The Puffer Forum

Hello Everyone,

First off, I want to thank everyone for giving so much helpful information in this forum. I believe this is the reason Baby Carlos is still alive today (even though it is pretty early).

So, I wanted a fish...I am not really a fish owner, and do not know anything about it (but I have a doggy - and he is still alive). So, I was at Walmart and saw the GSP's....and decided I must have one (10/12) as they look like little puppies. I got him packed up, got a 5 gal. tank, some gravel, plants, flake food and proudly brought him home. Then I was letting him acclimate to the water and googled GSPs...hmmmm, somehow we went from freshwater flake food eater to brakish crustateaon (sp) eater! So I freaked. Baby Carlos spent a few nights in an uncylced 5 gal tank, before we were able to go out and pick out a new 30 gal tank (10/15)...which was still uncycled (I didn't know!). I picked up some Tetra Safe Start and put it in the water (10/19), along with multiple daily Ammonia and Nitrite/Nitrate tests. I have to laugh every time I think that I just spent $400 on a $5 fish, but I cannot let him get sick/die!

We have eaten up all of the baby snails at Walmart (they give them free). I picked up a few hoping to make snail babies, but no luck so far. Every other pet store/fish store does not seem to have any snails....how do I make them make babies? lol! I also picked up some clams today, and after they thaw, they open up....I am really worried about his teeth! Are clams enough to keep them in check if you can find snails?

Also, I know put in the safestart, but I know I am supposed to keep watching the water. Approx. when is the tank cycled and I know that Baby Carlos is in the clear? Like I said, I have a 30 gal and a plan to do a 50% water change every Sunday.

Thanks for all the information provided, as you guys have been soooooo valuable! On a side note, the b/f didn't want me to get a fish...then he made fun of the fish....but after the first couple of nights, hes asking about oxygen levels, food stuffs, tank mates, temp., when we can bump up the s.g. (speaking of....when can we as he is in fresh right now, with the marine salt under him...waiting to be added) I think hes in love and doesnt know it!

Ammonia = .10 (eek!) water change time again.
Nitrite = .0
Hardness = 120 ppm
Alkalinity = 240 ppm
PH = 7.8
Nitrate = 10 ppm


This is when I first brought him home. Now he is more brown with a bright green spot on his head...but I cannot get him to hold still long enough to get a picture!

Glad you like him and did some research . You can set up the 5 gallon as a snail breeder. Time to step up your waterchanges to at least 50% every other day until the cycle is complete. Leave raising sg until your tank is stable. It's a long road ahead but stay committed to your little buddy and you will reap the rewards. Good luck

Also if you don't already use prime to treat your water it's great stuff

+1 to breeding the snails in your 5 gallon.

Some feeding help:
In addition to the clams, you can get some non-seasoned, uncooked seafood from a grocery store, like mussels, scallop, shrimp, squid etc. I also like to include tilapia and red wriggler worms, (available in bait shops or the bait section at Wal-mart) to offer some thiaminase (An enzyme that inhibits the body's ability to uptake b1) free/low food sources. If the seafood is fresh, freeze it first, and thaw/ soak the food in a bit of tank water (Don't use straight tap) with the addition of vitamins, such as Vitachem and Selcon to make sure they are getting balanced nutrition, as freezing does break some of the nutritional value, but it is important to freeze to kill bacteria and or parasites.

He looks like an inquisitive little fellow . How big is he?

That's a really good picture also. I really do like it alot.

With all the bubbles on the stones and he just looks so cute too

Glad you found us! You sound like a caring puffermom.

Sorry it took so long to reply, it has been really busy this week. Thanks for all the the helpful advice everyone! I have been checking the water readings and doing the changes, and so far so good. He seems to be doing well still. Although he's always hungry. I did find a tasty looking frozen mixed seafood mix at Costco, we will see how he likes that!

He is about an inch big. I am hoping he grows pretty quickly!

Hi and he is a cutie! I know when i was looking for seafood from my grocery store i made the mistake of picking up some that wer pre cooked/blanched i didnt know if my ceylons could eat cooked seafood so i played it safe and put them back. just somthing to watch for i guess

Raw is always recommended.

Well, got some raw clams and froze them first. He enjoys them...but they are soooo big compared to him right now, so i let him fill himself up, and then I take it out. I feel like I am waisting a lot of meat though. I alternate between sun dried shrimp, blood worms, and the clams. I have put spinach leaves in for the snails and he takes bites. Weird.

Try finding mussels instead. Much less meat in them for smaller puffers.

hes a beaut! thats a really good picture. you can tell hes in the inch range by his HUGE EYES!!!!