Info on the Green Spotted Puffer

[StephPuff]

Hi everyone, my name is Stephanie and obviously I'm new. First of all my computer skills are lacking when it comes to anything besides google, email and facebook so I'm sorry if I am doing this wrong and if someone tells me the right way to do this, I wont be offended. Herr is my situation: a little under two weeks ago my husband went to an lfs to buy a fish to replace out goldie who died. We just wanted a simple fish, some fish for our two year old daughter to watch swim around. So this lady talked him into buying a two fish (she said better in pairs). She didn't tell him what kind of fish they were, just that they would stay small and were easy to take care of. The only this she said, which I found weird, was that they needed to have a heater in the tank in the winter time. Since room temp. in our house is always the same, this prompted me to call the store and do a google search. She said that they were dwarf puffer fish and wouldn't get any bigger. When I went to the same lfs to get some snails, which I read that they eat, the boy said that my 2 gallon tank was too small and I needed to get a 10 gallon tank. So I went to a different lsf a few miles away and got a 10 gallon tank, where the guy there told me he owned puffer fish and that I also needed to get a heater, more plants, and Instant Ocean. Long story short, after like a ton of research, looking at pics here and on google, I realized that I have 2 baby green spotted puffer fish. The guy at the second lfs who has the gsp's said that I would be okay in this 10 gallon tank for a little while as long as they aren't fighting and it is heavily planted (I have a 40 gallon filter in the tank). I took him a sample of the water today, he said that the brackish conditions in the water are excellent, I bought more plants, hydromometer, huge water testing kit. They are one inch long right now. My question is how long does it take them to get big? I read another post on here where it said that some gsp's don't get big at all. And I am wondering is the lfs that we got the puffers from are in the business of selling stunted puffs I don't want to take them back there because I am lacking the faith that they really know how to take care of these fish since they had them in freshwater and tried to tell me I was lying when I told them gsp's needed brackish to full marine water. I plan on getting a 50 gallon tank and turning it to full marine but my house is being renovated right now and that wont be possible for another 2 months. But in 60 days I can set up the 50 gallon full marine tank for them. Will they make it until then? They seem really happy in the 10 gallon right now, they have the glowing green spot on their head and really clean vibrant colors with small perfect black spots on their backs. They aren't fighting. I can turn the ten gallon into full marine now if someone could tell me how to care for it. I have more than enough Instant Ocean to do so. I was just under the understanding that you can't do less than 30 gallons full marine. Please help. These are my little babies. They stole mine and my daughter's hearts and it would kill me to have to take them back or to have them die on us. Any help. Please, I want to be a responsible fish owner and I have spent a lot of money on them thus far. The lady at the lfs lied to my hubs who knows NOTHING about fish. Should he have looked online first? Yes. But he told the lady that it was for our two year old daughter and we needed an easy to take care of, step up from a goldfish fish for her. Thanks in advance

[StephPuff]

Also I would like to note that my salinity, nitrate, nitrite and pH are all within range for a healthy puffer. The Alkalinity is at 120, which I understand is low, but how low? And also, how can I raise the alkalinity in the tank without hurting the fish?

[PufferMe!]

Wow, wow, wow! So sad this happens, but the puffers are lucky you are willing to commit to them. They are all wild caught, so they little dudes deserve the best care. You don't need to rush to full marine, they are fine for awhile. A 10 gallon if you watch your water parameters, and do water changes regularly, will be okay for a couple/few months. A bigger tank is better of course, but right now, feed them live snails and food like raw shrimp, you can buy at a grocery store. Don't over feed, or you will cause such a small tank to have water quality issues. There is so much to learn, where to begin If your tank isn't cycled, then this could turn out bad. Get some API test kits for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates and read about cycling a freshwater tank. After you have established bacteria you can slowly increase salinity, with something like instant ocean, but no more than .002 per week. You'll need a refractometer - got mine on Ebay for $22. If you are going to put them in full marine one day, you'll need live rock, you need to keep your ph around 8.1-8.4.

