Green Spotted Puffer- Tank entertainment?

[Zeezer]

Hey guys,
(This is my first post, so just to give you some background: I've read a lot about puffers (unfortunately AFTER I bought him and was given misinformation), but my boyfriend use to be a consultant for this fish specialty shop years ago... he had many many tanks of his own- arowana's, cichlids etc etc. So even though it's my fish, he's the one that's care taking the puffer since he's the expert. )

Ok so... (yes here is another person who got a gsp from walmart). Basically, I got a puffer about three days ago now. He was the most active one in the walmart tank, actually... he was kind of mean! He would chase away all of the other puffers whenever someone would walk up to the glass and swim near the glass... and the other puffers (he's was the smallest one in the tank, 1.5" ish) would cower in the corner. My boyfriend had picked him out for me lol. The next day, I went to Walmart and interestingly enough all of the other puffer's were a lot more active without him in the tank and brighter colors than the day before. So I guess that makes my puffer a bully! (Yes, irrelevant... but I find it funny) Anyway, he's in a 10 gallon right now. We bought a 55 gallon yesterday and are going to set it up as soon as we get the stand in the mail. I'm not sure if I'm going to be getting him any tank mates, I'll probably wait until the tank he's in is full marine (which I know you need to do slowly- I have the information saved somewhere!) I've read a lot of horrible stories about puffer's beaks overgrowing and people needed to tranq them with clove oil (Seem's too dangerous for me... I doubt anyone knows the long term side effects.) So because of that, we have set up a small snail/ghost shrimp tank-I'm not sure if we'll be able to produce enough snails to satisfy him. But we're going to add shell gravel to the larger 55 gallon when we set it up in hopes he'll instinctively chew on that if he needs to. I've also read that they can get bored in their tanks, so I was wondering if anyone has tried anything different in their tanks aside from normal caves and water bubbles. I saw a mirror on amazon for betas, and a few other things... but I have no idea what would keep his mind busy. He seems to really like the bubble bar I have in the back of his tank right now. He also picks up this rogue purple rock that's in his tank, but I think he thinks it's food. I was thinking about building a few custom caves or something like that. Feel free to give me your experiences

[xrayjeeper83]

Ghost shrimp dont do much as food or beak wearing down. Try market shrimp and clams on the halfshell.

To keep them from getting bored have the tank heavily planted and every now and then move them around. That should be all that is needed.

As for the tank situation, Id highly suggest moving him to the 55 asap. The longer you keep him in the 10g(which is way to small) the more likely you will end up with a puffer that is stunted and doesnt live as long as he should(into his teens).

Stick around here and you will learn more about your GSP then you ever thought, and from people that have been in the hobby longer then some of us have been alive so you know its good info

[Nuclear_Glitter]

Some people have had success introducing their young puffers into full marine tanks and this provides them with a lot of entertainment. The liverock that's needed for marine tanks (1.5-2 pounds per gallon) keeps them entertained because they search it over for food and live critters. Also a marine tank can be fully cycled almost instantly (about 3 days) if done right. However, you must really research how to do everything. The liverock holds most of the bacteria you need. (If you're going to do this though you need to drip acclimate him)

However, if you plan to just slowly move up to marine the caves are a good idea. I do not recommend the betta mirror. I'd imagine he'd fight it just as the betta's fight their reflection and it'd cause unnecessary stress. Lots of decoration and custom caves as you said.

On the beak thing and clove oil, do not use it. Clove oil causes brain damage and most of the time either kills the fish or makes it completely brain dead. Now, as far as breeding snails goes it's pretty easy. I recommend buying both pond and ramshorn snails. The pond snails reproduce quicker than the rams in my experience. I also recommend you feed them algae wafers so your puffer gets it's vegetables too.

Be sure to watch for signs of internal parasites with your GSP as well. They're common in puffers because they're wild caught.

Best of luck with everything!

