The Puffer Forum

Hey, I'm Elle. I am brand new to the site. This is how I accidentally fell in love with my green spotted puffer.

I got my green spotted puffer maybe 8 months ago. My baby was in the dentists office and saw the aquarium and said fish very clearly. We had to get a fish. I went to an aquarium shop, told them I knew nothing about fish, and that I had a tank that had been cycling for two weeks because that is what I read to do. He said, well, do you want a bunch of fish or just one. I told him I would like a bunch of guppies. But then I saw the baby gsp's and could not take my eyes off of them. I will never return to or recommend this shop to anyone because of what he did next. He told me that I could get a couple of puffers and add however many other semi aggressive fish as I wanted as long as I only added an inch of fish at a time. Wow. Now, knowing what I do, I cannot believe he told me that. Especially with the knowledge that I had a 10 GALLON TANK!!

Of course, I got the puffers home to a heated tank. I placed them in, and within two weeks, one killed the other. I am a vegan, animal activist and have love for every living thing. This killed me. I started to learn about puffers from this forum. Thank goodness you are here. I bought all of my test kits, proper salt for brackish water changed the gravel to crushed coral, varied his diet and now he is thriving and growing! This guy is a full time job! I also found an amazing aquarium store with two puffer owners working there who I have befriended. I also have a snail bowl so Iya (my gsp) may have snails without a trip to the store.

He is a healthy guy, who is currently living with some ghost shrimp for the first time... that's not going to last. I swear Iya is a psychopath.

Also, I live in Los Angeles with my husband, 17 month old Daughter, Iya and two Bettas Spike and Dish.

Thank you for existing.

Welcome to the forum! We would love to see pictures of your tank and GSP.

He'll be getting a much bigger tank soon, I hope?

I will be moving him to a bigger tank when he gets bigger. Currently my apartment does not allow anything over 10 gallons. I will note though, he is very happy and healthy in his current set up.

How big is the little guy and how often and large are his water changes?

I will be moving him to a bigger tank when he gets bigger. Currently my apartment does not allow anything over 10 gallons. I will note though, he is very happy and healthy in his current set up.

Honestly, the puffer won't get bigger if kept in too small of a tank. For fish to reach optimum health and size, they require adequate space, temperature, and plentiful food. If you cut any of these out, you are effectively stunting growth.
I understand you problem with tank limit for where you live, my dorm only allows me to have a 10 gallon too. I managed to get away with a 15, no one knows what tank size looks like anyways, and I had to give up my gsp for a f8, which is pretty happy in a smaller tank compared to GSPs. GSPs require 30g minimum, and get around 6".

Hey guys, so as I appreciate all of your advice, I am aware of all of this. I read a lot and I promise that my puffer will be spoiled. I am beginning to feel like I am doing things wrong though rather than feeling welcomed. I am among a lot of puffer owners that have many years of experience and seem to think that my set up is great for now.

A side note, before I had my daughter, I worked in marine biology. So aquatic research is kind of my thing.

JRC3 wrote:How big is the little guy and how often and large are his water changes?

I'm sorry, but I am on schedule with all of his water changes. It appears that you are looking to criticize me. Also, he is an inch long. I will ask for advice when I need it. Thank you.

Elle GSP wrote:

JRC3 wrote:How big is the little guy and how often and large are his water changes?

I'm sorry, but I am on schedule with all of his water changes. It appears that you are looking to criticize me. Also, he is an inch long. I will ask for advice when I need it. Thank you.

If anything I was gonna back you if you were doing frequent and large enough water changes for keeping a GSP in a 10g. I'm floored by how quickly you took offense to my question. I'm biting my tongue pretty hard right now.

*edit for the typos*

Hello

People here may come off as bold, but we all are here to help others learn and see to the welfare of the animals we also care for. As someone who seems to care so much for animals, you should understand where we are coming from. You took offense so quickly when we are just trying to help you do what's right for you and the animal. I know sometimes the truth sucks, I never wanted to give up my GSP, but I couldn't subject him to stunting and cramped quarters after I learned 10 gallons was too small.

You shouldn't take offense, you are welcome here, as are all who love fish/puffers and wish to learn more.

+1 Dont take peoples responses or inquisitions too personally as an attack.

A 1" GSP may be OK for about a year in there. Unfortunately, by the time you realize the tank's too small he may already be stunted & his life shortened. This forum is full of folks who's only concern is a puffer's welfare. Please don't take anything they say personally. Ask your puffer-keeping friends if they've kept their puffers into their upper teens. That is our goal here.

Hello ~ hope to see ur new tank soon ~~bigger better ~

Welcome to the forum. No one is trying to get at you, or attack you. We are a community of puffer lovers who like nothing more than to have new members who care for their fish. We do get straight to the point and sometimes it comes accross wrong, stick around you will get used to us lol. With good maintenance your juvi will be fine for now, do expect an upgrade at some point, but as you grow more attached to puffers you will see how you just wanna give them more and more lol