You can get help here as you go along, and decide what you want to do. You could drip acclimate them into a 30 gal full marine over a couple hours, and set up the tank with say 30 lbs of live rock, but you should decide if you are going to get a sump, or run a tank with just powerheads, a heater and likely a filter is needed, but that is an entire other thing, because in saltwater those can be a problem, if not cleaned regularly, and they are problems in freshwater too, if not well maintained etc.

Getting these fish, isn't necessarily inexpensive, but many find it worth it! I wish you lots of good things with these little guys.

[StephPuff]

Thank you so much PufferMe! Thankfully the tank that I originally put them in for one day before doing the research when they came home was a fully cycled freshwater two gallon tank. When I moved them into the ten gallon tank I put all of the two gallons that they were in which was the cycled water, but before that when I put the 8 gallons in the tank, I made sure to de-chlorinate it. I just tested the parameters of the water with the 6 in 1 test strips and everything is in range except the alkalinity is a little low at 120 (I think the optimum level is 300). So my question is how do I raise the alkalinity without harming Sandy and Bob (Their names my daughter picked out from Sponge Bob). Also, would you recommend more that the 50% water changes I already do every week? They really seem like they are doing great, healthy, eating good, playful and fun. They aren't fighting but I do have a heavily planted tank. They have that glowing green spot on their head which the owner at the good lfs told me his do that too when they are happy. I know I definitely will need more info when I go to change to full marine in the 50 gallon tank, but I'm glad for now they will be okay until I get done with the renovations. They are in brackish water right now which the guy at the lfs also said is a really good level considering I am a first timer. I have a hydrometer, but I will definitely get a refractor. Thruthfully, though, I would not even consider bringing them back to the lfs that they were bough at. I called them today to inform them that they are selling gfs's as pea puffers and that they are two totally different fish. They said I was lying and preceeded to tell me that gfs and dwarf puffers are bother fresh water fish who can't survive in full marine water. That may be true for the dwarfs but just from reading online, I know that is far from true with gfs. I'm going to call the BBB on them because people who don't do research when buying fish from there are probably accidentally keeping the fish in cruel conditions because of what they are being told at the fish store I love Sandy and Bob and I am for sure willing to put in the time, work and money involved into keeping them happy healthy fish for hopefully the 15+ years that people say they can live to be!

[PufferMe!]

I only skimmed this, because I don't have much time. Don't mess with your alkalinity, by using chemicals, at least not now. If you use argonite (crushed coral) type substrate that will raise it, but again, don't do any changes too fast. Your ALK is just fine. If your puffers have bright green heads they are happy

Some GSP's get along, so just wait and see Be careful raising salinity, because as you do that, you will kill off the good bacteria in your freshwater filter, and as that dies off, you can get ammonia/nitrite spikes which are deadly. Transition slowly.

I'll read this later, and I'm sure someone else will chime in

[StephPuff]

PufferMe, I just really appreciate your help. Like I said I'm wiling to do whatever I can to keep them happy and healthy. They quickly stole my heart! I just in no way want to take them back to that fish store we got them at so they can throw them back in a disgusting freshwater (disgusting because it looks like it never gets clean) tank back with 20 other GSP's. If I had a huge house with room for 20, 50 gallon tanks, I would go rescue the rest of them poor babies!

[RTR]

Aragonite is not synonymous with crushed coral. It is of specific composition and is far more soluble than crushed coral, which is why it is our preferred material. It help protect the alkalinity of the system.

[Pufferpunk]

Can you guys imagine how many poor puffs are being sold by this jerk???!!! I hope you go back there & give the owner a piece of your mind!

[StephPuff]

PufferPunk,
I know! That's why it broke my heart. Never one did I think that taking them back there was ever an option, I just resigned myself to the fact that my little babies are going to cost a little more money keeping up than I originally had thought. I'm just worried because I have NO experience in keeping a full marine tank, but it seems I have a little time to do more research and thankfully help from the people on this forum which I can not state enough, is VERY much appreciated. I called the store that sold them yesterday to tell them they are selling gsps as dwarf puffs and they told me that I was lying. So today I put a call into the Better Business Bureau, the Michigan Humane Society and the ASPCA to let them know what this store is doing. It is extremely cruel to the fish to be kept in these wrong conditions, especially because as I understand they are all wild caught and know what the good conditions are like already (though, I definitely think no fish should be kept in cruel conditions in any way shape or form). And I am sure that some people go in there and take what the store tells them to heart and keep the gsps in small freshwater tanks feeding them only freeze dried blood worms and only "putting the heater in the winter time". When my husband told me that that's how the lady said she keeps her puffs, I thought that in itself was ridiculous because if room temp is always the same in the house, why would you need a heater only in the winter? I'm so happy to have Sandy and Bob, I love them as much as I love my daughter. I am a huge animal lover and it makes me SO mad what this store (and I read that Walmart also does this, but I don't shop there) does to these poor babies!!