[trekenk]

Hello and welcome to The Puffer Fourm. Was your 10 gallon cycled and if so how? Great artical from our library to read.

library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/

[Zeezer]

I've read conflicting information on ghost shrimp (same with feeder fish too, like mollies). Some people said it's a good idea to feed them algae and then feed them to your puffer to make sure they are getting they're greens. I've also read that it's good enrichment for them to have live food, something they can actually chase. I heard about the shrimp/clams/scallops... some say to wait until they're older to feed them that? I wasn't sure if it was because it was because snails would be good enough for their beak at a young age, or what the case was exactly. Also, I've been having a hard time finding suitable plants? I guess I'll just get brackish water plants and then convert to marine once it's fully marine. As for the tank advice, thanks... but there's really not much I can do now. My local pet store was out of the fish tank stand size I needed (Couldn't find one on craigslist that would fit in my car lol) so I just have to wait until that arrives before setting up his tank. Interesting that you say he'll be stunted if he stays in the 10 gallon, (Again, conflicting information lol. I guess that comes with everything) because I read they'll be fine in a 10 gallon when they're really small as long as you do 50% water changes twice a week etc etc. But in any case, he'll be in there for a week tops. It's way bigger and less crowded than where he was, so I think he'll be fine. Have you guys ever heard of a gsp being housed with an adult cuddle fish? I've tried searching online about it, but I'm not finding much! I'm guessing a puffer fish is way too aggressive and would try to eat the cuddle fish even if they were close to the same size.

[trekenk]

Puffers can be hit or miss with tankmates. I would wait till he is in the 55 gallon at full marine and maybe get a small clown.
On that 10 gallon I would be doing daily waterchanges, was it cycled?
No to feeder fish, always good to gult load and quanitine ghost shrimp, but they shouldn't be the main diet.

[Zeezer]

Some people have had success introducing their young puffers into full marine tanks and this provides them with a lot of entertainment. The liverock that's needed for marine tanks (1.5-2 pounds per gallon) keeps them entertained because they search it over for food and live critters. Also a marine tank can be fully cycled almost instantly (about 3 days) if done right. However, you must really research how to do everything. The liverock holds most of the bacteria you need. (If you're going to do this though you need to drip acclimate him)

However, if you plan to just slowly move up to marine the caves are a good idea. I do not recommend the betta mirror. I'd imagine he'd fight it just as the betta's fight their reflection and it'd cause unnecessary stress. Lots of decoration and custom caves as you said.

On the beak thing and clove oil, do not use it. Clove oil causes brain damage and most of the time either kills the fish or makes it completely brain dead. Now, as far as breeding snails goes it's pretty easy. I recommend buying both pond and ramshorn snails. The pond snails reproduce quicker than the rams in my experience. I also recommend you feed them algae wafers so your puffer gets it's vegetables too.

Be sure to watch for signs of internal parasites with your GSP as well. They're common in puffers because they're wild caught.

Best of luck with everything!

I guess I wasn't thinking too clearly. When I first read about the betta mirror, I thought it was pretty cruel. But then when I relayed it to the puffer fish, I thought maybe he'd know it was his reflection (I read they can be pretty smart) so I was looking at it more as something he could investigate... but i definitely do NOT agree with doing it if he doesn't know it's his reflection. Unnecessary stress is never good for an animal. I think the live rock is a great idea! To be honest, I really have a hard time having a pet that's "contained." I love marine aquariums, and well all animals (I'm changing my major to zoology- marine biology lol) but I thought maybe I could get a fish if I had a GIANT tank for him and made sure he was happy. I think that's why I'm so concerned with him being bored, I don't think it's fair to get an animal if you aren't going to properly care for it. That clove oil thing makes sense, I don't see how a fish submerged in clove oil could be good for it...It's like if we were in a room filled with some noxious gas. Ok so how often do you think I need to feed him snails? Once place said twice a week, but to be honest... I'm really really paranoid about not wanting to trim his beak. I don't want him to die! As far as internal parasites, he's not showing any of the signs (that I can tell anyway) BUT I'm going to treat him because I just think it's almost impossible that he's not infected. I'm having a hard time locating the parasite treating I want, so I'm ordering it online. Thanks so much for all of your info guys! I should say that originally I wanted a house rabbit, but my landlord didn't want pets! Naive me though this fish would be easier, boy was I wrong! lol

[Nuclear_Glitter]

Do not feed your puffer feeder fish. Feeder fish make your fish fatty and lower their health. There really aren't many brackish water plants. While in the brackish stage you will have to use a lot of fake plants. A GSP is never okay in a 10 gallon. Regardless of who told you they are, they're not. Him being in there for a week a most will have to just do for now since you're waiting on your stand.

