The Puffer Forum

Ok, I bought some puffers at Walmart. I now have 3. They were all in the same tank and listed as GSP's. Now, all three of them look completely different. One of them, I know is a F8. Why Walmart had an F8 is anyone's guess. I figure it got mixed in by mistake from the distributor. Anyway, the other two "could" be GSP's. The smaller of the two in question has a distinct slope from his belly to his tail. But the larger of the two has "marbled bands" of black on the top of his head and body. I cannot find pics anywhere on the net that looks like this "marbled" puffer. I created a gallery album. Right now they are all in a quarantine tank together and being treated for parasites and fin damage. They will all be moving into larger, and likely separate, housing in about 30 days. So, to know how many tanks and what size I need to set up, I need an experts help in figuring out what these guys are.
I currently have a 30 g. African Ciclid tank and a 40 g. freshwater with one SAP and a pleco. I know that they cannot go in either of these, except maybe the F8 with the SAP, so I need to get to work. Thanks in advance!

Load your pics to http://www.photobucket.com, then you can post them here.

I created an album. Hopefull I did it correctly.
Thanks!

The one that you described as "marbled" is a GSP. Their spots aren't always round circles, sometimes the spots morph together and make weird shapes. GSPs need at least 30 gallons each, F8s need at least 15 gallons. Both of them need brackish water. F8 are low brackish and GSPs start at low brackish and move up to high end or marine as they get older. I hope this helps and good luck!

Thanks Spock! Now I need a name for him. Thinking maybe "Mystery". LOL

Looks like a GSP, nice markings on him.

Are your puffers in brackish water or fresh water?

They are in FW right now. THe LFS was FW and they are juveniles. They will remain in the QT for 30 days, then move into seperate housing, with the two GSP's in one, gradually increasing the SG, and the F8 in another with low SG. I may try the F8 with my SAP in the begining and see how they do. They're roughly the same size. I'm sure that eventually they'll need to be separated, but my SAP is very docile, so I'm going to try it out. I'll be sure to post my results. Of course, I'll have to move the Pleco who lives with the SAP when I raise the SG. I don't think he'll tolerate it.

Good Luck!!