Help!

[tmataraza]

I am a beginner to the world of fish, and I think I know what I am doing, but want it to be verified. or Corrected

Here's my setup: 30 gal tank with 2 Sunburst Mollies and 2 sunset platies. I have the temp controlled at 72-78 degrees, I have some big rocks (one big enough to provide shelter), and a few plants, as well as a Chinese dragon bubbler.

Here's my question: I added a Green Spotted Puffer to the mix. Is that ok? I went to WalMart, and their fish fact tag says that the puffer will be ok with Mollies. He seems to be swimming around the whole tank, not bothering other fish, but I am worried about it after reading this website. Any suggestions?

Also, you might not be able to help on this, but my male Mollie keeps picking on the female. I was told to expect them to mate, but it looks more like torture and not mating. It could be that I am a beginner (outside that of a Beta) and just do not know what to expect. Any help here would be appreciated as well!

Thanks in advance!

[weidjd]

As he grows he might invite the other fish over for dinner. Also he will need a bigger tank.

[J-P]

ditto. The plants won't appreciate the salt as you move up the SG ladder.

Welcome to the forum!

Here is some reading for you:
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Brackish/T_Nigroviridis/
library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
library/puffer-care/alone-but-not-lonel ... fers-solo/

[greenspottedlover]

Platys cannot go full saltwater and the GSP will need saltwater once full grown. Never trust what Walmart or it's workers say about fish. However I disagree with weidjd, a single GSP without tankmates should be fine in a 30 gallon tank. Though If you do decide to give him a larger home, the bigger the better, as 30g is the exact minimum for a GSP.

[tmataraza]

Thanks for all the replies! I was hoping a 30g tank would be enough for some time, but I guess my wants were bigger than I expected. I appreciate the reading and hope to learn more as I go. I remember from buying the mollies and platies that they would benefit from some freshwater salt as well, so I picked some up tonight and added that to the water. I was told that I could put it in the bottom of the filter and it would still serve it's purpose? True? That's where I put it anyway. He's been in the tank for about 3 hours now and seems to be settling in. He was mostly grey when I added him (I later learned that the color change was due to stress), but now has most of his color back. My biggest concern is that He is not eating. Does he not eat when distressed? I bought some Freeze Dried Bloodworms, Sun Dried Shrimp, and some krill pellets (which are half the size he is) and he still hasn't eaten much. Hopefully things straighten out and He does ok!

Thanks for all the help!

[Srkoe]

Oh no!!! Not how you add salt! You need to use MARINE salt, not aquarium salt. You have to mix it in a separate bucket with a powerhead at least over night and you need to check the salinity with a hydrometer or a refractometer. You can only raise the salinity .002 per week or you will kill off all your beneficial bacteria which can and will crash your system. How long has this tank been running and how was it cycled? You also need a good LIQUID test kit to check your parameters. At least take your water to a LFS and have it checked. Get all the EXACT numbers for ammonia, nitrate and nitrite. I also suggest Prime to condition your water...it won't remove ammonia but neutralize it enough to make it safe for fish. Since you got the green spotted from WM it is very possible he is not in good shape. Watch for internal parasites..stringy or white poops. I agree about the tank mates. I added a Mollie to my figure 8 tank when I first got it. All seemed fine until I woke up the next morning and half it's face was bit off. This was done by my very docile, skittish f8. If you have any questions (this is a lot to take in) please ask! We are here to help . Good luck!

[tmataraza]

Hey! Wow! So I might have messed up again?? Oh boy. The more I read, the more I think I am not ready for this! So here is where we stand:

I couldn't sleep knowing that my $5 GSP might snack on my $40 livestock, so before I went to bed I switched him to a back-up 10g tank I had. I am most likely taking him somewhere tomorrow. Just don't think I am ready for this amount....only have had fish for 2 weeks!

Forgive me asking some dumb questions, but I can't find these things explained:
1. Everyone says to cycle the tank...What does that mean and how do you do it??? I let my tank run for about 5 full days before adding any fish, then I added 2 fish every week until now. So, my tank has been running for about 3 weeks now, with 4 fish. I have my Ph balanced at about 7-8 between additions. Tank is clean, and the mollies an platies seem to be doing well. They don't even seem to be fazed one bit after tonight. It's the puffer that I am unsure of.

2. Will the Aquarium Salt be ok for the Mollies and Platies? I don't want to leave anything in the tank too long if it isn't safe. Also, why does the salt not have instructions saying to add in moderation? Just doesn't make sense...

3. What is an LFS?? I have a liquid ph test kit, and I am going to pick up a salinity test kit tomorrow. (Is this necessary considering I am not keeping the puffer?)

