The Puffer Forum

i'm knew to this whole puffer thing. but i have decided puffers are my favorite fish. anyways now i need to know if will get a gsp or a figure eight. this wont be my first tank either.

I'd get figure eights because they are easier. IMO. Did you read the articles in the pufferpedia?

I think it depends upon how experienced you are or what you prefer. I think PERSONALLY I would go for the GSP because you can work them up to full marine really well, reducing cost of salt, (If you have a well established tank, and only have to do minimal water changes). I would get a F8 if I was willing to spend the money on salt for every weekly water change.

Thats just my opinion. I have never (successfully) kept a GSP (my fault from being ignorant), and I've never owned a F8.

What size tank do you have for one?

i have a gsp and i love him becuase he's so full of personality and very interactive.

i saw a fig8 at the store once and it didn't respond at all like my gsp.....i was disappointed

sparks42 wrote:i have a gsp and i love him becuase he's so full of personality and very interactive.

i saw a fig8 at the store once and it didn't respond at all like my gsp.....i was disappointed

I have both, and here it's the other way around. My GSP is a sissy, and always goes into hiding when I'm around. My F8s, on the other hand, is quite interactive, and likes to check out what's happening outside the tank.
So I guess it's just like it always is with puffers: you never know until you've bought them yourself. Every specimen is different.

I would say that first and foremost it depends what size your tank is. Their personalities are going to depend on the individual fish, not the species. Spend some time and find one that seems to interact with you, see if it will eat.

If you have 15-40 gallons I would go with a F8. I wouldn't recommend a GSP for less than 40 gallons for long term (the more the better). IMO it's not a good idea to buy a fish and say "I'll buy a bigger tank later" as that rarely works out. Puffers really do produce a lot of waste and you'll be doing a TON of water changes to keep up with a GSP's waste in a small tank.

I think if you have the tank space and the money definately go with a GSP. My GSP is my baby, I love him to death.

With GSPs the bigger the tank the better. I have mine in a 29gallon, but I've been looking into getting him a 55gallon, they really enjoy the space and the swimming room.

zombiefetus wrote:
With GSPs the bigger the tank the better. I have mine in a 29gallon, but I've been looking into getting him a 55gallon, they really enjoy the space and the swimming room.

I just moved my largest into full marine and a larger tank and he looks and feels great!

If you want to eventually go full marine get the GSP, if you want to stay with brackish waters get the Figure 8. I have 2 GSP's in a 120 gallon tank, I also have 4 dwarf puffers (freshwater) in a 28 gallon tank heavily planted. They are both great. It really depends on your tank size and your water preference. I do a weekly 50% water change on both puffer tanks. You may also want to think about the cost of salt for water changes. That was one thing I did not think about when I got the 120 gallon. Good luck with your new puffer.

it would be a 20 or 30 gallon tank for 2 figure eights

^ 30gallon. They need 15g each

right now im leaning towards a figure eight. But what size tank would i need if i had 3 bumbleebee gobies, 2 chromides, 3knight gobes if they are compatible.

I wouldn't go with anything less than a 55gallon.

pufferfreak wrote:right now im leaning towards a figure eight. But what size tank would i need if i had 3 bumbleebee gobies, 2 chromides, 3knight gobes if they are compatible.

I would go for with bumblebee gobies or knight gobies. The knights will more than likely see the bumblebees as lunch once they are fully grown.