Also green spotted puffers will eat almost anything. Size will not matter to them. I do not recommend a cuddle fish, no. Also, a single cuddlefish needs 200+ gallons.

[Zeezer]

Hello and welcome to The Puffer Fourm. Was your 10 gallon cycled and if so how? Great artical from our library to read.

library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/

Thanks for the info, I actually read all of that on a different site a few days ago... Same exact page. I guess the puffer expert's really do hang out here! lol My tank was cycled, the bf took care of that!

[trekenk]

My tank was cycled, the bf took care of that!

Do you know how he cycled it.

library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/

library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/

[Zeezer]

Do not feed your puffer feeder fish. Feeder fish make your fish fatty and lower their health. There really aren't many brackish water plants. While in the brackish stage you will have to use a lot of fake plants. A GSP is never okay in a 10 gallon. Regardless of who told you they are, they're not. Him being in there for a week a most will have to just do for now since you're waiting on your stand.

Also green spotted puffers will eat almost anything. Size will not matter to them. I do not recommend a cuddle fish, no. Also, a single cuddlefish needs 200+ gallons.

I wasn't going to feed him feeder fish, lol. I was worried about using fake plants...I know they like to bite things. Also, the tank size for a cuddle fish depends on the breed. Sepia bandensis was the species I was interested in, 30 gallons would be the perfect size for them. "A GSP is never okay in a 10 gallon. Regardless of who told you they are, they're not." This site say's it's okay to house them in a 10 gallon when they are babies. So I'm not sure when you guys are saying it isn't suitable, especially when it's only short term. The last thing I need is to worry more about this puffer fish!

[Zeezer]

My tank was cycled, the bf took care of that!

Do you know how he cycled it.

library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/

library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/

I'm not really sure about what process he used. But he knows what he's doing! Thanks

[trekenk]

I'm not really sure about what process he used. But he knows what he's doing! Thanks

Ok I trust you when you say he knows what he is doing. So many people come here thinking they can set a tank up one day and have fish in it the next by doing nothing.

[Nuclear_Glitter]

A lot of people feel it's okay to "upgrade as needed" but the thing is it's not because a fish won't really grow in a tank that small so you don't know when to upgrade is the thing. Puffers should be introduced into their permanent home right away, however being in there for 1 week shouldn't hurt. You do however need to do daily water changes though. Also do you have a liquid testing kit? This is one of the easiest ways to put your mind at ease because you will know how your water really is.

Now, i don't know much about cuddlefish but if the tank size is what you say it you also need to keep in mind you need AT LEAST the minimum for that fish and the minimum for the puffer.

You seem very caring though and actually interested in doing this right so I'm sure you'll get the hang of all this stuff fast.

[Zeezer]

I'm not really sure about what process he used. But he knows what he's doing! Thanks

Ok I trust you when you say he knows what he is doing. So many people come here thinking they can set a tank up one day and have fish in it the next by doing nothing.

I'm just lucky that he knows about fish. It kind of sucks for me because I have a chronic illness that's been plaguing me for years, so it's difficult to research/retain all research on my own. I've been reading about puffer fish for days (HOURS each day... it wipes me out! Reading never use to affect me negatively until only recently. And then I can't even remember everything I read/so overwhelming etc etc) It's just so stupid because I'm so attached to this puffer fish ever though he isn't bonded to me, and I'm just paranoid he's going to die! Pretty soon I'm going to start having nightmares! lol