Hi, I just found your site, as I think I mentioned in the meet and greet part of your forum. I have a few questions, I hope you don't mind me asking. ^_^
How can I tell if my gsp is a boy or girl?
I notice sometimes my puffer colors change. My gsp tummy sometimes goes dark and others it goes bright white. Is there anything to this? Is darker bad? or good? Does it have anything to do with its health or mood? I worry sometimes when my gsp color seems to get dingy looking.
I just recently read an article that actually lead to me to your site and forum, that said the water should be changed once a week. Partial water changes I mean, is that true? I measure the nitrate often, and it seems to go up quite a lot. So far I have been trying to do the once a week changes. Is there anything I can do to make the nitrate lower? It goes up so fast. I read it also said to feed young ones twice a day, but with the nitrate so high I can only manage once a day. Is that ok?
I have a ground gravel filter my tanks. Is this an efficient enough filter for a puffer. I just recently got a 10 gallon tank I plan on starting with bio spira and a bio wheel for my gsp. What are your thoughts on this? My puffer is fairly small, and I think with enough plants my gsp should be happy. Any ideas?
I can't find any cockle, though I read somewhere its good for their diets. My gsp is still a baby, so what kind of type of substitute might I get? If I get a mussel of some sort, should it be live? frozen? Should I open the shell for my gsp? How much should I let it eat? My gsp tummy gets so big sometimes I worry for it =( I feed it one cube of the frozen blood worms recently, and I thought for sure it would burst its tummy trying to eat the entire cube. Should I cut it in half? Should I take away the cube when I think it has eaten enough?
Any tips or hints would help. I look forward to your replies.
Thanks
Aq
Few questions from a newbie
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messy_da_legend
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Sat Feb 25, 2006 4:53 pm
- My Puffers: M. baileyi called Esau
- Location: Ipswich UK
correct me if im wrong, but i believe they have no external differences.How can I tell if my gsp is a boy or girl?
a dark belly is usually a sign of stress, it should be the bright white you describes.My gsp tummy sometimes goes dark and others it goes bright white
yes, i do 50% changes every week.water should be changed once a week. Partial water changes I mean, is that true?
I dont think that will be enough, puffers are very messy eaters. look into an external cannister filter.I have a ground gravel filter my tanks
the bare minimum for a GSP is 30gal for its full life or it may be stunted and die prematurely. a 10g should be fine for the very short term, but a 30g minimum is needed asap.I just recently got a 10 gallon
you can feed frozen bloodworm and snails to a small GSP, but mine eats mussels and shrimp as well.My gsp is still a baby, so what kind of type of substitute might I get?
let it defrose first in a cup of tank water, and then feed unlit the puffers belly goes rounded but not like a golfballShould I cut it in half? Should I take away the cube when I think it has eaten enough?
check the article in out library as well
Tom
1 x M. baileyi
1 x M. baileyi
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messy_da_legend
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Sat Feb 25, 2006 4:53 pm
- My Puffers: M. baileyi called Esau
- Location: Ipswich UK
when i get mussels, i freeze them. When i go to feed the puff, i let it defrost forst, and then it opens by itself. I just open it a bit more so the puff can get in. thats my way of doing it, but others may do it differently.
Others can probably answer the last 2 questions better than me, so.....
Others can probably answer the last 2 questions better than me, so.....
Tom
1 x M. baileyi
1 x M. baileyi
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YBeNormal
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 506
- Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2005 1:19 am
- Location: Northern Virginia
- Contact:
GSPs can grow very fast if provided with proper food and conditions. One of mine grew to over 4" (not including the tail) in 12 months with most of the growth occurring in the first six months.
A 10 gallon will not be a suitable home for a GSP more than a few weeks. As noted above, puffers are very messy fish and there simply isn't enough water volume in a 10g tank to dilute the waste to acceptable levels. Puffers are very sensitive to ammonia, nitrites and elevated levels of nitrates. You will need to do very frequent, large water changes to keep the water parameters in check in a 10g. Puffers are also easily stunted and keeping them in a small container for extended periods can result in long-term health issues including greatly reduce lifespans.
Dark bellies can be a sign of stress and, given the high nitrate levels you mentioned, is likely at least a contributor in this case. Puffers can also turn dark (or light) when they are scared, moody, or sleeping.
The articles in our library should answer many of your questions and provide a decent foundation to build on. Please read them and then get back to us with any questions you have.
By the way, are you aware that GSPs need brackish water (marine mix not aquarium salt) when young and gradually move up to high-end brackish to full saltwater when they are full grown?
A 10 gallon will not be a suitable home for a GSP more than a few weeks. As noted above, puffers are very messy fish and there simply isn't enough water volume in a 10g tank to dilute the waste to acceptable levels. Puffers are very sensitive to ammonia, nitrites and elevated levels of nitrates. You will need to do very frequent, large water changes to keep the water parameters in check in a 10g. Puffers are also easily stunted and keeping them in a small container for extended periods can result in long-term health issues including greatly reduce lifespans.
Dark bellies can be a sign of stress and, given the high nitrate levels you mentioned, is likely at least a contributor in this case. Puffers can also turn dark (or light) when they are scared, moody, or sleeping.
