Green Spotted Puffers (A survey)

[zombiefetus]

I'm hoping some of you GSP owners can help me out here. I've got some theories I'm working out and I'd love to have some more info before I do more testing for it.
(I requested similar info last year: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22181, if you also filled out that one make a note of it)

So if you have a GSP that meets these requirements I'd love for you to fill out some information for me.
Requirements:
-Over 1 year in age (must have been in your possession for majority of it's life)
-Kept in at least a 29-30 gallon tank (or larger) for majority of it's life
-Kept in high-end brackish or marine water for majority of it's life
-Must be currently alive and in your care

If your GSP meet those requirements then please fill out this form (PM it to me, or post it here)

Survey:
Place purchased (pet store, city, state, country):
Size of puffer when acquired:
Current size of puffer:
How long have you owned this fish:
Tank size:
S.G.:

(really important stuff, so make sure you're as descriptive as possible, provide pictures if possible)
Are the spines on your GSP clearly visible (appears as white dots evenly spaced over the body):
Does your GSP's belly change color:
Looking closely at your GSPs nostrils are they a very clearly defined "Y" shape, or more subtle and round/flat looking?:
What is your GSPs current coloration (the darker, duller green associated with adults, or the bright green associated with young GSPs):
Can you clearly see the bright green "head spot" on your GSP:

Anything else to add: (Any interesting features your GSP has, etc.)





Thank you so much. This information will be extremely helpful. I have some theories I'd like to share, but want to gather a bit more information first. I'll share soon though.

[puffermichigan]

I have 2 GSPs that I have had for 13 months now (Jahdio is the larger one, Jellybean is the smaller one). They have lived together in a 75 gallon tank during that time. The started out in freshwater as I cycled the tank (it was emergency cycled as per the great instructions I received here). During the first 3 months I raised the salinity to 1.010 and after 6 months to 1.017. That is the salinity it is at now.


Survey:

Place purchased (pet store, city, state, country): The Fish Doctor, Ypsilanti Michigan.
Size of puffer when acquired: Jahdio: approx. 1 inch; Jellybean: slightly less than 1 inch.
Current size of puffer: Jahdio: approx 2 1/2 inches; Jellybean: approx 1 3/4 inches. This measurement includes the tail, and is based on my looking down at the fish from the top of the open tank (they appear larger when I look at them through the glass).
How long have you owned this fish: 13 months
Tank size: 75 gallons
S.G.: 1.017

Are spines clearly visible? No. I can see Jahdio's spines if i look very closely when he makes a "U turn" while swimming in good light. They do not appear white, they appear more to be a variation of the way that light reflects off of his body. I have not been able to notice Jellybean's spines.
Does your GSP change color? Yes. Both change color when they sleep--they become darker and have a dark "stripe" down the side of their bodies. Jellybean's dark coloration looks like a charcoal-colored watercolor "wash" along the side of his body; Jahdio's is more pronounced, somewhat like a very fine, opaque pointillism along his side. Jahdio changes color when he eats and hunts for snails. He will get either very brightly colored (belly remaining white, top color growing lighter) or darker, and the "stripe" on his side will become very pronounced. Jellybean does not change color as often when he eats. The "standard" belly color for both of them is white.
Nostrils: Looking at them from the front, both have "Y" shaped growths near their nostrils.
Current coloration:
Jahdio: darker, duller green, with a very pronounced (almost metallic-emerald-colored) headspot.
Jellybean: much lighter, lemony-green color, with an observable headspot, but not as vibrantly colored as Jahdio's headspot. I have been noticing it more and more lately as compared to when he was younger.

Anything else to add: I feed them live snails and frozed/thawed clams, shrimp, bloodworms, mysis shrimp and crab soaked in Vitachem. I have never treated them for parasites. I observed stringy poop when I got them, however it went away within several weeks and the fish never appeared dangerously emaciated. I have wondered if this was the right decision, because I did expect them to grow a bit more this first year based on other peoples' observations on this forum (I think they are healthily "plump" with slightly rounded bellies, however they seem streamlined at the same time). From what I have read here, I likely could have safely pre-treated them for parasites, though my gut instinct was not to treat them with anything unless it seemed completely necessary. I am not sure how or if this decision affected their growth.

Good luck with your research! I will try to upload some photos at some point, but I have a poor camera and even poorer photography skills.