The Puffer Forum

sgtmyers88 wrote:You could try to slip in a 36 Bowfront or a 40 Breeder and call it a 20 something gallon tank. lol

As I said you could try to step it up a tad bit further. lol

During General Finns treatment for a fungal infection on his tail fin... (Have no idea how he got it. x.x) He passed away. I saved him from Wal-Mart and after reading up on the specifics of puffer care I realized I may not have him long, because god knows what he contracted in that small freshwater tank with the 8 other puffers. :/ I was determined though to keep him alive. I now know that Walmart is not the best place to buy fish.
Thanks Guys for the advice!
Hope to get another little GSP here soon.

So sorry. You did your best, pick a nice fat healthy one from a good store and post us lots of pics

I will.
Tried to get some of Finn but he wouldn't stay still long enough! After he got used to his new home and stopped sulking at his decorations... he was constantly moving. He was definitely an entertaining little guy. And quite the piglet.

What were you using to treat him?

Jungle Fungus Clear (the fizz tabs).
The lady at the pet store said it should work. I used as directed last night, woke up this morning with a dead fish.
If there is something better I should have used I would like to know for future needs.

Melafix/Pimafix

And no more fish from Walmart!

Sorry for your loss.

Work on buying everything you need, like a liquid testing kit (no strips, bad readings) and making sure your tank is properly cycled. You want 0 ammonia, and 0 nitrite and you want to get an actual nitrate reading to know it's cycled. The process will go like this. You tank will get ammonia, and then it will be converted to nitrite, and then converted to nitrate (Very basic explanation). This is all done through beneficial bacteria, and without it, your fish won't live.

There are a number of ways to cycle your tank. Since you already have the safe start, use that. Pour it directly into the filter, per the directions on the bottle, and toss some fish flakes into the tank daily (as if you were feeding a fish) to keep the bacteria alive until you get a new fish. However, do not get a new fish until you have a testing kit. Without a testing kit you will never know what's going on in your tank really.

You will also need a hydrometer or a refractormeter (if you don't already have one) so you can read the salinity. When you start increasing the salinity for whatever fish you get, you only want to do it by .002 PER WEEK, or you will kill all your beneficial bacteria and have to start over.

Since your fish had an infection I'd recommend taking everything down from your tank. Empty the water, take everything out and clean the tank, decorations, rocks, filter etc that way whatever your fish had isn't passed on. Then once you get the test kit, set the tank back up and cycle with safe start.

I would also recommend you get a figure 8 puffer as it can fit in your current tank without any issues for upgrading. GSPs require 30 gallons minimum (as you know) but do much better in 55+ because of the displacement caused by rocks/sand and decor.

Whatever fish you decide on, it's already better to have the tank completely ready before you bring your new pet home. This means slowly increasing the salinity until it's a proper range for the fish and then drip acclimating the fish before introducing it to the tank.

Again, sorry for your loss and I wish you luck in the future with your next puffers and fish.

Nice to see ya here with your wonderful, informative posts, NC!