Smaller tank better?

[GSP 3]

Hey all,
I had to move back home from University last week for the summer and I brought my GSP with me, He's about 2.5 inches now (getting bigger!) and at school he has a 30 gal tank thats well decorated all to himself. I couldn't bring the tank home so I had to transfer him to a 10 gallon. Ever since he's been in this new tank though he's eating better (and out of my had or the first time) and he's much more active and is barely ever resting on the bottom which he used to do a lot. Is it possible that the 30 gal is too big for him right now? The only other thing is a started feeding him bloodworms instead of krill which he seems to enjoy a lot better.

[J-P]

ummm those guys do get large... a larger tank is better.

BUT in that respect .. you might want to also give it a confined space to call "its own" within the tank. There was a thread of a GSP in a cup not too long ago. The need the space but also like their privacy AFAIK.

[marksrush]

I could be totally off base here, but I'm of the opinion that there is no such thing as too large of a tank. Put yourself in the fish's position.

It's possible he's begging you for more bloodworms!

Was this 10 gallon cycled? I figure it must be since you've been a member for a bit now and surely would've picked up somewhere along the line that putting puffers in uncycled tanks is a no-no. But I just couldn't help asking.

[Brandon8521]

He may be acting more active because he is trying to find more space and he's in a new environment. But with gsp's smaller is definitaly not better. It may seem ok for now but biological build up is sure to happen and in a 10 gal it will happen fast. Also at that size I don't think bloodworms will be a sufficient diet I would go with nightcrawlers and shell on shrimp and small snails. Even if you don't get ammonia build up your nitrates will build fast aswell as hormone build up which can stunt his growth. I would try to get a larger tank. How did you cycle his new tank?

[J-P]

I could be totally off base here, but I'm of the opinion that there is no such thing as too large of a tank. Put yourself in the fish's position.

yea... I found 2 of my 2 SAPs wandering the tank with the lights off. Lights ON and they were back to their usual corner. That is 3 SAPs in a 210. Maybe they are nocternal / twilight hunters, but in a larger open space tank the fish NEED a confined space to feel secure. Many fish need some structure to hang out it, caves, plants or just a smaller space to call home. That doesn't mean they don't need a bigger tank.. just the opposite. The need a larger tank to explore but need a "home"

[GSP 3]

Thanks for all the advice, i cycled the tank by bringing 5 gallons of the water from the 30 gallon back home with me, i kept it at the right temperature, i also brought some gravel from the old tank and the filter media then just topped up the other 5 gallons with new water, also this 10 gallon is only for the 3 months until i go back to school