The articles in our library should answer many of your questions and provide a decent foundation to build on. Please read them and then get back to us with any questions you have.
By the way, are you aware that GSPs need brackish water (marine mix not aquarium salt) when young and gradually move up to high-end brackish to full saltwater when they are full grown?
--Bob
okie ^_^
talked to ybnormalbob, much help! Thx Think I got my to do list in order.
looks a lil something like this.
30+g tank
marine mix
aragonite or crushed coral
prime
aqua clear filter hob (mechanical filter)
Eheim external canister with bio media (the biological filter)
refractometer
ph tester electrical with lcd screen (the color coded ones so hard to tell)
melafix (for future problems)
Pimafix (for future problems)
and I just recently added some decor to the list
aka
Fake plants etc
(since I have to take out the live ones I thought would live in bw O.o
If you guys know of any good brand names for any of the items I'm going to buy that would help if you could mention a few. I have no idea really what brand I will be buying. My lfs selection on products is kind of limited, though there is a pets mart near by =D
I'm thinking the classic Eheim canister filter, tho I don't think I would need a bigger one, the tank I'm going to upgrade will prolly be no bigger then say a 50ish tank maybe low as a 30g.
I was thinking maybe a hanna ph tester. Though some of them seem a bit pricey.
I don't really know about brand names for a refractometer.
I am on a budget so keep that in mind with your suggestions ^_~
If u guys have any other suggestions I would love to hear them thx
Aq
ah yesh and since seems there is no clear way to tell gender I decided my gsp was a girl! Tho she has a boy name, hopefully this doesn't cause any gender identity crisis down the line O.o
looks a lil something like this.
30+g tank
marine mix
aragonite or crushed coral
prime
aqua clear filter hob (mechanical filter)
Eheim external canister with bio media (the biological filter)
refractometer
ph tester electrical with lcd screen (the color coded ones so hard to tell)
melafix (for future problems)
Pimafix (for future problems)
and I just recently added some decor to the list
aka
Fake plants etc
(since I have to take out the live ones I thought would live in bw O.o
If you guys know of any good brand names for any of the items I'm going to buy that would help if you could mention a few. I have no idea really what brand I will be buying. My lfs selection on products is kind of limited, though there is a pets mart near by =D
I'm thinking the classic Eheim canister filter, tho I don't think I would need a bigger one, the tank I'm going to upgrade will prolly be no bigger then say a 50ish tank maybe low as a 30g.
I was thinking maybe a hanna ph tester. Though some of them seem a bit pricey.
I don't really know about brand names for a refractometer.
I am on a budget so keep that in mind with your suggestions ^_~
If u guys have any other suggestions I would love to hear them thx
Aq
ah yesh and since seems there is no clear way to tell gender I decided my gsp was a girl! Tho she has a boy name, hopefully this doesn't cause any gender identity crisis down the line O.o
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londonloco
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 109
- Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 6:57 pm
- Location: Virginia, USA
Since your going to go full marine eventually, and you are on a budget, I would go with a reef ready tank, and a sump deleting the two filters mentioned. If you use flexible tubing, the plumbing is a breeze. (I do my own using flex able tubing, all it takes is the right size tubing and some clamps.) Setting the tank up correctly the first time will save you money in the long run. Also consider a protein skimmer when you are full marine. No salt water tank should go without one. For all the other items on your list, look at thatpetplace.com. They have good prices all around, even with shipping. And you'll get your order within days. The sump I would consider making yourself, there are plenty of articles on the web. The tank I would try to get a used one locally. Go to craigslist.com. There are lots of smaller tanks for sale there all the time. Just remember to change the site as to your location. WHATEVER YOU DO, don't go out and buy w/out thoroughly investigating every item before hand. JMO, I've been down your road, and it cost me 2x as much for not setting it up correctly the first time....hope this helps..loco
120G reef, 72G discus, 30G to be puffer tank, 3G snail tank, 12G multi shell dweller tank
okie good news!
I bought a new tank today, and its lot bigger then my 10g tank!
Its 55g! and its shaped kinda long like a 20ish gallon but doubled.Its a really long rectangle, that's only way I can describe it. Now problems being...
It didn't come with anything but the tank. No lids or lights or anything. Its got a strip in the middle to separate it so it seems u need two lids side by side, and I measured and its something like 24X12 3/4 for each lid. There being two needed course. ...so my new questions are...where can I find lids for for this tank? Preferably ones that have lights too and slots for filters and heaters etc. I'm so hoping there is a lid only fish store. Pls tell me u know of one? pretty pls =(
I gotta get a stand for it and prolly some more filters. Sadly to say I can't convert to a sump right now, I looked into that and wow. Way more advanced then I think I can know atm O.o I'm not sure if this tank is a reef rdy tank either.
I also bought some "instant ocean". That's a marine mix yea? It'll be for this tank, the lfs told me I could add so much to make it brackish. I'll be bringing in my water for testing til I'm sure its right amount of salt. Til I can invest in a refractometer. I think this tank is my one big investment for this month, but maybe next month I can buy some other things.
