The Puffer Forum

I saw these at walmart and thought they were the cutest little things. So I bought a small plastic tank and some fish flakes that the walmart lady suggested. I expected that they would be easy to take care of, since walmart sold them right? I was so wrong, I looked online and saw that they were brackish. I want to do my best to take care of these guys, I already bought a large tank. Right now they are very small and living in fresh water, but I want to get them acclimated to brackish water immediately so they can be happy and healthy. I have no idea how to do that, or where to start. So I joined this forum to get some good information from people who know how to take care of them.

Oh and Walmart needs to stop selling these guys to their customers, it's cruel.

You have plenty of time to convert them to BW as they get a little older.

What size tank did you get for them and is this your only tank?



(Don't make me post my Walmart GSP "care details" pic. 'Cause I'll do it!)

I have a 20 gallon tank, I know that is small but it is all I can get for now.

library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/
library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/
library/category/feeding/

You have some reading to do!

JRC3 wrote:You have plenty of time to convert them to BW as they get a little older.

What size tank did you get for them and is this your only tank?



(Don't make me post my Walmart GSP "care details" pic. 'Cause I'll do it!)

"i double dog dare you!"

Oh and Walmart needs to stop selling these guys to their customers, it's cruel.

No kidding!

Ummm you said "they" so you have more than one? Your lookin at a 60 gallon tank. I don't think theyll last long in a 20 I lost one in 2 months with a 30 holding 2 gsps

Here are two very recent threads by people that were in the same boat you are in.
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=24703
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=24662 (hazima's thread)

hazima wrote:"i double dog dare you!"

hazima wrote:Ummm you said "they" so you have more than one? Your lookin at a 60 gallon tank. I don't think theyll last long in a 20 I lost one in 2 months with a 30 holding 2 gsps

Yeah, I have two. I am worried about the tank size. They are not aggressive towards each other though, which is good.

Although not big enough for them as adults, if cycled, it will hold them for a little while. Did you read all those articles posted?

yea if you run through my thread you can see what happens when they are too crowded and parameters are off...may be i was an extreme case tho...glad to say i think im out of gsp rehab and kiki and i are ganna be just fine!

RIP lime

I too got a GSP from walmart and had no idea what i was doing, but i read all the articles and talked to some great people on the forum and my George is doing great

Thanks for the links, they are so helpful. I'm excited to get them into their new tank.

Has anyone used the "instant cycle" with Bio-Spira? It mentions it in this article library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/

If so does it work with fresh water? If not how long should I cycle my fresh water tank until I can put the puffers in.

Do you know anyone with a freshwater aquarium? The best way to add a large amount of good bacteria is to take a filter sponge from an established tank. Perhaps if you post your location, someone here might have an old filter sponge they'll trade for a new one?
Either way, you need to get them out of the little plastic tank!