The Puffer Forum

Oh my! I recently got a Green Spotted Puffer and had no idea the amount of work that would be put into him! But, as I read here, once you name a fish you can't turn your back on them. =)

Anyway, I have many questions!

First of all, can my puffer stay in a ten gallon tank until I can get a thirty gallon? He's about two inches long.
Second, how often should I feed him snails? I don't want his teeth getting too long.
What is al the necessary equipment for a brackish tank? I have a filter, heater, bubbler, and am getting a powerhead soon.
When should start adding salt to the water? As soon as possible?
Using Instant Ocean, about how much should I add, and how often, to get my sg up by.002?
Should I add salt monthly or weekly?

I have to admit, I've fallen in love with puffers in the short time that I've kept Spot (cliche name, I know). Please help!

First of all, can my puffer stay in a ten gallon tank until I can get a thirty gallon? He's about two inches long.

He will be ok for a short time but you really need a bigger tank asap. Keep a close eye on water param., your amm. may spike, if this happens you will need to do daily water changes to keep the amm. at 0.

Second, how often should I feed him snails? I don't want his teeth getting too long.

You can feed him other things besides just snails to keep his teeth worn down. There is a great article in the library under the learn tab or in my signature about what to feed a puffer. Most items can be found at your local grocery store. If you can get snails a few times a week would be good.

What is al the necessary equipment for a brackish tank? I have a filter, heater, bubbler, and am getting a powerhead soon.

The only other item you would need is marine salt. You will probally want to take the bubbler out. With the bubbler you might have salt all over the top, back and sides of the tank. It can make a mess.

When should start adding salt to the water? As soon as possible?

Yes the sooner the better.

Using Instant Ocean, about how much should I add, and how often, to get my sg up by.002?

You need to get a refractomer or a hydrometer (that starts at 1.000). Mix the salt in a bucket, water first, match the temp in the tank then add to the tank.
To get your sg up by .002 you will need to mix the water at .004 do a 50% water change and this will bring your sg up to 1.002 in your tank.

Should I add salt monthly or weekly?

Only raise your sg by .002 each week or your tank will go through another cycle. By raising the sg .002 your cycled tank will not loose the bacteria. Also add salt at every water change to keep the sg the same once you get it to the level you want.

Thank you so much! Very informative, thanks for taking the time.

If your tank was cycled before you added him, he might last a short while in there, while you get a larger tank & cycle it. If not, then he doesn't have much of a chance. Be sure to read the cycling articles in our Library, along with the one on GSPs.

It was cycled before I added him. =) How long do you think he can stay in that tank?

At two inches, the shorter the better, they grow slow but stunt easily, so by the time you realize "hey, he should be BIGGER" he may already have permanent stunting. Two inches is 1/3 of a GSP, and 10 gallons is 1/3 of 30 gallons, so he is already out of room. I'd move him in under a month.

when it comes to feeding your puffer snails I have found that needle point snails work great. They stay hidden during the day and at night they come out. I put 50 in my tank over a year ago and my puffer hasent been able to wipe out their population yet.