The Puffer Forum

Wow, great 1st post! Thanks for all the good info.

From what I've read they're pretty territorial (or they become that way later) if you add a new gsp you're supposed to rearrange the whole tank so they're both "new" to it...haven't tried it though, I got a good deal on a 40 gallon tank and the only tankmates for my fish are temporary (got two glass shrimp that've made it a whole week in the rocks, they clean up at night)

I'd recommend against keeping them with moray eels such as G. tile ("Freshwater moray", best kept marine or very high brackish) or E. nebulosa (Snowflake eel, strictly marine). The only moray eel I can think of which would likely get along with a GSP is a Zebra moray.

Also, while in 2006 when the (good) guide was apparently written it was unknown where GSPs breed, it now is known from the University of Florida project on GSPs that the sperm will only survive on very high salinities (practically marine). Therefore, you can be quite sure they breed close to the ocean and not in freshwater.

Corvus wrote:I'd recommend against keeping them with moray eels such as G. tile ("Freshwater moray", best kept marine or very high brackish) or E. nebulosa (Snowflake eel, strictly marine). The only moray eel I can think of which would likely get along with a GSP is a Zebra moray.

Also, while in 2006 when the (good) guide was apparently written it was unknown where GSPs breed, it now is known from the University of Florida project on GSPs that the sperm will only survive on very high salinities (practically marine). Therefore, you can be quite sure they breed close to the ocean and not in freshwater.

Yes, as stated in last post, the spaghetti eel (Moringua raitaborua) would be choice as well. Though, I cannot speak from experience on that. My eel never had any problems was always fine even in marine conditions. I did alot of research on this before doing it. I don't remember all the specifics, but do know the eel I had, like the puffer seem to prefer marine conditions.


Many brackwater and marine fish bread and lay eggs in freshwater. So, I would not say "not in freshwater" as too they are not in freshwater for very long before moving to bodies of water with higher salinity. Its the same as a trout swimming hundreds of miles upstream against insane waters to simply lay some eggs.

are there any eels that stay small and can be kept in a 20 gallon tank? id love to set up a saltwater tank for one if i dont have to get a really big tank for it.

Puffer acclimating tank later rocks were arranged and added to cover most of the back of the tank (couldn't find those pics)


GSP out for swim (young)


GSP fatass (young adult)



off topic: This was my baby
My main tank...yes I suffered from MTS (multiple tank syndrome) how do you know when you have it? when all the tanks in the house are the cleanest parts of the house
My live planted tank (fyi: planted tanks are highly addicting and had to apologize to the Mom for all the times I made fun of her and gave her a hard time about taking care of the garden and flowers outside ROFL)

my rainbow shark (the best you will ever see IMO he was a big one too..he was my tank partol fish...he kept the law and order between rest of fish)

Flying Fox True SAE (thread algae eating machines)

phlawed wrote:Yes, as stated in last post, the spaghetti eel (Moringua raitaborua) would be choice as well.

I doubt an adult GSP would not try to taste this delicate, thin eel that often buries in the sand with just the tiny head or even tail being visible. Also, Moringua raitaborua is often slow when feeding, hard to feed in a tank with a GSP. This is much smaller than the G. tile in your picture, although the spots of your eel show it's still young at the time you took the photograph.

phlawed wrote:Though, I cannot speak from experience on that. My eel never had any problems was always fine even in marine conditions.

I keep G. tile in a marine tank, and I know other people who do so, for over 10 years. I even recommend it: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_4/ ... r_eels.htm

phlawed wrote:I did alot of research on this before doing it. I don't remember all the specifics, but do know the eel I had, like the puffer seem to prefer marine conditions.

Yes, of course.

phlawed wrote:Many brackwater and marine fish bread and lay eggs in freshwater.

But GSP do not. They simply cannot, because their sperm are not capable to fertilize the eggs in freshwater. Simple as that. So, it's time to bury the myth of the GSP breeding in freshwater and movin to the ocean when older. They are brackish fish that spend most of their life at high salinities (estuaries, outer mangrove swamps) where they even breed. They can and do venture into freshwater streams, but apparently don't stay there.

phlawed wrote:So, I would not say "not in freshwater" as too they are not in freshwater for very long before moving to bodies of water with higher salinity. Its the same as a trout swimming hundreds of miles upstream against insane waters to simply lay some eggs.

GSPs need approx. marine salinity to lay and fertilize their eggs.

hadla wrote:are there any eels that stay small and can be kept in a 20 gallon tank? id love to set up a saltwater tank for one if i dont have to get a really big tank for it.

Yes, there is a number of small marine eels. Only a few are available and some are expensive, though. The most common ones in trade are Gymnothorax melatremus (Golden dwarf eel) and Gymnothorax richardsoni (Richardson's eel). As a singleton a 20 gallon tank with lots of caves can be the minimum size.

Corvus wrote:

hadla wrote:are there any eels that stay small and can be kept in a 20 gallon tank? id love to set up a saltwater tank for one if i dont have to get a really big tank for it.

Yes, there is a number of small marine eels. Only a few are available and some are expensive, though. The most common ones in trade are Gymnothorax melatremus (Golden dwarf eel) and Gymnothorax richardsoni (Richardson's eel). As a singleton a 20 gallon tank with lots of caves can be the minimum size.

thanks, corvus!