The Puffer Forum

Can anyone please give me a blow by blow how too as i can't find it on the net anywhere and i would soo much like to have a f-8 or a GSP and have the tank size to accomadate the fish=30gallon for 1-GSP-i have the retrofactor and the instant ocean salt but just don't know how to cycle it as brackish-Thanking you all that respond and will take all advice and suggestions and put too good use-PS I will be starting from scratch

Most people start out with a freshwater tank, and cycle it that way and then slowly change it over to a brackish tank. Most Figure-8's and GSP's are kept in freshwater at LFS's anyway, so it's not like you would be hurting the puffer.

There's an article on making brackish water here in the brackish section.

PufferPugGirl; Thank You soo much-i will do the ammonia thing and fishless of course and basically i just add 1002 gradually?-I did come across the mixing of salt for brackish- But i have another question-How long will a GSP last in fresh water? The LFS where i but said he gets them from a breeder and they are born in fresh water-Bella

Once your tank is completely cycled, yes, you just add a little salt each week, .002 I think (not sure, someone else will confirm). Your GSP will live long enough in freshwater to do what you're going to do. I've never had much luck keeping them in totally fresh for more than a few months. But you will be fine with yours. I am not certain about GSP's ... I think they are from brackish water right off, but I know that Figure-8 puffers are born in fresh and migrate to brackish, maybe that's what your LFS is thinking.

shih-tzu mom wrote:PufferPugGirl; Thank You soo much-i will do the ammonia thing and fishless of course and basically i just add 1002 gradually?-I did come across the mixing of salt for brackish- But i have another question-How long will a GSP last in fresh water? The LFS where i but said he gets them from a breeder and they are born in fresh water-Bella

It is unlikely that the GSPs will be from a breeder - most are wild caught. They are notoriously difficult to breed (& probably impossible in FW) & need full marine conditions.

I would cycle your tank as FW, then get your GSP, then once he is settled in, start the slow raising of the salinity. There is absolutely no rush to get him to the correct salinity, so do it very slowly, so as not to kill off the good bacteria.

ps I love your spelling of refractometer!! retrofactor - made me chuckle!!

Sorry; give me a break, i'm an old broad lol-65-just in june, maybe to old to start, i hope not-Thanks to all-Bella

I had a GSP live in freshwater for a year and a half before my heater malfunctioned and boiled the tank. He was very tiny when I got him though.

shih-tzu mom wrote:Sorry; give me a break, i'm an old broad lol-65-just in june, maybe to old to start, i hope not-Thanks to all-Bella

Never too old! As long as you're willing to learn, then you'll do fine. (still making me chuckle though!!).