Anyway, like I said, I'm not an experienced fish keeper or salwater tank expert so any info/help would be greatly appreciated. Right now they are in 80 degree water that doesn't vary in temp. I think I have everything good for them for right now,they are definitely happy. But I will need help and advice when I go to change over to the 40 gallon full marine tank, especially because info online is so contradictory :/ Thank you guys so much!

[bencymru]

I went into the LFS yesterday and have decided to Boycott them! They are a chain and i have visited 3 of them now. All provide me with ridiculous information. I migh be inexperienced but i'm not dumb!

So Far they have advised me that Sailfin Mollies are fine in a 10G, a salifin pleco is fine in an 180 tank. They checked my water after a week of running my 10g and advised it was good to go, even though they knew i had no fish in it and no other means of starting the cycle. Yesterday, i went to get some salt and was advised that normal aquarium salt is fine for brackish and i should aim for 1.1 for a figure 8. I asked about BBG's for my figure 8 tank and he tried to flog me some fire eels as they are " 100% conpatible".

Needless to say, i left without a purchase and have now located an independant store that seems more qualified and wont take me for a fool ( although he did give me trumpet snails when I asked for some puffer food! sigh)

They shouldn't get away with ts kind of misinformation and in any other trade, there would be uproar.

[PufferMe!]

"I called the store that sold them yesterday to tell them they are selling gsps as dwarf puffs and they told me that I was lying. So today I put a call into the Better Business Bureau, the Michigan Humane Society and the ASPCA to let them know what this store is doing. It is extremely cruel to the fish to be kept in these wrong conditions, especially because as I understand they are all wild caught and know what the good conditions are like already"

You go girl! Way to go! Love to know other animal lovers out there Can you post pictures of Sandy and Bob? Love to see them.

Keep up all the reading, and you'll do right by them. And yes, you definately need a heater, especially in the winter. Mine run all year in my tanks. Ideal temp for your guys would be 78-80.

Gwen

[Pufferpunk]

We're all very proud of you here!

[StephPuff]

Thank you everyone! I do love animals, they know only love and do not understand bad things like revenge or hatred, they are just loving and awesome. I tried to make Sandy and Bob my profile pic on here but it says that my pic is too large. I don't know how to post pics in the forum but if someone could give me a run down I could get it. I'm really good with instructions, but I'm not that great trying to figure things out on websites on my own. Let me give it a go, though...

[StephPuff]

Aha! I downsized my profile pic on some internet site. Also, I posted a bunch of pics to my album in the gallery. One of them is from the first day we got them and I had them in that tiny spongebob tank because I didn't know better. The day after we got them I went and go the ten gallon tank which they are in now until I can transfer them into the bigger tank. They sure are happy and lovey. If you can see in the pic, Sandy and Bob both have the green glowing spot on their heads. Most of the good pics are of Sandy, Bob is a little camera shy. Bob had bigger circle black spots on his back and Sandy has the same perfect circle black spots on her back, but they are a tad smaller than Bob's. I don't know if either of them are male or female, my daughter named them after the characters on her favorite show: Sponge Bob Square Pants They are my family and I love them as much as I love my daughter. They are such sweet little babies. They come and see me and my daughter, Bella, every time we come to the tank. They definitely seem happy to see us and have already become adept to begging for food. Bella always says "Mommy, the fish don't have round bellies, look they are hungry!" So I have to keep an eye on her every time she comes into the kitchen to see Sandy and Bob because she doesn't understand that fish will eat until they die if they could and I don't want them to be unhealthy because my daughter also has a big heart like me. Ahhh, I get so happy just thinking about them and talking about them, They truly stole our hearts <3