The Puffer Forum

Hello,

I have a baby GSP who is currently 1.5 -2 inches long, excluding tail. Just out of curiosity, approximately how old do you think she is? (BTW, my friend has decreed that the GSP is a girl, and is working on a name for her.)

I'm in the process of setting up her final home, which will be a FOWLR in a 48" x 13" x 16" tank. There won't be any other fish, as she'll (hopefully) need that whole tank to herself. However, I was wondering if I have any options as far as a clean-up crew (my understanding is that GSP tend to eat their support staff). Are there any custodian-type creatures that are compatible with a simple FOWLR setup and a GSP? I don't mind a few losses (crunchy and delicious losses), but don't want to be constantly replacing the population. Am I asking for the moon?

Lastly, when's a good age/size to move her into the SW tank? I know the jury is still out re: juveniles in full SW (I read the thread on the subject), but am wondering whether too early or too late is the greater evil. Right now she is in a planted 10gal with an oto, so I am limited in how brackish I can go in that tank. When would she be better off in SW?

Any advice appreciated. I know that the 10gal is TOO SMALL, and am watching the water quality and doing frequent partials. She is looking great and eating bloodworms and snails with great enjoyment. I'm not worried about her at the moment, but know that I'll need to worry pretty soon. How soon?

Some people have had success moving their GSPs to full marine at that size. In fact most people say theirs did better after doing so.

I think that we really do not know yet. The jury is still out. Some much smaller fish get moved to full marine and seem to do fine. Others hold off until at least the current size of your fish. None of us is likely to do a serious study to try to find out - it would be a very big undertaking.

Right now it seems to be a coin toss. Fish do well with the move if the move is handled well pretty much regardless of age/size.

There is really no way to guestimate the age to young puffers in relation to their size.