Help with my new puffer please!

[marcy<3liam]

I decided I wanted to get a fish to have with me at school. So I headed to Wal*Mart to pick out a fish. I saw the Green Spotted Pufferfish (I think this is what it is from looking at pictures) and decided this was the one for me, not knowing what all he really needed. The man there told me he's in fresh water now and can stay there until he's an adult? After reading some of the articles it looks like this isn't best for him, I've never had anything but fresh water fish so I know nothing about creating one. My fish is still in freshwater but I think I'd like to get him into saltwater if that's what's best for him. So any help in getting my tank from fresh water to salt water would be great! thanks guys

[garrysmith]

how bigs your tank?

[Flutter]

There's an article in the library on this and/or a sticky thread. There's also articles on GSPs too.

Are you aware that this fish needs at least a 30gal tank with heavy filtration?

Congratulations, puffers are great fish to have

[marcy<3liam]

as of right now, he just has a tiny one gallon tank :S I have a ten gallon one I can move him to this weekend, will this work while he's still a baby?

[garrysmith]

can you get a bigger tank? say a 15 - 20 gal

[garrysmith]

also i take it you dont have a cycled filter?

[Flutter]

Unfortunately puffers are very messy fish. Even a 10gal won't last long. Make sure you do daily water changes on the 1gal (as large as possible). Do you know if it's cycled?

I'm going to go and try and find some of those articles for you. Are you able to provide this fish with a 30gal tank? If not it's best that you rehome it and we can suggest some other more suitable puffers for a 10gal

library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/

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

library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/

[marcy<3liam]

I can get a bigger tank, just not for a few days. and no I don't have a cycled filter

[Flutter]

Read the first link I posted ASAP, it's about cycling your tank. Puffers are extremely sensitive to chemicals like ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Ammonia and nitrite are extremely toxic and will kill your fish. Beneficial bacteria convert these bad things into the lesser evil nitrate.

[marcy<3liam]

thanks for finding those articles and I will work on getting him a bigger tank as soon as i can.

[garrysmith]

best read all the links posted above, i did the same as you around 5 weeks ago and still not fully right, best of getting that larger tank and see if you can get some used filter from a pet shop (not walmart) and cram it into your filter, this will help loads, also check out some of the live bacrerior you can get to speed up the cycle

[marcy<3liam]

ok will do. thanks so much!

[Flutter]

Where are you located? There might be someone near you that could help with dirty media. A fish store might let you buy some dirty gravel too.

[marcy<3liam]

I'm in the Muncie/New Castle, Indiana area.

[Pufferpunk]

At this point, I'd do 2x 80% water changes on that tank. Be sure you match the temp as closely as possible & add dechlorinator, preferably Prime or Amquel.