The Puffer Forum

A few weeks ago I posted a topic about having Ceylon and GSP's puffers together in the same tank. Now honestly, when I made that post, I was only curious about the likelihood of those two species getting on together, because I know they are quite similar.

But now today I was forced to actually put one of my GSP's into my Ceylon's tank. Thing is, I recently got a new GSP (Bizby) and my biggest GSP, Ying, took an immediate liking to him and they got along really well, but unfortunately Ying started treating Yang very badly, chasing him and intimidating him at meal time. I noticed more and more that Yang was becoming very shy and withdrawn. Bizby didn't seem to care one way or the other, and just went about his business. I thought maybe this was just an adjustment period and thought things would improve, but they didn't. Yesterday I noticed that Yang was getting very dark, and not just his belly, but all over, and by today he was nearly black, and I was very worried about him. I've never seen a GSP so dark in all my life and I felt that if I didn't do something, that I would lose Yang.

So I took a radical step and I moved Yang into my Ceylon's tank. I knew the salinity was close, so I wasn't bothered about that. I hoped that the Ceylons would accept Yang because they are all much bigger than he is (even "Baby" Blip, the smallest Ceylon). Within minutes of me putting Yang into that tank he brightened up and was zipping around and looked so much happier. The Ceylons weren't too happy about Yang being in the tank, but before too long they settled down and seemed okay with him being there, and they haven't bothered Yang at all. I've been watching Yang since I put him in this afternoon and he's just looking wonderfully happy. He's back to being his inquisitive self and all his colouring is back bright and pretty. All that black is gone, and I'm glad to see him as he should be. I'm still unsure what was going on, unless he was that stressed that it turned him black. Actually that's the only thing I can think of. The water quality in the GSP tank is excellent, as it is in the Ceylon tank, so I doubt that was the issue. Whatever it is, I now have a GSP in my Ceylon tank!!

Well im glad so far so good keep us updated on how it goes during feeding time.

I kept 2 GSPs with a Ceylon for many years together.

Pix?

Well I'm happy to say they've spent part of the day and all night with each other and this morning Yang is looking so nice and happy. He's bright and pretty, just like he should be, and he's zipping around the tank enjoying himself. He looks so much better than how he was looking in the GSP tank, and I'm so glad I took the chance and moved him. I was just afraid with him being so much smaller than the Ceylons that they would harass him, but no one is harassing anyone, so that's a good thing.

I will try to get some pictures later.

Sounds cool. I hope they stay getting along

I don't have them any more.

pufferpuggirl wrote:Well I'm happy to say they've spent part of the day and all night with each other and this morning Yang is looking so nice and happy. He's bright and pretty, just like he should be, and he's zipping around the tank enjoying himself. He looks so much better than how he was looking in the GSP tank, and I'm so glad I took the chance and moved him. quote]

Glad to hear that Yang is doing better! I had my GSP Johannas with my F8 Big Rig. Unfortunately the F8 killed Johannas(RIP), ripped a hole in his side and tore off his tail. Despite their being the same size. I know it's always a chance regarding if puffers will get along Oh fish drama. haha. Poor Johannas was "black" like Yang and super stressed out that day. With GSP's that is so scary. Please keep us posted on Yang! Well Wishes on his recovery!

Okay, it's been 5 days since I moved Yang into the Ceylon's tank. He was up this morning swimming around and still bright and beautiful, with totally white belly. He rarely, if ever, had a white belly in the other tank. So I do think he's happy where he is. He seems to think that he's one of the Ceylons because they like to hang out under the filter box and that's what he's been doing too. I'm just happy to see him so pretty and bright, as he should be.

Good to hear that Yang is doing well!! I guess puffers get sick of their room-mates(tank mates) too lol

You never can quite tell what tankmate a puffer or puffers will reject and which they will accept out of whatever strange modes of pufferey behavior govern their social activities. Shakespeare, despite being MUCH bigger and MUCH MUCH bulkier than Jillybean will never every do anything that might hurt her. For her part, she follows him around quite a bit when she isn't occupied trying to snack on every single moving 'pod in the tank, ramming her forehead into live rock or shell structures while nipping at the 'pods so frequently that she has a permanent scar on her dome.