The Puffer Forum

Hello I'm new to the puffer community. I recently bought a GPS Puffer and he is currently in my 10 gallon tank, (I'm working on getting my girlfriend to let me to setup my 20 gallon tall, not going so well) I know I should get a 30 gallon tank for him or it, (I'm working on trying to get my girlfriend to let me buy a 29 or 40 gallon). Anyway I was wondering what kind of foods to try with my puffer because I've been trying to feed him freeze dried foods, i.e. bloodworms, brine shrimp, and baby shrimp, but the only thing he will really chow down on is the baby shrimp, (he also loves snails of course, but I figure He shouldn't always eat these). Anything will help I've read tons of stuff on these puffers and feel I'm ready to keep this guy happy and healthy, I just would like some opinions on what brands/types of food to feed him.

Thanks.

Snails are about 95% of their diet...

Snails are a great food for him.

library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/

Yea snails good, muscles and cockle always seem to work also

Tell us more about your tank. How was it cycled?

My tank has been set up since December, and I used to have mollies, they are damn near impossible to kill, and I did about 50% water changes every week and only changed my filter media if after rinsing them after water changes they didn't keep the tank clean very long. I have 3 live plants in it, two amazon swords, and an anubius. I'll be setting up my 20 gallon tall sometime today and I think I'm gonna maybe buy some of the chemicals that kind of hurry the process, and putting my baby mollies in it to help cycle the tank before I plan on thinking about putting my puffer in it (still haven't found a name for him or it). I put a few snails smaller than his eyes in today and a couple about the size of his eyes and he went to town, so I now know he is hungry, I plan on using a smaller tank to breed snails for him, as of now I'm taking them from my girlfriend's brother's tank lol. His waste is a little stringy though and he looks skinny so I'm still worried he has parasites.

If you move everything from the smaller tank into the 20g (substrate, decor/plants, filter media), no cycling will be needed. You could also add Tetra's Safestart to the filter. Don't let the shop sell you anything else, they're all garbage. He's gonna eventually need 30+g though.

I still want to keep my 10 gallon as an extra tank that is setup for a hospital tank or like I said raising snails.
I know the GSPs are caught in the wild and are usually known to parasites and I was wondering how I can get rid of them? what is the best product to use and what food should I soak in it before I give it to him?

Well I tried scrubbing out my 20, its gonna be a chore. I'm gonna have to reseal it.
I'm gonna possibly pick up a 40 gallon for 70 bucks today, I'm just gonna have to get a better filter for it. It has a Aqua Tech on it and those are junk, I've never had one that worked well.

Salmon wrote:Well I tried scrubbing out my 20, its gonna be a chore. I'm gonna have to reseal it.
I'm gonna possibly pick up a 40 gallon for 70 bucks today, I'm just gonna have to get a better filter for it. It has a Aqua Tech on it and those are junk, I've never had one that worked well.

really? the 10-20 one that came with my 20g high is still working well after 3 years.

Well I got the 20 High for free from a friend and never looked at it, just stored it in the barn.
My buddy said it could have been from the guy putting too much meds in it or something like that, but it is falling off. I think its partially due to the guy not cleaning it out before he gave it to me. Anyway I bought a 40 gallon today from a guy for 70 bucks and spent 60 bucks on sand and salt and other stuff for the tank so I spent almost all of my pay check so I'm not setting it up today since the filter he had with it is garbage. I'm gonna buy an eheim canister filter when I get paid friday and then when that gets delivered i'll get it all set up and begin the cycling process, I have some additives to put in to cycle it a little faster and then I'll be in business. I'm gonna keep my 10 set up I think and farm Snails to feed Mr. Puffertons (not his name just thought I would use it for now).

That's a fine name!

Hei… man it’s high time you move your puffer to a 30 gallon tank or add some discountfilters . The one that you use now is never going to suites the purpose. It’s equally important that you do water change at least once in a week. Cleanliness is the first thing that a fish demands from you. When it comes to the matter of food snails are good, muscles and cockle also seems to work well.

That puffer died not long after I got it, I think he was very ill when I got him. I also got rid of the big tank I bought, and also I got an F8 because he requires less space...