The Puffer Forum

Hey all,

I just had a concern about the color of my GSP Tsunami. Tsunami has been a very dull green/gray/brown color and I was wondering if there is anything I could do to brighten him up. The color is so dull, that there is barely any contrast in his color and his spots most of the time. He has a very skittish personality and I'm wondering if this is his natural color or if he is in some sort of defense mode. He has been this color before I introduced his new tankmate, Kapua, which is the traditional bright green. The water now is low end brackish with the intent to covert to full marine.

Here is a video of the two guys swimming a bit. The color isn't the best since it was done with my iPhone. The bigger one is Tsunami. BTW he isn't always getting picked on as in this video. He actually does most of the bullying when food is around.
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I can't see the video. Figures I'm on my iPhone right now. How many puffs and wat size tank? What are the water parameters and are there any other tank mates with him. I have 3 in a 55 no bigger than 3" and thesmallest of them always has color like you describe. Although he can be dominant but not the most dominant. Biggest one is the big brother.

It is a 46g with the two puffs (the larger puff being about 3" and the new young one is a little over an inch... walmart is evil) one molly and a couple guppies to hunt when they get bored. I should probably test the water again since I haven't for a while, but the last time i checked the parameters they were fine and his color has been the same. Sometimes when I leave the room and come back later and sneak in the room before they know I'm there, he is a really bright green. Maybe he is scared crapless of me...

Exact parameters would always help when you are describing any problem. Please include SG.

Just tested...

Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: Looks to be more than 0 but less than 5 ppm
Salinity: 1.006

Hmm Id say he's just gettin used to his new friend or most likely needs to be alone In the 46g. If you want two I'd get a 60g. 55g absolute bare minimum. It doesn't matter if ones 5" and the others 1" it's about establishing a territory and being secure within it. Gsp require 30g minimum per puffer there bioload is very high. One of the messiest fish I've even owned. Their poops are no smaller than the amount of food you give them. Lol they're like a gerbal poo

Also I'd prolly ditch the guppies. They don't eat guppies. If they do they aren't even healthy for em. And what will you do with the mollies after it's full marine.

I really don't suggest keeping a 5" GSP with a 1" GSP. They're best raised up together as juvies.

Yeah I know that 30g/adult GSP is the norm, but I figured a lot can happen from now and then and Kapua would probably be dead by now if I left him with the astute care of the mentally challenged Walmart staff.

But wait a minute... isn't 3 GSP's in a 55g a little tight? Ratio of gallon/fish is worse than mine haha

The guppies are to keep them entertained and they are no more than .5 inch and there are about 4 left out of 8. Most likely wont get any more. There is one molly and I haven't made exact plans for marine.

Pufferpunk wrote:I really don't suggest keeping a 5" GSP with a 1" GSP. They're best brought up together as juvies.

It isn't close to 5"... It's a bit less than 3" and about 5 months old (which is my guess since he was TINY when I got him in January).

I do not know what may be specifically wrong with your GSP..

But, I have a couple of tanks that have white gravel with some green gravel mixed in...

I like it because it brings out the white in their bellies LOL..

But, I will say that I have some GSPs that when they want to go into camouflage mode or if something is stressing them...instead of turning dark they will turn their green and their spots lighter...

Their green becomes really dull and their spots turn to brown or even gray....it is quite unusual looking..

My GSPs in tanks with darker gravel do not normally do that..instead they turn dark...

If I turn the lights out in the white gravel tanks they will turn dark...but if I have the lights on some of the GSPs will turn light if for whatever reason..

Ooka wrote:Yeah I know that 30g/adult GSP is the norm, but I figured a lot can happen from now and then and Kapua would probably be dead by now if I left him with the astute care of the mentally challenged Walmart staff.

But wait a minute... isn't 3 GSP's in a 55g a little tight? Ratio of gallon/fish is worse than mine haha

The guppies are to keep them entertained and they are no more than .5 inch and there are about 4 left out of 8. Most likely wont get any more. There is one molly and I haven't made exact plans for marine.

For three GSPs, 90g at least. 30g/GSP isn't the norm; it's the bare minimum.

The guppies really need to go. For one thing, they won't appreciate that high salinity. For another, although live food is a great thing, it's not great to keep the live food living with the predator long-term; it's unpleasant for the prey, even if it's entertaining to the predator. Finally, you should never feed fish to non-piscavore (fish-eating) fish. It's very unhealthy. You can provide stimulation by feeding live earthworms or rearranging decorations or teaching them tricks.

If the GSP's are attacking and eating your guppies i wouldnt keep them together like LGP said.

To LGP- both mollies and guppies can handle salt very well and both can actually be acclimated to full sw without any issues at all.

SW??? Dang! I knew mollies could take it, but GUPPIES??? Thanks for the info, anyway!

Yep!