help new puffer small uncycled tank

[puffernewb]

i just bought a GSP around four hours ago, the dude at walmart almost killed the first one i picked out by putting it straight from the tank into tap water, it went into shock and went belly up for a while but we got it back in the tank in time to save it along with the other fish my friends bought. so i picked a different one and have it at home now. unfortunately the tank i bought is broken so it will be a few more hours before i can get a new one. it's a five gallon starter tank, ima try to get it set up asap. i've got the puffer sitting in it's bag on the counter, he is doin fine, chillin and very curious, the temp is about 72 in the bag room temp is 74 right now, he should hold out till i replace the tank. since i bought it ive been checking the forums on mah cellphone (but i am freezing my arse off outside with the laptop to type this) and have seen that my puffer is going to need a much bigger tank and a cycled one to survive, so how long will he hold out in this one? he is about an inch long, very small and torpedoish. and how severe is it going to be for him in an uncycled tank. any help and links would be greatly appreciated.

[LilGreenPuffer]

Okay, you're going to need to do big, big water changes every day, and get a GOOD liquid test kit, like the API Freshwater Master Test Kit. Here's some reading for you to do:
library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/
library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/

Welcome to the forum, and good luck!

[pufferpuggirl]

Do you have a source of heat for that puffer, or is it room temperature only? I would get him a bit warmer, but that's just me. I agree with LGP, that tank is VERY small for a puffer like that, and you will need to do water changes daily, possibly a couple times a day, in order to keep that puffer healthy enough to last until you get a bigger tank. Keep in mind that this type of puffer requires a 30-gallon tank at adult size, and really should not be in a 5-gallon tank. The smaller the tank, the harder it is to keep things in check. Smaller tanks tend to crash easiest, so it's going to be alot of work for you to keep things going smoothly with that little tank. Also, make sure you have something to dechlorinate the water, as you've already seen what tap water can do to a puffer (or any fish for that matter).
How long before you can get the puffer into a bigger tank?

[puffernewb]

Man it’s so crazy that such a small fish needs such a big tank to itself. Yeah I do have a heater for him; the tank came with almost everything but the heater. The temp is at 76 atm but was at around 80 for most of yesterday without the heater, I just turn the heater on at night when the light is off or if the temp starts dropping. it’s an auto heater, it keeps the tank at 78. The water’s been treated, and the puffer is doing fine, he is eating well (dried baby shrimp) and got a nice little gut from eating a few of em) And he hasn’t stopped swimming since I put him in, he likes to squeeze inbetween the wire for the heater and the wall repeatedly, it’s funny. There isn’t much in the tank atm, so he just does a little pattern of “squeeze through, run down the length of the tank and back-repeat” also the current is pretty strong from the filter in one area of the tank, he has been swimming against the bottom part of the current for a while I it’s cool, it looks like he is on a tread mill or something. I put a big snail in there to try to help with cycling, it’s covered in algae so I figured there would be some good bacteria in the little forest on his back. The puffer got off a few good bites on the snail before it settled but since then it has been left alone and is doin its thing, if the puffer starts mutilating the snail I’ll remove it, but it looks good for now. ( I also put a live plant in there the puffer likes to nibble it and explore it) the puffer has been in his tank for over 24 hours now and seems ok so far I am going to do the water change after I post this. I don’t know when I will be able to move him into a bigger tank, I just dropped quite a bit of money on this set up (should have done mah research!!!!) it might be a month or two before I can spring for a full 30 gallon tank set up, cuz I want a nice one and they are pricey . So until then I need to get the tank I have as stable as possible, once this tank has finished cycling and if the fish survives it, will he be good with this much space for a month or two? How fast will he grow? And will that one fish produce enough waste in a day to endanger himself if I don’t change the water? <---and after cycling is complete in that tank will I have to do daily water changes?
What can I do to keep the fish occupied, it’s little existence in the tank is really sad, and a bit too reflective of our own, so I want to at least keep the poor little puffer entertained—what can I do beyond keeping the tank filled with little niches and things for him to explore, what kinds of things are puffers smart enough to appreciate or at least be interested in? sorry about the million questions ima newb. And btw, in my honest opinion walmart should not be allowed to keep fish, especially puffers, one big reason is their horrible tank conditions and poor keepers, but mainly because they are selling puffers to people without informing them of how much these fish really need to be healthy and happy, walmart should at least have a pamphlet people can read before buying a puffer. (who would I have to talk to on this site to get permission to reprint info here to give to walmart and try to get them to post it at the puffer tank?) I am going to try my best with this puffer, and get him into a 30 gallon as soon as possible, since they are such long lived fish and so smart I think it’s worth investing in. but at least my little set up right now is better than what he was in at walmart.
This forum is awesome, I’ve already spent hours reading what yall have posted and what is in the library, your information and feedback have really made me confident that I will be able to raise this puffer properly. I will keep yall posted on the progress of my fish.

[LilGreenPuffer]

Well, for starters, you need to get him to bigger tank because he is gonna grow! If you don't, there won't be enough space for him to grow into, and he'll be stunted and die young.

You need to leave the heater on all the time; the most important thing about heaters is that they keep the temperature stable. Changes in temperature are dangerous. Of course, they also keep the water warmer, but stability is even more important.

The snail won't help with cycling; it'll only add more waste. If the puffer kills it and it rots, that'll be even more waste.

A month or two will be okay in the tank, if you keep careful (and I mean CAREFUL) track of water parameters and change at least, say, 80% of the water per week once it's cycled. No, you don't have to continue daily changes after it's cycled.

To keep him entertained, you need to give him lots of decorations - fake plants, caves, etc.

Wal-Mart is the worst fish vendor ever. They will not repost the correct information. You can try - it's worth a shot - but they have awful policies for all their stores about fish, like flushing ALL returned fish alive. They don't care squat about getting it right, not as long as they can make a little money.