my first GSP (pics inside, advice welcome)

[Nick]

I believe the naming convention is because most specimens turning up in pet shops have been in the four to seven inch range, while almost all GSPs in shops are well under 2" and the biggest I've ever seen at a shop is a bit over 3.

[cswank]

With the jumbo shrimp and mussels, should I just buy them at a grocery store and thaw out for feeding time? Also, I'm going to be starting a snail/shrimp tank soon for him so any advice is welcome on that since I haven't done it before.

It's exciting that he could be a sabahensis, but I am definitely going to need to get to work on fixing and moving my dad's old 120 gallon if he is.

[purplecandle]

With the jumbo shrimp and mussels, should I just buy them at a grocery store and thaw out for feeding time? Also, I'm going to be starting a snail/shrimp tank soon for him so any advice is welcome on that since I haven't done it before.

It's exciting that he could be a sabahensis, but I am definitely going to need to get to work on fixing and moving my dad's old 120 gallon if he is.

When I first started this, I found that I could get better food if I came out of the pet isle..

I know that walmart sells big bags of scallops, mussels, and uncooked shell on frozen shrimp for around 5 bucks..worms are cheap at bait shops as well. Also online can give you some good options..

look in the pufferforum library for snail breeding....and also do a search in the forums for extras!....also I hate to play favorites or say that on piece of advice is better than another...but when I set up my snail tank a few weeks ago I followed a lot of forum member RTR's advice and it worked out for me..I hope I did not offend anyone by saying that

[cswank]

With the jumbo shrimp and mussels, should I just buy them at a grocery store and thaw out for feeding time? Also, I'm going to be starting a snail/shrimp tank soon for him so any advice is welcome on that since I haven't done it before.

It's exciting that he could be a sabahensis, but I am definitely going to need to get to work on fixing and moving my dad's old 120 gallon if he is.

When I first started this, I found that I could get better food if I came out of the pet isle..

I know that walmart sells big bags of scallops, mussels, and uncooked shell on frozen shrimp for around 5 bucks..worms are cheap at bait shops as well. Also online can give you some good options..

look in the pufferforum library for snail breeding....and also do a search in the forums for extras!....also I hate to play favorites or say that on piece of advice is better than another...but when I set up my snail tank a few weeks ago I followed a lot of forum member RTR's advice and it worked out for me..I hope I did not offend anyone by saying that

I never even knew wal-mart sold that kind of stuff. you said in the pet aisle?

[purplecandle]

no, i said to come out of the pet isle..

just go to the frozen food section (for humans)...you will be amazed how cheap it is and what you can find depending upon the season...

[zombiefetus]

I also recently picked up two puffers that look like this. Something about the face is just... different from my other two GSPs. I guess I'll just have to wait and see

[Myaj]

I agree the spots have that sort of wiggly quality that Sab's tend to have, but I'd wait until the puffer was a little older to panic I will say that was my first reaction to the pictures too though!

Sabs tend to have a differently shaped head.. longer nose, eyes are just a bit different. This one shows a little of that, but its also very young and nice and plump, so its hard to say.

The Sabs do get bigger.. and we really should update the size in the Pedia.. but I'm not personally sure just HOW big they do grow to.

To the OP, very cute puffer! If he's in brackish water, you won't want to do the bubble thing, they cause all kinds of salt spray which is messy and corrosive. But lots of plants (fake is just fine) and decor to explore, good filtration (lots of current), and just good, clean water will keep him pretty happy!