New And Naive!

[Minahara]

Hey all I am Mina! i am a first time puffer owner. i made the mistake of thinking taking care of a puffer would be like taking care of an easy fish like a beta. wow what a mistake i have made. i do have a few questions.
1. i have 1 GSP in a 10 gallon tank is it mandatory i get him a bigger tank? i can only buy a 20 gallon from work. can he live comfortably by him self only in a 10 gallon tank or should i get the 20?
#2. can i get my puffer like frozen muscles and scallops (still in shell) just let them thaw and then feed them to him or should i look for live food to help keep his beak from overgrowing.
#3. is it normal for him to "bite" the side of the tank? i prob don't have enough decorations for him so he is prob bored i will get more decorations!

I hope you wont be too critical with me. i will admit i made a mistake by not doing my research but i don't wanna see the little fella hurt or suffer on my account. so i am willing to do everything i can to help him out! i do have him in brackish water, i have 3 fake plants and 1 "hiding" log. (def nt enough decorations right?) i do enjoy his company! along with all my others! my crowntail male beta is named Chezure (pernounced chez-ur-A) i call him chez fer short, there is my plain male beta Carcassonne (i call him Carrie for short) there is my African Chiclid named poseidon ( i call him Pissy for short cuz he got so stressed once and lost all color) and my GSP named Yoshi! i look forward to all the wonderful and helpful comments! thank-you for being patient with me.

[sevenyearnight]

1) Greatly important that he have a larger tank, 30 gallon minimum, 55 gallon optimal minimum size. GSP's get 6" and are shaped like a nerf ball, and they excrete huge bioloads.

2) Those choices are fine as long as they are uncooked.
Here is a link to the GSP, and on this page are links to the feeding guide: ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Brackish/T_Nigroviridis/

3) What are your water parameters? He might just be bored, or he could be uncomfortable.

[trekenk]

I am reposting this from the other thread.

Hi Minahara and welcome to The Puffer Forum. That is 20 or more gallon upgrade your looking at, bare minium is 30 gallons and many people even think that is to small. Here is a great link to get your started.
library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/

10 gallon is to small even for a small GSP how big is he now? Was this tank cycled? More great links below on feeding and cycling.

library/category/feeding/
library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/

P.S. Not to sound harsh but your other fish are also in way too small of tanks

[Minahara]

well i will have to get upgrades within the next few months! thanks fer the info. and its not harsh. ( @ the beta the tanks fer them are too small?) well he is only about 1 1/2 inches in length. and i have cycled the tank. and to the parameters of the tank. nt really sure. what ever a standard rectangular 10 gallon tank is. but he is small yet. so i have a small amount of time to get him a bigger tank. ty fer being nice about it! (i am a big softie. and when ppl are rude or harsh i kinda get my feelings hurt). well i will begin preparations for a bigger tank for Yoshi! and for Pissy as well. forgive me for not doing my research before hand. now i know i should of done more research before i jumped into things. i am truly thankful for all your helpful information. (i have only started cycling i should properly state i have been changing 50% of the water only about every few days i probably beef that up huh? i have only had him for a week now. thats what someone told me about cycling.)

[sevenyearnight]

By parameters, I mean your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates.
I suspect these tanks may possibly not be cycled, please read this: library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/

[sevenyearnight]

And I personally feel as though bettas should be kept in at least a 10 gallon, but here is a forum you can ask, or read some info on: http://www.ultimatebettas.com/
And for your cichlid buddy, here is a forum for him: http://www.cichlidforums.com/

[sawboy]

I'll also plug our cichlid forum. GCCA.net

[sevenyearnight]

Yes, bigger tanks, daily 50% water changes, and get a test kit for sure, API makes a pretty accurate one.

