The Puffer Forum

Did not have much time in between classes today, but it looks like there is no ammonia in the fish tanks. I seeded the tank with some used biomedia before the weekend, and haven't had the chance to check on the tanks till today. Still need to check nitrite, and nitrate, but it looks like I might be able to get a puffer in the tank by this weekend! Been feeding my snails tons, and have asked the lfs to keep their eyes out for a green spotted puffer, but so far no available GSP's.
Just wanted to run down to make sure all my staple foods are acceptable, seeing as pufferpedia is still down.
Earthworms, and frozen bloodworms as the daily diet, because it would take little time to feed these foods, and I can store these pretty well.
Frozen unshelled shrimp and snails as a means to wear down their beaks 3 or so times a week.
I'll feed oysters,claims, and whatever else I can find to wear down their beaks to switch up the diet, but I know for a fact I can find a steady and reliable source of these foods.
Sound good, or do I need to know anything else?

Sounds fairly good. The shrimp doesn't do a whole lot for the beaks, so you'll definitely wanna do snails more often than the shrimp. And remember whenever you buy seafood from the store make sure it's both uncooked and unseasoned.

Double check your nitrite; it spikes after ammonia does and is just as poisonous, if not more so. Also, the nitrifying bacteria need ammonia to survive, so if the tank sits for too long without an ammonia source it will die off and you'll have to start the cycle all over again. Also, do not feed Krill shrimp; they're known for causing lockjaw in pufferfish.

will definitely be checking nitrite tonight along with adding another frozen shrimp to the tank. Threw some used biomedia in the tank last friday, so I'm hoping the nitrite is just as low as ammonia, but I guess you never know.
was going to feed frozen shrimp from the grocery store. Are these ok?

If you let the tank sit all weekend without any ammonia source some of your bacteria may have died off

well the shrimp I put in the tank to start the cycle are still in the tank, I just want to add some extra because they decomposed quite a bit

Ok, did a full test, and the results are in the clear, no ammonia/nitrite, or nitrate for that matter, and there are 3 decomposing shrimp in the sump, with 2 new ones. Will double check throughout the week to make sure there are no ammonia/nitrite readings, but I think I'm ready for the GSP. Have been researching drip acclimation, and think I can do it with an airline tubing, and some twine, would love some easier suggestions though.
Have ran into one problem though, the 2 lfs in my area do not have GSP's. I've asked the largest lfs to contact me when they have a list of fish they can order, and they called me to tell me they do not have the option of ordering a GSP anytime soon. The other lfs isn't really a saltwater lfs, so I have no expectations from them. I hate to say this, but walmart does have GSP's. As much as I hate to support walmart's selling GSP's, or fish in general, I am thinking about getting a gsp from walmart. Thoughts?

carsona246 wrote:Ok, did a full test, and the results are in the clear, no ammonia/nitrite, or nitrate for that matter, and there are 3 decomposing shrimp in the sump, with 2 new ones. Will double check throughout the week to make sure there are no ammonia/nitrite readings, but I think I'm ready for the GSP. Have been researching drip acclimation, and think I can do it with an airline tubing, and some twine, would love some easier suggestions though.
Have ran into one problem though, the 2 lfs in my area do not have GSP's. I've asked the largest lfs to contact me when they have a list of fish they can order, and they called me to tell me they do not have the option of ordering a GSP anytime soon. The other lfs isn't really a saltwater lfs, so I have no expectations from them. I hate to say this, but walmart does have GSP's. As much as I hate to support walmart's selling GSP's, or fish in general, I am thinking about getting a gsp from walmart. Thoughts?

Where abouts are you located state wise??

Most lfs sell them from fw so you can add them straight and just add .02 pw sg i believe. As soon as you can get one just find out what sg they are at

I'm in Arkansas, I was planning on drip acclimating it to full marine conditions, as the tank I'm setting up is already a marine tank.

Make sure you have a good 8 plus hours set aside to do that drip. Took me about 9 hours to do the full drip

Will be dedicating all saturday to the drip.
How do you know how long to take? From what I've read you just get a siphon going in an airline tube, tie it with some twine to keep it dripping slowly, and let it fill up, half the container, and then repeat.