Hey also looked at aragonite at the lfs...and omg 40-68 dollars =O
This is actually more then I paid for my fish tank almost. I got fish tank for 50 btw ^_~ Must I really spend 60 bucks on aragonite? O.o
K I'll keep u posted and check back to see what u guys think, thx
Aq
Its 55g! and its shaped kinda long like a 20ish gallon but doubled.Its a really long rectangle, that's only way I can describe it. Now problems being...
It didn't come with anything but the tank. No lids or lights or anything. Its got a strip in the middle to separate it so it seems u need two lids side by side, and I measured and its something like 24X12 3/4 for each lid. There being two needed course. ...so my new questions are...where can I find lids for for this tank? Preferably ones that have lights too and slots for filters and heaters etc. I'm so hoping there is a lid only fish store. Pls tell me u know of one? pretty pls =(
I gotta get a stand for it and prolly some more filters. Sadly to say I can't convert to a sump right now, I looked into that and wow. Way more advanced then I think I can know atm O.o I'm not sure if this tank is a reef rdy tank either.
I also bought some "instant ocean". That's a marine mix yea? It'll be for this tank, the lfs told me I could add so much to make it brackish. I'll be bringing in my water for testing til I'm sure its right amount of salt. Til I can invest in a refractometer. I think this tank is my one big investment for this month, but maybe next month I can buy some other things.
Hey also looked at aragonite at the lfs...and omg 40-68 dollars =O
This is actually more then I paid for my fish tank almost. I got fish tank for 50 btw ^_~ Must I really spend 60 bucks on aragonite? O.o
K I'll keep u posted and check back to see what u guys think, thx
Aq
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puffergeek
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 179
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 11:41 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: 7 Carinotetraodon travancoricus
1 Carinotetraodon irrubesco
1 Dichotomyctere nigroviridis - Location (country): US
- Location: Greater Seattle Area
That does sound like the high end of the price scale for argonite... shop around. You may find a better price. In a brackish tank, I usually put in just enough substrate to cover the bottom up. This also makes it easier to clean IME.
Instant Ocean is indeed one of the "right" kinds of salt... it's one of the more common marine salt mixes.
You should also be able to find tops for your tank at a fish store or (perhaps cheaper) order online.
Instant Ocean is indeed one of the "right" kinds of salt... it's one of the more common marine salt mixes.
You should also be able to find tops for your tank at a fish store or (perhaps cheaper) order online.
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Boxermom
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 2182
- Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2006 8:34 pm
- Location: Wisconsin
- Contact:
You can find argonite and other substrates online a whole lot cheaper than that, including shipping charges.
Tina
Puffers: Auriglobus silus x1, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1
Puffers: Auriglobus silus x1, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1
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Myaj
- Tech Team
- Posts: 4587
- Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2005 12:27 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Bubba, turgidus
Paris, lined burrfish - Location: SE Wisconsin
- Contact:
If you haven't already found these online vendors, they are great places to shop and definately compare prices to save yourself money.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com (a little more $$ but often carry hard to find things)
http://www.petsolutions.com
http://www.bigalsonline.com (also have a canada branch)
http://www.thatpetplace.com
There is always the possiblity of going with a bare bottomed tank, but it doesn't look very natural. Right now you just want your puffer in a larger tank with good water quality, so work on what you can.
Do you have hard water? I honestly never use my pH tester, but my water is so hard it never drops. Unless you have softer water with a low pH, I probably wouldn't worry too much about spending the $$ on a pH tester at the moment. Get the refractometer instead (I got the portable one from Drs Foster Smith, it was a good price and works great).
http://www.drsfostersmith.com (a little more $$ but often carry hard to find things)
http://www.petsolutions.com
http://www.bigalsonline.com (also have a canada branch)
http://www.thatpetplace.com
There is always the possiblity of going with a bare bottomed tank, but it doesn't look very natural. Right now you just want your puffer in a larger tank with good water quality, so work on what you can.
Do you have hard water? I honestly never use my pH tester, but my water is so hard it never drops. Unless you have softer water with a low pH, I probably wouldn't worry too much about spending the $$ on a pH tester at the moment. Get the refractometer instead (I got the portable one from Drs Foster Smith, it was a good price and works great).
Thx =D
Hey thanks for the links. Someone else mentioned thepetplace before. I checked it out and most of the things I need I can get from there. So I'll prolly save up and order as much as I can at one time for shipping charges and stuff.
Right now I'm trying to talk my dad into making a stand for my new tank. Though may take him a while. I'm thinking its gonna have to be pretty strong considering its a 50g tank, and the substrate and decor may weigh it down even more. =/
My Gsp though seems happy and healthy so far. I think she should be okie to hold out for the 55g for a few weeks. She looks bigger tho. How fast do gsp grow?
Aq
Right now I'm trying to talk my dad into making a stand for my new tank. Though may take him a while. I'm thinking its gonna have to be pretty strong considering its a 50g tank, and the substrate and decor may weigh it down even more. =/
My Gsp though seems happy and healthy so far. I think she should be okie to hold out for the 55g for a few weeks. She looks bigger tho. How fast do gsp grow?
Aq