The Puffer Forum

How about blacking out ALL the sides of the tank (then gradually removing the covers later)? And/or giving him more hiding spots? Perhaps he just feels vulnerable in a wide open tank and stresses, causing the symptoms? I do agree that it would be safer to cycle the tank with him in it rather than leaving him in the cup...

CarmenH wrote:I do agree that it would be safer to cycle the tank with him in it rather than leaving him in the cup...

+1! Even a betta can't have a healthy life in a cup of water. Fishlover, if you follow the suggestion that everyone gave you, you'll have the most entertained fish! My GSP was bought by an impulse of mine, but in the same day I broke down my planted plant and use the same cycled filter to house the GSP, then I was increasing the salinity every week. Today he's healthy, dewormed and a happy GSP.

Beautiful pic there Fernando!

Thanks pufferfpugirl!

That smiley face is a contendor for TPOTM contest! Nice shot!!

Why don't you put the cup in the aquarium with him. He can use it as a "security blanket". Maybe he feels safer in it.

Putting the cup in the tank with him is a great idea. When we kept GSP's we got a bunch of those plastic plants and filled up the back of the tank with them. Really dense. The puffer's loved them. Gives them nice secure hiding spots. Make sure to rinse them good first.

I know exactly where you are coming from. We also bought GSP's from Walmart and managed to save them. Let's say I am so glad for google. Walmart told us nothing about caring for them. I'm glad people are helping these puffers.

Hopefully Walmart will learn better care for these fish. I can't even go there anymore or I want to buy and save all the poor little guys. And I just cant afford that. The last time I was there they had like 20 GSP's in one tank and several had died and were releasing toxins into the tank. There was no substrate or decorations and all the fish looked chewed up. it was so sad.

I think it's awesome that you are committed to saving him. These fish are very fun to keep. Good luck!

The last time I was there they had like 20 GSP's in one tank and several had died and were releasing toxins into the tank.

Please stop continuing this old wive's tale, it's not true.

Pufferpunk wrote:

The last time I was there they had like 20 GSP's in one tank and several had died and were releasing toxins into the tank.

Please stop continuing this old wive's tale, it's not true.

I saw them myself. They were coated in a white moldy film and floating at the top. The water in the tank was filmy and white. I wouldn't lie about something that awful. This was the worst I had ever seen them. But the fish never looked good at either store we had been too on earlier occasions. Like I said to many fish, no decorations, no salt in the water, no substrate and chewed fins. Lack of instruction on how to care for the fish at both stores I have been too. I have read many posts on the subject from others as well.
Check out 2 local walmarts near St Paul MN. We called the store owners about the problem after the store manager didn't seem to care. It's been at least 3 months since I have been to a walmart since. Hopefully they corrected the problem. But it's not an old wives tale. This is my personal experience with Walmart. We have actually saved a few GSP's from there.

I'm sorry, you misunderstood. I 100% believe you about Walmart's mis-care of their fish. Been boycotting them for over 10 years. I meant about puffers releasing toxins. Not true. Although all those dead puffers are definitely releasing a toxin--ammonia! Even old wives cold take better care of a fish than Walmart does!

Tony_W_ wrote:I saw them myself. They were coated in a white moldy film and floating at the top. The water in the tank was filmy and white.

That sounds like an ammonia bloom coupled with the first stages of fin rot. The exact same thing happened to me when I tried to set up a lobster tank. Brand new uncycled tank, dropped a lobster in there with marine salt .. 2 days later the water was milky and had a dead lobster. Maybe the released toxins the biologist is referring to is ammonia and not the tetrodotoxin that exists in some puffers?

What's the update on this fish? I hope it's not still in a cup!

Hello! Well just to give an update on my little puffer, he died last night =( He was not still living in the cup, I put the cup in the tank as some of you suggested and he turned bright florescent green and he was happy in his new tank, but tragedy struck. I went to go stay with my roommate and I gave my roommates friend STRICT instructions about how much to feed him and how high the temp should be and that he needed to come check on the puffer at least 5 times so he wouldn’t get sad and lonely because I know they need tons of love. Well, he wanted to see the puffer eat the shrimp so he took him out of the tank and put both him and the shrimp in a cup and left them there =( My roommate and I came back to a very sad scene. He was floating at the top of the cup with a water film covering one side of its body. I cried =( He forgot to put them back in the tank and he died =( I’ll never forgive myself for leaving him and I’ll never leave another fish with my roommates friend again.

fishlover08 wrote:Hello! Well just to give an update on my little puffer, he died last night =( He was not still living in the cup, I put the cup in the tank as some of you suggested and he turned bright florescent green and he was happy in his new tank, but tragedy struck. I went to go stay with my roommate and I gave my roommates friend STRICT instructions about how much to feed him and how high the temp should be and that he needed to come check on the puffer at least 5 times so he wouldn’t get sad and lonely because I know they need tons of love. Well, he wanted to see the puffer eat the shrimp so he took him out of the tank and put both him and the shrimp in a cup and left them there =( My roommate and I came back to a very sad scene. He was floating at the top of the cup with a water film covering one side of its body. I cried =( He forgot to put them back in the tank and he died =( I’ll never forgive myself for leaving him and I’ll never leave another fish with my roommates friend again.

AWWW I am so sorry! People (including myself at one time) do not realize how sensitive these fish are..

I am very sorry fishlover08 for your loss, but I have to say I would not be very happy with that roommate of yours for doing something so irresponsible. That is why I would never trust anyone to take care of my fish, if you want it done right, do it yourself!!
Sorry to sound so radical, but I would really be upset if that were my puffer and my friend did that. It's just so sad.