The Puffer Forum

Oh I don't have my heart set on the GSP those were just the ones I saw. I'm hoping to find some breed of puffer that will thrive in freshwater and stary somewhat peaceful with what I already have in my tank. I have read a lot of reviews of the F8 that have been kept with tiger barbs and the red tailed shark that I have and the puffer left everyone alone. One did say he chased the barbs at first but never did catch one and eventually just left them alone. So I'm not set on the GSP at all. I'm open to any and all suggestions.

zombiefetus wrote:I'd go with GSPs if I were you, they're such amazing fish. And when they're in the tank it doesn't come across as just one or two little fish. They're very active and love to explore everything. If you want to get into Saltwater, it's a good place to start, it gives you time to slowly work your way up and gather equipment as you need it. I keep my GSP with a false percula clownfish.

I wouldn't mind slowly working to a saltwater tank, but as I said in a previous post most of the fish in my tank now were for my girlfriends son. he handpicked them and really loves his barbs and shark. Maybe I can find a way to set up another 30 gallon so I can get a few puffers, since it does not seem like I'll be able to find one that will be compatible in my freshwater community

They F8's will leave those fish alone, they're actually pretty peaceful, but they only live 1/3 of their potential lifespan in fresh water in captivity, and making the water brackish for them will shorten the lifespan of those fish. South American puffers are full FW and do fairly well with tankmates, if you can find them. They are pretty hard to get.

Nick wrote:They F8's will leave those fish alone, they're actually pretty peaceful, but they only live 1/3 of their potential lifespan in fresh water in captivity, and making the water brackish for them will shorten the lifespan of those fish. South American puffers are full FW and do fairly well with tankmates, if you can find them. They are pretty hard to get.

Just did a little quick research on these and that seems about what I'm looking for. Also ran across the dwarf/pea puffer, but I'd like them to get a little bigget then 1 inch. I think that will be a problem with pretty much any puffer other then the GSP is finding them. I've seen the GSP a couple places, but thats it. There is a LFS near my office that will order fish for you so I'll see if they can find some of South American Puffers. Do you happen to know what sort of price tag these little guys carry?

LOL, after 25 years of avoiding SW, that's how I got into it. I now have 3 reef tanks.

There is alway room for more tanks.....ALWAYS.....


***hmmm maybe this is why I stay home with the fish on Saturday nights***

I had some dwarf puffer (before I found this site) and I had them with all my other fresh water fish and he was so tiny and cute I loved him, but he picked on fish twice his size, I thought it was funny he never really hurt them( I never saw any fins missing). When he died I bought a f8 and put him with the same fish and he never bothered them. From what I have read some fresh water fish can live in light brackish 1.005-1.008. I don't know if your fish will be able to live in brackish because I have never had them but mine seem to be doing fine at 1.006. I love the f8s they are very active and colorful. I don't know about the South American puffers but the f8s at my pet store are $8.99 and GSPs are $6.99.

SAP's are about 8$ a pop by me, but they turn up once a year, a group of about 7, and never appear again till next year, and they skip some years.

SAP's would work for freshwater. From what i hear they are great community fish.

SAPs aren't nearly as personable as GSPs but cute, nontheless. I do not suggest addding salt with your FW fish.

IMO, GSPs aren't great beginning puffer UNLESS you do a ton of research and know the requirements later in life, and fall in love with the GSPs. F8's also are not freshwater, so I wouldn't go with them. I'd start a small, 10G tank with one or two AT MOST Dwarf Puffers. These guys have plenty of personalities, and don't need a huge tank. Or, if you can find one, an Auriglobus Modestus. These guys have an awesome personality as well, but need a tank about 3 or 4 times as big as Dwarf Puffer. I would not suggest keeping either of these in a community tank, although some members have had success with it. Hope you find one!

PS: Stay away from puffers such as the Mbu Puffer (Tetradon Mbu if I'm not mistaken?) and the Fahaka Puffer. The fahaka puffer needs AT LEAST 100+ Gallons by itself, and that's still stunting. Don't even consider the Mbu. Sure, they're cool, but leave these guys to the experts with 600+ Gallon tanks and years of experience.

thanks for all the great info. I'm going to look around and see if I can happen to come across an SAP. None of my local shops I frequently visit ever seem to have puffers, but I'll try a few different ones and see if I can get lucky. Now would be a great time because my 2 large blue mystery snails have a bunch of eggs in my tank and one began to hatch this morning so I have a lot of tiny little snails running around for him.

Thanks again for all the info. It was a big help. I'm glad I ran across this forum.

someone needs to warn you about SAP's and their teeth...

It's much harder to keep their teeth under control and unlike most of the other puffers will almost certainly need their teeth trimming with some frequency...

read up about that before getting any... it looks a scary procedure!

t1gerbee wrote:someone needs to warn you about SAP's and their teeth...

It's much harder to keep their teeth under control and unlike most of the other puffers will almost certainly need their teeth trimming with some frequency...

read up about that before getting any... it looks a scary procedure!

yes I found an article about this yesterday, and your right it does look like a scary procedure. You never think when you first get into fish keeping that you will have to put a fish to sleep to trim his teeth!!!! I found a step by step article w/ photos that broke it down very well on how to do it. It does seem like something I could do, but I'm sure I'll be very scared the first couple times. Of course this is all assuming I can even find one of these little guys

Here is a link to the article. Is this the correct way to do it?
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebInde ... tistry.htm

Yes, that same article is in our Library.