The Puffer Forum

8 GSPs living in a small tank（60cm*35cm*40cm） 。they have been living here for 7 months.

tank condition:
1 1000L/H aquarium pump for filtration and cycling
BW
have water changed evey two weeks, and change half of the tank water each time.
some rocks，shells pickep at the beach, and sand





welcome for any advice!

That's only 21 gallons? They need at least 30 gallons each and brackish to marine conditions as they grow. I don't believe I have ever seen a more overstocked tank in my life and probably never will again

WOW that has to be the most overstocked ever. And im adding walmart in that thought too


I wanna know what your numbers are.

HORRIBLE overstocked. This is awful... Do some research

whats the average size of a 7-8 month old gsp? just curious

After I had a GSP for about 3 months it was roughly 2 1/2 inches. I got it from Walmart so I have no idea how old it was when I got it, nor if it had already been stunted from previous tank conditions.

I argee, thats TOO MANY puffs for that size bruvah. Things may be ok for now but you should read the article on stunting in the library on here. Not trying to flame ya, but those puffs won't be able to maintain in there....

Just return all but your favorite one, and you're good! But make sure you bring them to a legit fish store. Any fish stores advice and overall quality is in question if they would sell you ALL those GSP's (assuming they didn't ask what you were going to do with 8, because anyone who knows anything about these little guys would know they need 30gal min) and may not be a good place to return them...

thanks so much for all your advice! i did know the minimum requirement for the tank size, but i just want to take a try or an experiment to see how fast and how big those little GSPs can grow in such an overstocked tank. i will keep monitoring their state, and send them back to the natural enviroment where they aborignally belong at the right time.

unfortunately, you will not find much sympathy here. If you want to document a science experiment it is best done on personal papers / your blog. Doing so on a pet forum will cause people to get ... testy, to say the least. We welcome your findings, but the documentation of such may arouse members.

bertie 83 wrote:whats the average size of a 7-8 month old gsp? just curious

about 4~5cm's long on average

Unfortunately J-P "trying an experiment" doesn't sound like a scientic experiment.....

husonli wrote:

bertie 83 wrote:whats the average size of a 7-8 month old gsp? just curious

about 4~5cm's long on average

Then I fear your GSP's are already stunted. I had a GSP that was 4 cms after having it my 10 gallon aquarium for only 2 months. I bought it from Walmart not knowing about GSP requirements and my GSP grew from <3cm to approximately 5 cm in the short time that I had it. I returned that GSP until I could provide a GSP with a proper home. You have potentially already done lasting damage to these fish. If you plan on returning them to their natural habitat when the time is right, that time was before you stunted their growth so dramatically.

J-P wrote:unfortunately, you will not find much sympathy here. If you want to document a science experiment it is best done on personal papers / your blog. Doing so on a pet forum will cause people to get ... testy, to say the least. We welcome your findings, but the documentation of such may arouse members.

thanks for your reminding. it seems that i just have two choices for now: to let them go or buy a much bigger tank.....

I think it's unethical to keep fish knowingly in too small a tank to satisfy some curiosity. Your findings will hardly do anyone any good, as it is already well known that 8 green spotted puffers in a 20 gallon tank is an overstocked tank and improper care/housing. You will not cure a disease, you will not revolutionize puffer care, you will not discover anything beneficial, you will simply knowingly be carrying out irresponsible care.

It is also unethical, and in my locality illegal, to catch local wildlife, keep it as a pet, the release it back into the wild. They become accustomed to not having predators and not having to hunt for food and have a severe disadvantage returning to wild conditions.

Puffers are especially intelligent and personable animals, the people on this site love their puffers as members of the family. Your "experiment" is not science, it's just abuse. And you posted such nonsense on here is just trolling.