The Puffer Forum

So in case you haven’t read my post, my GSP wasn’t doing well in the tank and when I moved him to a cup, he got a whole lot better. Well I went out and I got all the necessities to keep him happy: Marine salt, 30 gallon tank, snails and bloodworms. I got the heater and the filters….the whole shebang! Well when I tried to move him to the tank, he turned black again! When I moved him back to the cup, he returned to normal. It was so weird so I waited awhile because I thought maybe he was just shocked by the new settings, but no. I left him in the tank for a long time and he stayed dark and depressed so I moved him back to the cup and he turned bright florescent green again and energetic. I don’t know what it is with him. I think he just likes the cup. It’s so weird so I was wondering if there’s any solution to getting him used to the tank because I don't wanna keep him in the cup forever

What's a long time? Also is the new tank all cycled? If it is, give him a couple days to adjust. Sometimes they're just grumpy.

Just a wild guess here--have you washed out those tanks with anything?

you should test the water in the cup and in the tank and compare the differences unless its the same water? if all is well maybe he just needs time be feel secure in his new environment.

I think you need to give him time to adjust, whether he turns dark or not. Let him get used to his surroundings. He might not be happy at first, but give him time. Is there places for him to hide in the new tank? Puffers need to feel secure, they don't like feeling exposed.
If there isn't any good reason why he shouldn't be in the tank, then I would just put him in there and not pay attention to his colouring and let him get used to it.
If you didn't clean that tank with anything that could harm your puffer, then it's just a matter of the puffer getting used to the tank, but he's not going to get used to it if you keep taking him out. And it's silly to think that he can spend the rest of his life in a cup, so you've got to get him in that tank sooner or later, and it should be sooner.
Make sure you've got a good test kit and keep testing your water, just to make sure things are okay.
Good luck!

I am no expert, but did you put salt in the tank? If so how much and do you have a hydrometer?

If you did put in salt..going from freshwater to salt water in a few seconds might be a shock. A temperature change might be a shock too..I can't imagine you have a heater in the cup LOL. Maybe you need to acclimate him to the differences in the water.

However, I do have to agree with the above poster when they said it takes time to adjust to a new environment. One of my GSPs stayed black for a few days when I got him.

BUT...if you have tested the water and you are sure that the water is similar to the cup's water..try putting the cup in the tank with the GSP in it. Just let it sit on the bottom...Let him swim out on his own.

There is absolutely nothing good about keeping your puffer in a cup!

Sorry, should have posted here...how about blacking out the sides of tank, in case he's just feeling scared and vulnerable?

I'm locking this one, as the 2 posts on the same subject is getting confusing.