GSP breeding
Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:34 pm
After much debate I think I'm going to use my empty 29gallon to house another GSP. While I'd love to experience caring for other puffers GSPs will always be my absolute favorite.
But of course, the moment I decide I want one, they're no where to be found.
I'd also like to try my hand at breeding them, which I know, has been tried a million times, but it never hurts to try. So once they're both full grown I'd like to transfer them into a large (I'm thinking 90-125) tank. And try out a few theories. I'm thinking of getting a group of 3-4 puffers all together and set the tank up as follows:
-very deep sand bed (2-5"). The reason being, I found an old fish book on my book shelf today which states "The male guards the eggs which are laid on a stone and later he transfers the young to a pit in the sand" So I'm wondering if a deeper sand bed where making a "pit" is easier will entice them to breed.
-A few slate stones of different shapes and sizes
-Driftwood
-Heavily planted
-strong current. In theory, I'd guess GSPs spawn in a river, so creating a stronger than normal current may do the trick.
-Low s.g. I'm thinking around 1.008 lowering it all the way to freshwater doesn't seem to work, but maybe stopping short of freshwater along with other changes will help, I'd be hesitant to put them in freshwater for any amount of time anyway.
So that's my crazy plan. It's still about half a year away, but I thought it would be nice to start planning now and bounce some ideas off everyone here. Because of course if they bred I'd be more than happy to send everyone a nice tank bred GSP.
(the book I was looking at is called The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aquarium Fish by Dr. Stanislav Frank)
But of course, the moment I decide I want one, they're no where to be found.
I'd also like to try my hand at breeding them, which I know, has been tried a million times, but it never hurts to try. So once they're both full grown I'd like to transfer them into a large (I'm thinking 90-125) tank. And try out a few theories. I'm thinking of getting a group of 3-4 puffers all together and set the tank up as follows:
-very deep sand bed (2-5"). The reason being, I found an old fish book on my book shelf today which states "The male guards the eggs which are laid on a stone and later he transfers the young to a pit in the sand" So I'm wondering if a deeper sand bed where making a "pit" is easier will entice them to breed.
-A few slate stones of different shapes and sizes
-Driftwood
-Heavily planted
-strong current. In theory, I'd guess GSPs spawn in a river, so creating a stronger than normal current may do the trick.
-Low s.g. I'm thinking around 1.008 lowering it all the way to freshwater doesn't seem to work, but maybe stopping short of freshwater along with other changes will help, I'd be hesitant to put them in freshwater for any amount of time anyway.
So that's my crazy plan. It's still about half a year away, but I thought it would be nice to start planning now and bounce some ideas off everyone here. Because of course if they bred I'd be more than happy to send everyone a nice tank bred GSP.
(the book I was looking at is called The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aquarium Fish by Dr. Stanislav Frank)