[Black Widow]

New And Naive we will soon turn into Bold and Brave. Welcome

[Minahara]

well after all this info i am gettin i doubt i will ever be bold and brave. i decided once to take home a dragonfish. (he didnt last long, i am assuming because of non cycled tanks.) so i have decided i will do my best to help out my poor little friends! but i doubt i will ever be bold and brave. i do care about my fish and if they make it past that 72 hr mark (wich is the return policy at most of my local fish stores here) then i allow my self to name them and thats then i start to care about them the most. anyway i work today just changed 50% of yoshi's water now i have to go. ty so much for all your help and i hope i didnt anger anyone by naively bringing home a GSP thinking it would be "easy" to take care of.

[sevenyearnight]

Dragonfish are actually a brackish water goby, that get HUGE!
No anger at you, that would make me a hypocrite, and probably most of the other people here too. We all start some where, and unfortunately this hobby is bogged down with so much misinformation and so many myths, that many people wrongly think they are doing things right.

[Black Widow]

well after all this info i am gettin i doubt i will ever be bold and brave. i decided once to take home a dragonfish. (he didnt last long, i am assuming because of non cycled tanks.) so i have decided i will do my best to help out my poor little friends! but i doubt i will ever be bold and brave. i do care about my fish and if they make it past that 72 hr mark (wich is the return policy at most of my local fish stores here) then i allow my self to name them and thats then i start to care about them the most. anyway i work today just changed 50% of yoshi's water now i have to go. ty so much for all your help and i hope i didnt anger anyone by naively bringing home a GSP thinking it would be "easy" to take care of.

Never keep any fish in any uncycled tank, if you want it bad pay a deposit on it and get it when your tank is ready. We have all made the noob mistake of buying a puffer and putting it in an uncycled tank. I did the same with my first dogface puffer he didnt last a week. I was screaming and going mad in anger as I saw him lying there, taking his last pants of breath slowly dying in front of me. It was a horrible time which I hope no one ever has to endure and you dont have too either! If you take your time and plan things learn about the kinda environment your fish needs to survive then come too a reality check, Can I really provide this fish the right environment it needs to live? If it yes then do it but only get your fish when the tank is ready so NH4 - 0, NO2 - 0 and NO3 - Low and not before.

You gain confidence in fish through research when you know what needs to be done and whats going on, then can you say your Bold and Brave really everyone is! Todays Lesson: Dont Doubt Yourself

[Pufferpunk]

Heh--90% of folks come here because of a Walmart GSP purchase. Just gald you're here!

[Minahara]

my puffer seems much happier with me doing what i have learned. thank-you all so much. and i informed my department manager that it was unwise for us to carry puffers because people dont do the research before they take a GSP home. she said " they are one of our best sellers! we are going to keep them! if we got rid of them it would hurt our sales!" i should of said but didnt " so your going to make poor defenseless fish suffer because these people have no idea what they are getting them selves into!??" i actually said " ok just thought i would make a suggestion."

if i may naively ask where can i purchase an API test? (online would prob be best for me the nearest actual pet store is about 2 hrs away from where i live)

A puffer update: yoshi wasnt swimming around much yesterday i added some more rocks and decorations from my cycled (and horriably too small) chiclid tank. he seems much happier and i changed 50% of the water when i got home i am super glad to have learned what i have. ty all so much. now that i know how to properly care for my puffer i cant wait to get him a 30 gallon tank, cycle it first, and see him mature happily! and get a bigger tank for my poor chiclid as well!! you all are so much help! ty! i am probably going to have to change my room around a little so i can get a 30 gallon tank to fit in here but thats ok! i cant wait to see my puffer happier in a bigger home.

i would also like to say i am very happy that these forums exist. they really help our new and naive fish owners. before the forum i always thought taking care of a fish was easier the taking care of my dog. boy was i wrong my fish make raising, house training, and obedience training my dog look like a walk through the park! but i am willing to do the work. i have just moved out of my moms house and need something to take up my free time!

[trekenk]

Manahara could you not print out a puffer care sheet and attach to the tank at work, or have some available to hand out to customers who buy them?
Yes you can get the API test kits online, search around for the best price they aren't that expensive.
http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/p ... =529145029

Here is also for a rebate at the above store that Pufferpunk posted , I don't know if the offer is still good maybe PP can chime in.
viewtopic.php?f=34&t=20929&p=221629&hil ... th#p221629