The Puffer Forum

I currently have 2 GSP fish in a 65 gallon brackish water tank (no other fish). Salinity: 1.005, Nitrite:0, Nitrate:10ppm, Amnionia:0, PH: need to still check. I have had these two guys for quite a while now (almost a year). All was well until a couple of days ago. The passive of the two GSPs decided he would beat the hell out of the more aggressive little guy which completely took me by surprise. He took a couple of chunks out of his fins and is now terrified of the other fish. Other than that he seems fine, just scared and wounded.

This is what I am doing to put a end to this:
I have a 40 gallon spare tank that I set up last night with the same Salinity. I added water from the cycled brackish tank along with the treated water I had prepared. Also, I was lucky enough that I had been using 2 cycled filters on the 60g and moved one of them over to the 40g. Currently, I am waiting just a little longer the water to get to the right temp and I will transfer the frightened / wounded GSP over to the new setup.

Before I do this though, my question is this. Does anyone see a issue with my plan or have any other advice for me to be succesful with saving this little guy? Also, has anyone seen this happen before in a larger aquarium.

I'm shocked that this happened over night. They seemed so happy.

I think you are on the right track with setting up the other tank. Yes unfortunately this does happen, sometimes years after being together. Puffers tend to get more aggressive as they mature.

+1
Good plan, glad you are prepared.

Happy you guys are supporting my plan. I just transferred him to the new setup and he seems a lot more relaxed and is no longer hiding. Just cruising around and investgating his new home. Now I just have to watch for fin rot. Last question, Do you think I should treat the tank with Melafix? My only worry about doing so is I would have to take the activated carbon filters out of filter which would then remove the a lot of the beneficial bacteria. Do you have any advice on this?

Thanks for your input guys. I really have learned a lot from this forum. I really should participate more and I will.

Well, for now, just monitor. Things like that usually heal if not too serious, if the water is A-OK.

Melafix works wonders for this kind of thing.

Cut the filters open with a razor blade and scrape out the carbon.

I'd upgrade to an Aquaclear filter. The ones with the cartridge inserts are crap.