feed the puffer. Just make sure to completely thaw out the bit you are feeding before offering it to the puffer. Only feed enough that he gets a gently rounded belly and then remove any food that is leftover. You can soak the food in garlic juice (can be squashed from fresh garlic or bought in bottles from most pet stores that carry fish supplies) which will help get him to eat since garlic is an appetite inducer for fish.