The Puffer Forum

OK, so I was doing a water change today and happen to find something in my tank. I had no idea this was in there and have never seen it before. How long it has been in there I have no idea. Well....it is a baby...I mean a tiny baby puffer about the size of my thumb nail ( maybe a little bit bigger, but not by much). I started watching it a little bit and the darned little thing is trying to eat everything. Ummmm its body is kinda sunken in a little bit not as fat as the rest of its body. What do I do to fatten the little guy up some? Do I need to but it in the tank with my snails to get him to eat of just leave it in the tank with my other fish, this would make 5 GSP's. I had no idea he was in there.

Not an expert, but I'd remove the baby from the rest. Just seems too likely he might get eaten. I'd guess baby snails, baby brine shrimp, infusoria, tubifex, blood worms... Depends on size. I think anything you'd feed the others would be fine, so long as it's small enough to fit in the baby's mouth. Once again, not an expert, so I could be wrong.

Also, you might find this a neat read
http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/2009/02/17/uf- ... d-benefit/

-Rob

Highly doubt it's a baby GSP. Possible to get a pic? Have there ever been any other fish in there? Any live plants?

It is a baby puffer. Im gonna take a pic of it and get it on here so you can see it. The little guy I have to take a net and get him off my filter cause he gets stuck on it.

Ok my girlfriend said she went to walmart and bought the smallest one they had cause she wanted me to think I had babies. But I still dont know what to do with it. I don't need 5 of these little guys. BUt as I said he is very very small

You really need to have a talk with your GF--that's not cool... What are your plans for the 4? You're gonna have to find a nice, ma & pop store to donate some of them to.

Well I was gonna keep 2 of em and find new homes for the other two. I have rehomed the 2 plecos, my neighbor across the street took the 2 angels. So all I have now are the 2 mollies, neon, some fish i dont know what it is. And my 2 ghost catfish. Anyone want a GSP? (2 of em have to go to new homes)

So you're keeping 3 puffers? How are the parameters now? Are they picking on your other fish?

well my ammonia is at 0 nitrate is 25 or so , my nitrite is between 0.5 and 1.0 ph between 8.0 and 8.4. As far as picking on the other fish they really dont bother em. They used to pick on the angels, but I got rid of them. The ghost catfish I never see them till dark and I turn off the lights and turn on the moon light. I only want to keep 2 puffers but I really dont know what to do with this tiny little thing. I mean he is smaller then a dime

I hope you gave her a piece of your mind, about buying you something like that!

You need to keep your nitrate <20 & your nitrite at 0, always (very toxic!). Do a large WC & keep them up, as often as necessary to keep the parameters safe or you're gonna have some sick fish on your hands, quickly.

When I do water changes do I always put in the stuff that takes the chlorine out of the water or does that stuff stay in the tank even when ya do a water change. I told her no tot be buyin any more fish and puttin em in the tank. Didnt really yell at her cause she was tryin to do something good.

Now you need to make your girlfriend buy you a new tank to house all the fish! lol

-Rob

Maybe yelling isn't appropriate but I would educate her about the potential of intruducing disease to an already unstable tank? In this situation all your fish would likely die if a disease or parasite was brought in...

Yeap, new tank is a must in your case

LOL, my jaw dropped when I thought you had a baby puffer can we see some pics before you give it away?