GSP growth

[Duncan]

Hi guys, just wondering how long could I keep a green spotted puffer in a 15 gallon with heavy filtration before he would outgrow it? I would eventually move him to a 30+ gallon. Thanks

[xrayjeeper83]

few months with large water changes frequently. Unless you already have the GSP, would be best to wait till you can afford the 30g so you dont have to do a move

[RTR]

IMHO, not more than a month, and that only if the fish is quite small.

[Duncan]

Why do you say a month? If they live for 15 years and max their growth at 6 inches surely that take a few years to become that way. I could keep him until he's 3.5 inches. How long would it take one to get that big?

[xrayjeeper83]

Puffers grow very quickly.

And it isnt so much size as the bioload they put off. Thats 1 reason they need such a big tank for their size to start with. In a small tank they will poison themselves to death.

[Duncan]

I have 3 internal filter... This is why I would like to keep one in a 15 gallon until he outgrows it.

[jus85411]

filtration doesnt matter much when your water volume is considerably less than recommended. the bioload will add up quickly in a 15 and you will be doing more water changes than you will know what to do with. puffers are very messy fish, messy eaters and they produce a lot of waste in the tank. a 15 should really only be a temp for a month or two tops, not years, otherwise you wind up risking stunting the fish

[bertie 83]

fish will grow more healthily (ie not stunted) in a suitable aquarium plus you get more enjoyment from them.

[briguy44]

All the canister filtration in the world will not filter out the hormones released by the fish that will contribute to stunting.

[xrayjeeper83]

exactly what briguy said.

If you wait till you think he has out grown it, most likely he will already be stunted

[Duncan]

Okay, Okay, you guys win! I guess I'll have to go with a figure 8 for now. thanks for the the help guys!

[Pufferpunk]

Good call--that was going to be my suggestion!

[jus85411]

Okay, Okay, you guys win! I guess I'll have to go with a figure 8 for now. thanks for the the help guys!

[RTR]

I said one month, because that is my standard quarantine period, and even compulsives such as i am can and will use a smaller tank for QT while the permanent tank/home is being prepared.

"Moving fish up in tank size as they need it" is all but standard fish-keeping practice, and in my own experience is almost guaranteed to stunt the fish to some extent. that factor alone is largely responsible for captive fish being smaller than the wild size. Filtration is only part of the answer. Pollution - dissolved materials not affected by filtration is a major factor. Lack of proper and needed exercise is another.

I always and heavily over-filter. I adopoted that practice long ago, and it is insufficient. Moving fish immediately or very soon (post-QT) into permanent homes is the obvious solution, and with proper care and feeding ensures proper sized adult fish.

The small majority of fish growth occurs before the fish reach sexual maturity (as is common for many vertebrates). Fish growth continues throughout their lives (unlike many land vertebrates), but is much slower than pre-puberty growth. If you expect proper size and configuration, give the fish plenty of room and appropriate current while they are small and growing rapidly.

HTH