The Puffer Forum

I joined today, hoping for some aid to my situation. I would be pleased if you could be friendly.

I had ordered a single pufferfish after searching how to care for a GSP. I was very excited, thinking I had all my plans in the bag. I did not do my research as well as I thought I had and ended up ordering the pufferfish without getting the tank.
Having said that, I now have a 29g tank with lighting, a heater(76-82F), a filter(cascade 1000), and the perfect salinity and pH. I did not start my filter until today and I'm getting my puffer within a day or two through the mail. I am panicked as I do not have time to allow my beneficial bacteria to create colonies and establish a biological environment. I know nobody who has an already cycled tank to help me out.What do I do? I don't have any other tanks and since GSPs don't have scales they have a higher risk of death. I also need to add ammonia but I have no other live fish to add(besides, the GSP won't be friendly). I also need to convert my GSP from FW to BW, and I am not sure how to create a drip. I would take more time to edit what I have typed, but I am in a bit of crisis!

You still have time to get this right. Here's what you're going to do: Drain the tank completely. Fill with fresh water, of the correct temp (78). Dechlorinate with Prime. Add Tetra Safestart to the filter, immediately before adding the puffer. Instantly cycled tank. Happy puffer!
library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/

After 2 weeks, you can start bringing up the salinity to brackish.
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=19348

What filter is on there? Are you using aragonite sand substrate?
library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/

+1 to pp. unfortunately it means starting from scratch but it will make your life much easier

Another +1 to Pufferpunk's suggestions,

More info on Tetra Safe Start can be found here: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=32416

I accidentally put safestart in my BW aquarium. Will it do any harm if I also put bio-spira in too?

No.

I should have asked above: What was the specific gravity when the Safestart was added?

I wish you had just followed my instructions... Neither may work in BW. Safestart ain't cheap! At this moment you have a puffer in an uncycled tank.

Now I have a bigger issue. I never remembered ordering a second puffer, but we have one now. It's about 2 inches which is too big to keep with my 1.5 inch puffer. He looks sickly, grey underneath and scars running up and down its face. His belly is grey and there are a lot of bite-like marks on him. His fins are a brown color and he doesn't move much. What do I do?

To my other note: I have a 10 gallon pre-cycled(not rushed) feeder tank for fresh water but it's not the right temperature and doesn't have any of the needed equipment.

The 10g sounds like the only shot you got. You have really got your work cut out now. Remember not to panic and lots of water changes. Get the second one rehomed ASAP

He's doing okay. I've got him to low brackish without and stress and he's eating well. My 1 inch GSP is having ball in his tank, and I think he'll do fine. The 2 inch puffer is being regimes tommorow to my sister who recently moved into her house and wants a tank.

Can I keep them together or will they be too aggressive?

Not in <55g & when they mature, that'll be too small. I'm afraid there isn't enough bacteria to support both of them either. I'm still totally confused as to what you've done with that issue.