Gender of my GSP

[Clutch]

Hello,

How can i see the gender of my GSP?

And can i have more then 1 GSP in my tank?

[penpitt]

Only other GSP's know the sex of each other as far as I know. How big is your tank? It is recommended that GSP's have at least 30 gallons/fish.

[Pufferpunk]

Be sure to read the article on them in The Library.

[demented_lullaby]

I bought the biozyme aware it might not work. 4 bucks, no big loss .

I asked some friends about it and one wrote me this :

"No problem, actually I've answered this very same question so all the background info has already been researched:
Ready? (lol, it may be a doosy)

Lets asume that the enzymes and bacteria in biozyme are geared for ammonia and NitrIte removal. As you realize biozyme is in a dry state. Many bacteria under the right conditions can form a protein covering and form a sort of cryst. These cryst can stand the dry conditions and revive themselves in better conditions. This can explain why the bacteria can be dry and still do it's job in the tank.
Next, the enzyme. Enzyme's functions are to speed up biological processes, almost like a catalyst (well it is one). It happens that the tank's bacteria (ammonia and NitrIte consuming bacterias) is what the enzyme is suspose to help. It sounds very good that these two can be paired and work. The problem is that the enzymes over time wear out and break down. This is primarily due to the huge molecular structure of the enzyme, bigger molicules are prone to breaking down easier.

Now that is all the background info that is really needed. Next is what I think happens in the tank:

You add your fish and biozyme. The fish produce ammonia and the biozyme's bacteria and enzymes start to work. You hit a point where you have slight bacterial activity aided by huge enzyme cataclismic reactions (basically the enzymes are pushing the bacterias so even the small amount of bacteria can get the job done). Over time the bacteria populates and enzymes break down. This will continue till no enzymes are working and the bacteria is doing all the work.

It sounds logical atleast to me. There are some assumtions. For instance how long do the enzymes last in an aquaruim. I say for the enzymes to be most productive, around 30 days. Also can NitrIte and ammonia consuming bacterias be stored in a cryst state? Then is the enzyme the same catalyst for the bacteria? Are the enzymes in a ratio such that it is most effective?

So all in all the product sounds like it can work good. Just remember that zero ammonia and zero NitrIte doesn't mean that the tank is fully cycled due to enzyme reactions. Also water changes durring the cycling process can mess you up via removing enzymes especially in earlier stages.

I then though about what would happen if biozyme was added to a cycled tank. When I came to it, my educated guess is that the bacteria wouldn't be harmed. The enzymes would simply speed up the reaction, not take it over. Being all the bacteria has equal oportunity, none or little should starve out.

Let me know if there is something I didn't word right. Once in a while it sounds perfectly logical in my head but something gets lost in translation when writing it down to paper."

It seemed very logical to me at least. Take in mind, this is not me who wrote it but just an explanation. I've been using it and it seems to be okay. I still don't stockpile a tank full of fish though of course, just common sense . It seems to help speed along the cycling process anyhow. Biospira is much better of course, if you can get it which sadly I can't.

[Pufferpunk]

I bought the biozyme aware it might not work. 4 bucks, no big loss

Actually it will do more harm than good. Since it's dead bacteria, it's the same as adding waste to a tank that has no good bacteria to eat it, causing ammonia & nitrites in a tank that you have added fish to. Baaaaaddd!

[RTR]

In theory you proposal might be true, at least in part. But the facts are that aquarium nitrification bacteria have no dormant form, so products claiming to the contrary are at least to some degree lying through their teeth. Whether this is through ignorance or intentional is impossible to say.

[Clutch]

Only other GSP's know the sex of each other as far as I know. How big is your tank? It is recommended that GSP's have at least 30 gallons/fish.

My tank is 16 us gal.
like this one.

[YBeNormal]

That tank is far less than ideal for at least three reasons. First of all it is too small to house a GSPs for very long and the fish is certain to be severely stunted. Second, GSPs need horizontal swimming area and that tank appears to be tall and narrow. I would expect the GSP to become somewhat neurotic acting, pacing up and down the glass rather than swimming around naturally. Finally, GSPs are very messy fish and require tanks with very strong and efficient filtration. RTR often compares them with Oscars and I absolutely concur with that description.

Any chance you can upgrade to a 30 gallon tank?

[lisalisa]

I agree, Ybe. My gsp's lived in a 65 hex tank until ~1.5", and while the volume was large enough for them, the tank shape was less than optimal. Longer is better than taller for sure.

[Tihsho]

Yup, long tanks are the way to go. Not only do the puffs get growing room, but there is more territory for them to explore, hence no tank pacing (unless they are begging)

[Clutch]

How about the dwarf puffer GSP. Does he also need 30 gallons of water? Because i have a dwarf puffer GSP.

[lisalisa]

There is no such thing as a dwarf puffer GSP. You have either a dwarf puffer OR a GSP. If you'd like to post a pic, we can identify it for you.

[Clutch]

Ok there is not a dwarf GSP..

I don't have the place to put a bigger tank for my GSP. I have bought the puffer because the tank in the LFS was really bad, and i want to save him. I some other customer have bought this one because he was cute and don't put him in a brackish tank, then was the GSP really not happy.

This is my tank. No plants they don't survive in the brackish tank.

[Clutch]

And this is my GSP

[lisalisa]

Very cute GSP! He will need a bigger tank though.