The Puffer Forum

Blaine wrote:I appologize if I was abrupt or rude but we were just trying to get to the root of things to do what's best for the fish. I appreciate that you are trying to do the best you can for your fish. Also if he was the one to insult me and my dog. You sound very reasonable and considerate.

We are not trying to bash you or berate you for your intentions....but there is a mininum standard that is necessary to keep fish from SW or BW.I may have come off as a bit intense but it was because I was trying to get this across to the post-er.

Not to belittle you but it might be best to hand off the puffer to someone more prepared to keep fish of this difficulty. Not saying that you couldn't pull it off but you need to be prepared to purchase the necessary equipment and do what's right for the fish.

If you want to keep the fish then you need to get some test kits and a hydrometer or refractometer asap (like yesterday) and some marine salt. You will have to do daily (maybe twice daily) tests on the water quality and ensure that Ammonia and Nitrite readings stay low so as not to stress the fish. It will take about a month of this before the readings stabilize and you show healthy Nitrate readings to ensure a safe environment for the fish. It will take daily water changes to keep the readings low enough to keep the fish healthy and a move to a larger tank as soon as possible (within a month or so)

Please do the suggested readings and decide what you would like to do. We are behind you and will support your decision and will try to help as best we can.

Pufferpunk wrote:He is moving the fish to a 55g over this weekend, which should take care of all the cycling problems. Blaine is right though, you need to keep the puffer alive that long in an uncycled tank or none of that will matter. Only way to do that is by testing & doing appropriate water changes, accordingly.

greenspottedlover wrote:To add to what Blaine said. Keeping a puffer can be fairly challenging, but as long as you are aware of there needs the most difficult part is keeping up with there tanks cleaning. Keeping a puffer I'm sure you CAN do, but be ready for a lot of work.

Capt Dorsal Fin wrote:

greenspottedlover wrote:another thing is puffers need crunchy food, Live snails for instance. Are you addressing this? If you do keep him you may want to setup a snail breeding tank , maybe in the 10g.

The snail thing I did know. But thanks! I do have 2 10 gallons- one could house snails if I decide to keep puff. And, they (snails) love to eat zucchini!

greenspottedlover wrote:Great so if snails aren't new to you then food shouldn't be a problem.

greenspottedlover wrote:hmm... how old are you? jk

Capt Dorsal Fin wrote:

greenspottedlover wrote:hmm... how old are you? jk

?
I just turned 30.
And... yeah, the comment about the BF is probably sadly true.

Pufferpunk wrote:He is moving the fish to a 55g over this weekend, which should take care of all the cycling problems. Blaine is right though, you need to keep the puffer alive that long in an uncycled tank or none of that will matter. Only way to do that is by testing & doing appropriate water changes, accordingly.

Capt Dorsal Fin wrote:At this point, I almost feel that if he is going to be leaving this puffer here most of the time, I need to bring said puffer to a place that can handle it. I would love to keep the little guy, but I just feel like there is so much to learn in such a short time. ... It's apparent that I/we don't have the equipment here to handle him...