The Puffer Forum

I don't think that PP's response was over-dramatic. It was pointed, certainly, but that is a lesson we have all learned over the years - that many folks, even experienced tank-keepers, who have not previously successfully handled big nasties really have no concept of the bioload of this sort of fish.

But your tank, your fish, your choice.

I try not to be too dramatic, just to the point. I've been keeping puffers for many years & am well aware of the bioload they create. Burned gills are not repairable. What are your water parameters in there?

Hi Sarah,
Once you read more in this forum, you'll learn to appreciate how PP quickly arrives "to the point" of the issue. I have learned a lot from her posts. Being "to the point" is one (small, I'm sure) part of her (considerable, I'm also sure) charm. See the difference in writing style?

I certainly don't mean to disrespect anyone, but i am confident that my tank has been cycled thoroughly, thats with more than 15 years in fishkeeping and 9 aquariums in the house i am REALLY sure i know what im doing in regards to cycling and water chemistry/changes But thanks, i know you guys have the best interest of the fish at heart. So do i. And altho my current setup isn't IDEAL i know that they aren't going to die before i set up something permanent for them

Perhaps if you detailed how it was cycled and give us some water params that would help!

Hi Sarah

Like you I set up my first brackish tank after loads of experience with fw,
I found this forum & "lurked" for a while, just reading post's etc ...... figured that 80% daily water changes were slightly over the top so did about 20% each day (mainly to clean bits of mussel/krill) ......... 3 day's later both of my beautiful ceylons were dead I'd had them about a month & figured everything would be fine .......... seems to me people here know what they're on about when it comes to puffers, I wish I'd taken notice of what I'd read!

Sarah, I'm sure your tank was cycled enough to handle the bioload of a few small juvie bettas. There is no way there is enough bacteria in there from the same bettas to support the bioload of 2 2" heavy mass puffers (or even 1). In a tank that small it would be impossible to have enough surfaces in there to support that bioload at any time.

I think with very light feeding and with water changes every couple of days, she'll be fine...

I QTed my GSPs in a 5.5g tank (not all at the same time, mind you! - One alone first, then two together) They were cramped, but it was either that or putting un-quarantined fish into the display. Which really is a no-no IMO.

It is hard work - not recommended for newbies - but, definitely possible. No ammonia or nitrites showed.

Of course, the QT tank was cycled - at a salinity of around 1.006. The puffers were in freshwater at the store, and I drip-acclimated them to the QT tank. The salinity jump was purposeful - intended to kill of internal parasites. Note this protocol is somewhat different than that usually recommended on this site.

A 10g is more suitable (in fact a perfect size, IMO) for quarantine for this size of fish - but for juvies, a 5.5g and a dilligent fishkeeper *for a few weeks only* is not going to spell instant destruction. Just don't go feeding big, messy food. And, I would never recommend putting any puffer in an uncycled tank.

I wasn't aware that increasing salinity could kill off internal parasites.

Me either..external is all I've used it for.

You're both quite right of course.... Salinity won't have much affect on IPs.