New here :)

[RTR]

I don't think that PP's response was over-dramatic. It was pointed, certainly, but that is a lesson we have all learned over the years - that many folks, even experienced tank-keepers, who have not previously successfully handled big nasties really have no concept of the bioload of this sort of fish.

But your tank, your fish, your choice.

[Pufferpunk]

I try not to be too dramatic, just to the point. I've been keeping puffers for many years & am well aware of the bioload they create. Burned gills are not repairable. What are your water parameters in there?

[ChesapeakeSwellfish]

Hi Sarah,
Once you read more in this forum, you'll learn to appreciate how PP quickly arrives "to the point" of the issue. I have learned a lot from her posts. Being "to the point" is one (small, I'm sure) part of her (considerable, I'm also sure) charm. See the difference in writing style?

[Sarah Bella]

I certainly don't mean to disrespect anyone, but i am confident that my tank has been cycled thoroughly, thats with more than 15 years in fishkeeping and 9 aquariums in the house i am REALLY sure i know what im doing in regards to cycling and water chemistry/changes But thanks, i know you guys have the best interest of the fish at heart. So do i. And altho my current setup isn't IDEAL i know that they aren't going to die before i set up something permanent for them

[Rocker]

Perhaps if you detailed how it was cycled and give us some water params that would help!

[ceylon]

Hi Sarah

Like you I set up my first brackish tank after loads of experience with fw,
I found this forum & "lurked" for a while, just reading post's etc ...... figured that 80% daily water changes were slightly over the top so did about 20% each day (mainly to clean bits of mussel/krill) ......... 3 day's later both of my beautiful ceylons were dead I'd had them about a month & figured everything would be fine .......... seems to me people here know what they're on about when it comes to puffers, I wish I'd taken notice of what I'd read!

[Pufferpunk]

Sarah, I'm sure your tank was cycled enough to handle the bioload of a few small juvie bettas. There is no way there is enough bacteria in there from the same bettas to support the bioload of 2 2" heavy mass puffers (or even 1). In a tank that small it would be impossible to have enough surfaces in there to support that bioload at any time.

[PetPirate]

I think with very light feeding and with water changes every couple of days, she'll be fine...

I QTed my GSPs in a 5.5g tank (not all at the same time, mind you! - One alone first, then two together) They were cramped, but it was either that or putting un-quarantined fish into the display. Which really is a no-no IMO.

It is hard work - not recommended for newbies - but, definitely possible. No ammonia or nitrites showed.

Of course, the QT tank was cycled - at a salinity of around 1.006. The puffers were in freshwater at the store, and I drip-acclimated them to the QT tank. The salinity jump was purposeful - intended to kill of internal parasites. Note this protocol is somewhat different than that usually recommended on this site.

A 10g is more suitable (in fact a perfect size, IMO) for quarantine for this size of fish - but for juvies, a 5.5g and a dilligent fishkeeper *for a few weeks only* is not going to spell instant destruction. Just don't go feeding big, messy food. And, I would never recommend putting any puffer in an uncycled tank.

[Pufferpunk]

I wasn't aware that increasing salinity could kill off internal parasites.

[lisalisa]

Me either..external is all I've used it for.

[PetPirate]

You're both quite right of course.... Salinity won't have much affect on IPs.