HELP ... Im new with spotted green Puffers

[ckdove]

Hi ... I am new at this with spotted green PUFFERS ... Every-time I went to the LFS to buy feeders for my 2 Oscar's I always found my self going to the spotted green puffer tank ... I have to tell you I fell in LOVE with them ... Their faces look like cabbage patch kids So then about 2 weeks ago I bought a new 10 gal tank and sat it up (running it for 5 days without fish) ... Then went back LFS and bought 2 green spotted puffers and a few other small tank mates for them ... The guy at the LFS told me they can be in freshwater, but I needed to add about a teaspoon of tank salt ... which I added ... When I came home from work tonight one of the puffers was dead, and looked bloated ... Why? I don't want my other little guy to die as well ... I enjoy them and want to set up the RIGHT tank environment for the puffers ... When I would ask the guy at the LFS he tells me they are easy ... that if I can keep Oscars I can keep these little guys ... but none of my Oscars have ever died on me ... just this little puffer ... Just to let you all know, The puffers are not in the same tank as my Oscars ... Just to let you all know too, I have the Puffers tank set up in my bedroom, so I can enjoy them more ... and the Oscars are in the Den ... So ANY & ALL input would be WELCOME ... PLEASE HELP ... I don't want to hurt or worse kill my little puffer I have left .... thank you - ckdove

[Hilly]

Firstly Welcome


Rather than give a very long winded response I will point you to this article regarding GSP's. Have a read it will tell you all you need to know about caring for them.

http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/ ... togsp.html
Then if you have more questions feel free to ask them.

Only thing I will ask is when you say you set the tank up and running for 5 days, was it cycled to build up a colony of bacteria. If not do you know your water parameters (Ph, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate).

[zxr]

Hi ckdove.

Tetraodon nigroviridis
Common Name: Green Spotted Puffer

Other Common Names: GSP; Leopard Puffer; Spotted Green Puffer; Occasionally incorrectly as Green Puffer

Family: Tetraodontidae

Distribution: S.E. Asia: Esturaine rivers and floodplains; Mangrove swamps

Water Parameters: High brackish to marine salinity; Temp: 23–26C (73 - 80F ); pH: 7.0 - 8.3

Personality/Temperament: Agressive to other tankmates, especially with age. Hunts for food.
Max. Size: 17cm (6.5 inches)

Estimated Lifespan: ~15 years

Sexual Dimorphism: Unknown. Cannot tell genders apart by eye.

Diet: Mollusks and crustaceans. Needs to be fed a regular diet of hard-shelled creatures to guard against beak overgrowth

Care: Requires medium to high-end brackish water, and usually thrives in marine conditions. Introduce to a fully cycled aquarium, and raise the specific gravity by at least 0.02 per week, aiming for 1.015

Breeding: Unknown. No records of captive breeding.

Minimum Tank Size: 30 US Gallons per fish

Please read http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/ug. ... roviridis/

I dont think your LFS has given you any correct information.

From what i have read, Puffers are quite sensitive to Ammonia and Nitrites, so should only be introduced to a fully cycled tank.
I doubt your tank or any other tank could be fully cycled in 5 days.
What filtration system do you have?

I would like to offer more info but i'm new to puffers myself. I'm sure someone else will offer help soon.

[Pufferpunk]

OK, if you want that remaining puffer to live, you MUST follow these instructions:

Return the tank mates (or if you can't, you may have to make them your Oscar's "tankmates". Do a 90% water change on the puffer's tank. Be sure to use dechlorinator (Prime is best). Search far & wide for Bio-Spira & add to your filter for an instant cycle. Read all the info linked above. Until you get the Bio-Spira, continue w/daily 80% water changes. Don't worry about salt for now. Read the article on feeding your puffer. Feed very sparingly every other day.


Then stop feeding your Oscars feeders! Have you ever looked at that tank they come from? How many dead ones are in there? They may have survived for a while on them but feeders are dirty, disgusting food that carry diseases & are very fatty. Get them on pellets.

[saynever]

then start looking for aa larger tank for the gsp.

[Pufferpunk]

A 10g is OK for a juvie (<2") but you're absolutely right. Hoping she'd read that in the GSP article.