i've made a mistake - up for adoption_

[IamTracy]

I hope you all dont have to read posts like mine very often.
I purchased two puffers based strictly on what the guy at the store told me. Long story short, we are both idiots and now I have two puffers that I have no business owning.
Is there anyone in the SW Michigan area who would be willing to adopt them?
Here's a pic.


They've been in my cold fresh water tank for two days now.
What do you recommend I do?

Thanks in advance and sorry for being an idiot.

[J-P]

awww they are so cute!

How large is the tank? any other fish with them?

[IamTracy]

The tank is a 20 gallon and those are now the only two fish in that tank.

[busybones]

Welcome to the forum!
What is the temps on the tank they are in?

I'm moving your post to the classifieds area so people will know you are trying to re-home your puffers. If you'd like to add "up for adoption" or something of that nature to your title that would be helpful. Thanks

[LilGreenPuffer]

Is your tank cycled? If not, they might die before someone can get them! Please read this article.
library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/

[IamTracy]

Thank you for putting my post in the appropriate place.
We are located in South Haven Michigan. SouthWest corner of the state, approx 1 hr north of the Michigan / Indiana stateline, right on the lake.

[busybones]

No problem I hope you have luck re-homing them..If you were closer I'd be happy to help

[kilofey]

if your tank is cycled, are you shure you want to re-home them?

if it is cycled, all you need is a heater, some dechlor if you dont have any, and a good liquid test kit...... eventually they will need brackish water, but that is done slowly, not right away..... and theyll be fine for a while in a 20, but eventually they will need to either be rehomed or gotten a bigger tank (but you will be so attached to them, youll end up getting a new tank)

if its not cycled, get a heater, and go to your local fish store, and ask them for some used filter media and some used gravel (even if its only a few sandwich baggies) any is better than none! that will cycle your tank quickly.... the used filter media and used gravel will give you that good bacteria needed to get the cycle going in your tank. just do daily water changes of like 75% until your water tests out at ammonia 0. nitrites 0. and nitrates under 40 (i think its 40).... then you can start spacing out your water changes

youll really love these guys, puffers are a lot of fun.... id do a little research and get them the necessary equipment and try keeping them (if they dont make it, just keep your reciept for the heater, and anything else that can be returned)

good luck

[Pufferpunk]

You seem to care about them, why not work with us & let us help you keep them?

[J-P]

You're not an idiot .... I fell into the same trap. LFS sold me 6 GSPs (the same as yours) and after I got them I fell in love (but that is another story).

They do require some extra TLC but if you can keep them it is worth it. If you must give them away.. the choice is yours.

As a side note.. if you decide to keep them you'll be rewarded every day and learn a lot from the forum

[autophotos]

try an put the effort in and keep them if you can. puffers are amazing

[bauk]

You seem to care about them, why not work with us & let us help you keep them?

[IamTracy]

No, I don't WANT to rehome them. I'm scared i'm killing them so my rehoming idea was the my attempt and trying to make it better for them.
I fell in love with them at the store! I asked a few questions and the answers I recieved made me feel like I could care for them just fine. My 10 yr daughter and I stayed up til almost 3am just watching these silly fish that first night. They were a riot! The little one would swim super fast to the bottom of the tank, "jump" into the bubble stream and ZIP, ride the bubbles to the top. Over and over and over again. Sometimes she would even try to "fight" the bubbles and swim against them downward. It was so funny. (we call him/her Bubbles). And it is my honest opinion that she was smiling and I swear everyone once and while she would look and see if we were still watching... maybe i'm a bit wierd?! The big one just hangs out under the rock, (appropriately named Rocky) he didn't really do much of anything except watch us. And I do mean watch us! My daughter would stand in front of the tank and slowly sway back and forth and that fish would move with her without ever leaving his spot under that rock.

They spent the first night in a tank with 4 gold fish and one snail. I got to work the next day and started searching the internet about whether or not I should get a second rock for the little one... well... just looking for the best habitat in general for the puffers and boy was I SHOCKED with what I read. It was all almost completely opposite of what the fish guy told me.

After work I did a mad dash to Walmart to pick up another tank to keep my goldfish and my snail safe. Just a cheapy little 3 gallon. Got home and my goldfish and snail were all just fine. Luck?

Today after work I plan to go back to the fish store with the list of things you all have suggested in an attempt to make thier living situation better/ healthier. And this weekend i'll make the longer drive to a REAL fish store and hopefully get some REAL answers.

Thoughts?

[Flutter]

It's pretty likely that the "real" fish store won't be able to give you answers. They don't know everything about all the fish.

[busybones]

If you decide to keep these puffers you will enjoy them immensely. They are wonderful fish, please get your info from our articles and advice from the members. These fish are widely misunderstood and it's not likely that you'll get much good information from any pet store/fish store. We are glad to help you along the way just let us know what you decide.