New Puffer Owner

[Brianna13]

Hello! I am considering buying a green spotted puffer fish. I have done a little bit of research about them and found that they aren't easy fish to care for but hopefully I am up for the challenge. I am also a first time aquarium owner but I am learning about tank cycling and nutrient levels. My first question is about feeding. I have read that you can feed them live or frozen food. Would my local pet store carry this frozen food? I am also concerned about smell. Do aquariums with these puffers have a general smell? It would be located in a small room so if there was a smell in the tank, it would be noticeable throughout the room. Other than filtering and water changes, are there any other tricks to keep the water clean? I seem to keep reading and reading about care tips for them but would love some advice from some real puffer owners. Thank you so much!

[bertie 83]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Puffers require lots of crunchy foods like snails and other shelled foods, you can get uncooked/unseasoned human shellfish from markets etc. there is no real smell as such just a slight salty smell from the high brackish/ marine water. Have you read the articles in our library on feeding and green spotted pufferfish

[GSP32]

Once you get used to it they are not all that hard to keep, just routine and consistency You can find the frozen cubes at almost any fish store, they love a variety. And they are well worth it, Green Spotted Puffers are super cute

[Pufferpunk]

I am sitting in my 10 x 12' fish room/office, surrounded by 8 fish tanks, totalling 335 g. No smell at all in here!

library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
library/puffers-in-focus/the-story-of-p ... ed-puffer/
library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=19348

After reading ALL that, let us know what other questions we can help you with!

[Brianna13]

Thank you all for your quick responses! I was able to look at the article on feeding and there are definitely a lot of options. I think I am going to look into having my own small breeding tank for snails. I am happy to hear that there is no smell at all also. I am a little confused with filters though. I am looking into buying an aquaclear power filter because I have read that you don't need to purchase replacement cartridges and that you can just rinse out the sponge. Is this true? Also I know that the tank will need some kind of lid or hood so he won't jump out but are there ones made to fit with this type of filter? I am also planning on fish-less cycling however, as far as I know, there are three types of bacteria available (freshwater, salt water, and reef). I know that for a brackish tank that you should use the salt water type bacteria however I will be starting out my puffer in fresh water and then transitioning him to brackish. Do you know if I should still use the bacteria set up for salt water tanks? Thank you all so much for your help! Also, that is the most adorable picture I have ever seen!

[bertie 83]

Instant cycling products are normally useless, safestart seems to work for fresh water. To be honest you will be better off from the start with marine water, fowlr tank ( fish only with live rock). You will not need a filter just lots of flow.

[RTR]

A small clarification to Berie's comments above: With FOWLR + skimmer (and for me + a 24/7 lighted macroalge refugium) you do not nee a separate biofilter. Bur particulate filtration is still highly desirable and useful. Fine sponge filters are quite good if well-maintained (rinsed weekly or more often if possible, just tap water rinses are suitable IF the excess tap water is well squeezed out before returning the rinsed filters to the system. That will remove much fish poop and other particulate waste without the LR having to digest all the organic captured in the sponge(s). This will help minimize the organic build-up in the system. This whjole system greatly reduces the water change requirements, as it is the best available support system in the hobby.

If only we could operate FW and BW tanks as well as we can these SW tanks, the upkeep on all types of tanks would be easier and better.

HTH

[Brianna13]

Okay, I appreciate all the useful information. Thanks much!!