The Puffer Forum

I want a f8 or a gsp, i am putting ONLY one in a 40 long. The fish store where i live said they both get to 6 inches, i have read f8 only gets 3, Now is that including the tail. And will GSP get to 6. i read they only get to 4.... A 6 inch is kinda big for a 40? Also heaard these like to JUMP out of tank? ALSO saw a picof someone handfeeding this fish? what can you handfeed that isnt live?? What type of plants to use?-want Aquaclear 70, will that work or should i get 110?? Also saw an ad. for a Tetratec filter that includes a free heater. But dont they have to be saltwater ready? These fish experts at this store dont know much.. want togo with sand gravel--butisnt that hard to clean? ALSO how the heck do you measure for Specific Gravity.. AND how close will this tank be to Saltwater perimeters?

Welcome! Wow, that's a lot of questions to answer all at once! No problem though. It's good that you are doing research before making a purchase and you've certainly come to the right place for puffer info.

Let's begin with some reading assignments. Don't worry, these are very interesting, short and informative articles. First, forget whatever your LFS told you. Then go to http://www.pufferlist.com and research at Tetraodon biocellatus (F8 ) and Tetraodon nigroviridis (GSP). Next, visit our library and read the excellent articles on F8s and GSPs. You should also read the article on fishless cycling. This should answer most of your questions.

You will want to avoid sand as it is not needed for the fish you have in mind and it's a pain to keep clean. There are other issues with sand but let's just say that you don't need or want it. You will want to use crushed coral or aragonite for your substrate instead. You will also need to purchase marine mix (not aquarium salt) and either a swing-arm hydrometer or a refractometer. If you purchase a hydrometer, make sure that the scale starts at 1.000 SG. Some hydrometers are designed for full SW only and have scales that start at 1.015 SG.

Puffers are very messy fish and are very sensitive to poor water conditions and their tanks should have very good filtration. I recommend at least two filters rather than relying on one and you should still be prepared to do weekly water changes.

Anyway, read the articles and then come back with any questions that are still unanswered.

Hi, I have fed both of my GSP's with shell on shrimp by hand - it can be done! Good luck with your fish.

Yes, but it can get pretty scary as they--and their teeth--get larger!

wow, thats quick. thanks alot, ESPECIALLY about the hydrometer. I read another post about people prefering sand, but you seem to know what your talking about,so illlisten to you. You need to work at my local fish store--which is supposed to be the BEST on the Planet earth--now price wise they are. For example, i saw big Als prices and my localprices are 60%less. check this out, ALSO i tought aragonite is sand--but i also read NOT to use the LIVE version, so theres crushed coral, aragonite and sand? what better example with this question and to show you prices .
cut and paste this--
http://www.bigalsonline.ca/catalog/prod ... ry_id=2409
and compare to this--also if you get on site, which substrate should i use here??
http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW ... mdy00.aspx

Thanks for the compliments but I'm a relative n00b compared to many of the other mods and forum members. There is always more to learn and I will always consider myself to be a beginner in this hobby.

When I recommended against using sand, I was mostly referring to silicate-based sands but the caution would also apply to very fine grades of aragonite. I use crushed coral in my GSP tank and I am quite happy with it. Sand looks very nice but it just isn't worth the hassle unless you happen to have fish that like to burrow in soft sandy substrates.

There's plenty of helpful people here that would be happy to help you start things off right. Read the library articles, browse the forum and drop a post if you have more questions.

OHNOWIMREALLY CONFUSED!! that link siteto the puffer list is great--BUT the fish I want-the GSP says its NOT a brackish, but a Full saltwater fish?!?!?
how much more $$ will i needto go from freshwater to saltwater----Or guess ill just spoil one f8 in a 40 long??? cause idontwant to get 2 that might fight and i have to get ridofone.. Thats bad Karma... Also here is site that says F8's get 8 inches..
20 centimeters times .4 to inches
http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/gpuffer2.html
Maybe check pic gallery.. Theres not any large pics on Yahoo????
So maybe I can just do one f8 in 40 gallon..

GSPs need brackish water as juvies and full marine conditions as adults. An average adult F8 is around 3". Be wary of the web. There is a great deal of incorrect Puffer info out there.

The site ref'd on F-8s does not say that they get to 8", it says they get to 8 cm. 8cm = ~3.15 in.

But F-8s are brackish water fish, not FW, and they are not community fish. If I am allowed to be non-PC, why on earth would you pay any attention to a report from someone who has kept the fish only a few months? You were directed to The Puffer List, which has reliable info, but should also read here in the Library:

For f-8:

http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/ ... uffer.html

For GSP:

http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/ ... togsp.html

http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/ ... puffy.html

Sand is always a mantenance issue, do not use it unless your fish needs to have sand. Neither F-8s nor GSPs need to have sand.

Although it has been proven that F8's seem to do best as singletons, I haven't heard of many instances where they don't get along (although ya never know w/puffers). You could ask the shop if you could bring one back or possible trade it in for another if it turned out to bee aggressive to the others. In that tank you could keep 1 GSP (grows to 6"), or 3 F8s (grow to 3").

As far as SW, it will take a few years before you need to worry about it, but all you'd need is to add a protein skimmer (& more salt, of course). If you want, you could add live rock, which is pretty cool, colorful & reduces nitrates.

wow,I DID NOT KNOW YOU HAVE TO DO A FULL SALTWATER--im still gonna get one, and what happensif you dont do full saltwater? i asked the folks at the fish place and THEY said your looking at ALOT more $$ for marine tank??
ps that site said that places online say up to 20 cm--and now fish place says 4 inches???--but anyway thanx alot for help!!

The web is full of bad info. Especially on puffers, but on just about all tank care and handlingly there is as much or more bad info as good.

The cost will come from salt, liverock and a good skimmer.

Yes, you can spend a small fortune on a marine tank but it is not necessary to do so unless you are keeping coral or some of the more demanding marine fish and invertebrates.

As others have noted, the web is full of misinformation and many LFS employees are even less accurate. This site and pufferlist.net specialize in puffers and the information you will receive here is based upon many years of research and experience. Anyone giving you bad information on this site will usually be corrected by others in no time. I would trust information on this site over any other so-called puffer site on the Internet, but that's JMHO.

Please read the articles in our library, especially the ones that RTR provided links to.