The Puffer Forum

I am currently cycling a 55 gallon for my figure 8. *Seems a bit big to me for one fish that will be a singleton anyways.* Nitrates:10. Nitrites: 3.0 or so (I know. I know.) Ammonia: 0 Salinity: About 1.004 substrate: crushed coral. Decorations: Only 3 small plants but if I went back to get him I could pick up more.




I just stopped in at my local walmart and they have ONE green spotted puffer left. He greeted me. Has an all white belly. Is quite fat and his back and head are very bright green. He has no signs of ripped fins. Parasites. Or anything. Hes in about a 5 gallon tank with a common pleco which he apparently has not eaten yet. I'm really pondering if I should seed the 55 gallon a bit more. Do a massive water change. Then do an emergency cycle and get this healthy GSP and put him in the 55 gallon as a rescue instead of the figure 8. I realize this probably wouldn't be ideal for a figure 8. But then again. A gsp in a 55 gallon as a rescue makes alot more sense then putting a figure 8 who wont grow anymore into a 55. I Really need your ideas to either put my current figure 8 once its done fishless cycling in this tank or to go get the seemingly healthy GSP from walmart and attempt an emergency cycle along with massive daily water changes. Thank you guys so much. It's a hard decision. Once I saw that face I almost took him right home with me

I say take care of the fish u have rather than take on more responsibilities. U cant rescue every Walmart special out there.... Spend the money on a refractometer or test kits.

Just my 2 cents...

Keep in mind that once you buy that GSP from Walmart, there will be another one in it's place in a few days. Are you going to "rescue" that one too?...What about the next one then...And the ones at other stores? I don't buy in to the whole "rescue" idea unless the fish is in such dire straights and looks like it will be dead within a few days. And even then, for me personally, I do realize that I can't save them all and that this is going on ever day, hour, and minute at other stores everywhere...And not just Walmart.

You and jt both have good points. It just seems like a bit of a waste of space for a 2.5 inch or so figure 8 who wont be able to have tankmates. I have two people saying figure 8 *You guys* and my LFS says GSP. If I did go and get him. I would talk to a manager. Explain the situation and try to get him for free. And. Attempt to not have them sell any more gsp's which probably wouldn't be successful. Thanks for the insight guys. Looking for some more opinions on what you would do. I just feel so bad. I already gave him a name

I don't see why they'd give you a healthy fish for free. Especially Walmart. Also, of course the guy at your LFS will say that, it means more money for him!

Flutter wrote:I don't see why they'd give you a healthy fish for free. Especially Walmart. Also, of course the guy at your LFS will say that, it means more money for him!

How is it making my LFS more money if I get a free fish at walmart?

Because some time in the next 20 years or so you'll need to buy more supplies because of that fish. Salt, food, test kits, decorations, medications, filters and/or filter media, etc. The costs only go up from the purchase price for any animal.

ETA: I'm not saying that you should or shouldn't get the GSP. I do believe that you need to provide a suitable home for your F8 though. Just because it won't grow any bigger doesn't mean that it wouldn't appreciate and do better in a larger tank It doesn't have to be the 55gal but it can't be the 10gal.

I already have everything I need except decorations for this new tank. I have a huge amount of salt, etc. My only concern's are A. Putting a figure 8 in a 55 gallon tank- it seems like a bit of a waste of space. B. My figure 8 is very skittish and wont even greet me at the glass at the front. So I don't know how much the move is going to stress him out. Personally for a 55 gallon would you pick a Figure 8 or a GSP? also. Wont make a difference for every fish in the world. But it sure makes a difference for that one.

I wouldn't attempt an emergency cycle when there's no reason you have to go through the emergency. Just follow through with your original plans.

There *will* be another GSP to take this one's place at the store.

LilGreenPuffer wrote:I wouldn't attempt an emergency cycle when there's no reason you have to go through the emergency. Just follow through with your original plans.

There *will* be another GSP to take this one's place at the store.

Would you personally reccomend the GSP or the figure 8?

No need to be so argumentative. Do whatever you want but you -asked- for our opinions. It's not right to put them down because they aren't what you want to hear.

While it'll make a difference to that fish it WILL doom another one There's at least 2 sides to everything and to make a good decision you have to think about them all. Period.

I have the most rotten, antisocial and nasty rabbit in existence. She lives a great life, not because I like or love her but because I own her and she's my responsibility. The care an animal deserves is not related to our emotional attachment to them.

I'm sure I could yell loud enough to make them stop selling them LOL

Thank you everyone who responded. I guess I have alot more to think about

you keep sayin that the 55 would be a lot of wasted space. Try tellin your fish that, when you move him over and all of a sudden he has 5x the room to swim. Plus there are other fish that you could add, bumblebee gobys(iirc) are good tank mates

How long have you had your F8 and what size tank is he in? If ur F8 is new or in a small tank, that may be why he is skittish. If the tank is small the fish may feel like he has no personal space to retreat. It seems like my F8 needs his "me time" and every once in awhile he'll just stay tucked away in his flower pots. He spends the other 90%+ time hanging out at the front and checking things out. And if yours is fairly new, mine took over 2 months to settle down and he used to just pace the back and sides of the tank. He was an adult when I got him and I think this may have made things worse as he had some time to live life in the wild.

I have mine in a 29g and I personally consider that to be the "minimum" space for one. He will be "movin' on up" to 46g before long and I surely won't consider that "wasted space". He and his BBG buddies will be a great addition to a larger tank.

If you just want to get him out of Walmart then buy him and take him to a better fish store. One time I bought 2 small GSPs from a Petland that was going out of business and I got them for 75% off (2.50 ea.). The next day they were gonna put all their fish on a truck with other stock and drive them across the state. I bought them, kept them for a month or so in an empty/cycled 29g I had, and took them to another lfs were they give me 1/3 their regular price for fish...I bought them to do exactly that...Walmart only charges $4 for their GSPs and you could re-home it and maybe even get a credit somewhere else.

Good luck.

He's in a 10 gallon to himself and he has been for about a year. He's always been skittish and i'm not sure how well he will adjust to a new tank.