[Srkoe]

Your tank is not cycled. I takes about 4 weeks to cycle a tank. Google fishless cycling and Nitrogen cycle. Tomorrow go to your LFS (local fish store) or A chain store (petco or petsmart) and get a bottle of Prime (water conditioner) and Tetra safestart. Do a large waterchange 60-70%. Use the Prime in place of whatever declorinator you are using, it will detoxify the ammonia, nitrate and nitrite in the tank. Pour the whole bottle of Safestart in the FILTER. you'll need to do partial waterchanges everyday (50%) to keep the ammonia down. Always use the Prime with each water change, per bottle directions...a little goes a long way. By all means it is probably in the puffers best interest to take it to an LFS. Not back to Walmart!!! They will not reintroduce a fish back to their tanks and will flush it . Find a store that is willing to take care of this guy. Puffers are scaless fish and are VERY sensitive and usually cannot survive the cycling process. In my experience the other types of fish you have tend to be very hardy and can possibly survive . I say there is probably no need to remove the aquarium salt, but maybe a pro will speak up on this. As far as getting a hydrometer to check salinity not sure on that either unless you keep the puffer, then yes, one will be required. Don't let all this scare you. Do your research alot of it before buying any fish. Cycling a tank is a must for all fish to make the water safe. Maybe in the future you can try a puffer again when you are ready. Read, read, read!!! There are lots of great articles to read through just on this site. No question is a stupid question! We are here to help!

[Srkoe]

Forgot one thing...after the first dose of Safestart you do not have to redose, it will already had served it purpose by introducing beneficial bacteria into the tank. Don't let anybody talk you into another type of bacteria product ad most are junk. Also, when you clean your tank just remove your filter pad and swish it around in a bucket with some tank water...no need to replace the pad like the box may say unless it tears up. Removing the pad also removes beneficial bacteria your tank needs to break down waste.

[RTR]

Safestart is certainty not the "only" useful bacterial inoculation.

GSPs are not reliable to co-house with other fish.

[Srkoe]

RTR is right about the safestart. The only ones I know though are that or Dr. Tim's. Safestart seems to be the easiest to find...sitting right next to crappy, cheaper products that might have an appealing price tag . Yeah, the way I posted that definitely was not fair....

[Pufferpunk]

I do agree you are in over your head & it would be a good idea to find a reputable shop to take your puffer. Then, stick around do TONS of research (hope you learned your lesson about that!) & when your ready, you can keep a puffer properly & long-term. Check all the articles in our Library here, under the Learn tab, above. Practically anything you ever need to know about puffers, cycling, etc, is in there.

[tmataraza]

Yes. I have learned not to trust WalMart for sure. I thought I had done some decent looking into the fish, but granted, I did not go online. Probably my biggest mistake right there. I have learned a lot and will definitely stay and learn some more. Is there a forum for the fish I currently own on here, or do I need to google that and find one? I almost want to keep the little guy, set him up right, and take this lesson to heart, as I feel I owe it to him. However, I can't really afford another 30 or bigger gallon tank, nor do I have the room. I will most likely take him to Petco today.

[tmataraza]

I posted to this once, but apparently it didn't post on the forum...anyway...I didn't know it took four weeks to cycle the tank...I knew it had to run for a good long time, but I thought a week was long enough. I bought my first fish from PetCo and they told me to cycle the tank, but neglected to tell me how long to run it. I also know several fish owners who (obviously) don't do things properly, so I got impatient as I was being told to do things. When I started the tank at the beginning of April, I bought API Tap Water Conditioner to treat the tank. Currently my other fish seem to be doing great. They are very active, they have been nibbling on the baby shrimp I bought yesterday, and all seems to be well. I will do the water changes if it is absolutely deemed necessary, but seeing as my tank is almost 4 weeks old, is it really necessary? If so, for how long do I need to do them daily? I am starting to get algae to grow on the rocks and dragon bubbler (see profile for a pic of my set up), and the mollies are sucking on them once in a while. I am thinking about getting a algae eating molly later on, when the tank is more established.

As for the puffer, he seems to be doing just fine today. He is back to his full color and bright white belly, but also seems to be quite bored in the 10 gal tank. I also don't have plants in that tank (It was a Beta's home until last night), but I still think I am going to take him to Petco and donate him. My tank isn't ready, plus, I am only in an apartment and could be moving at any time. I'll wait for a more permanent set up, and a more established home.

Thanks!

[J-P]

For your Platty and Molly info there are a number of forums out there but http://wetwebmediaforum.com has some of the smartest people in the trade. PufferPunk was once on their staff. It is a quiet place at the moment but very patient and knowledgeable people there.

For puffer info this is the place to be. When talking about water chemistry and the likes I prefer here because it is puffer related and they are more sensitive than other fish. Thus you are "taking it up a notch" which your other fish will appreciate.

What ever you decide to do, good luck and keep in touch. We're here to answer your questions.