Ceylon puffer - how to do this?

[pod101]

Okay so I have my first puffer fish, the LFS I bought him told me that he is a "freshwater puffer", needs 40l aquarium, bloodworm every couple of days and snails once a month as a *treat*.

He's actually a Ceylon puffer that needs about 150l (opinions differ it seems).

The reason I trusted them so much is because my boyfriend is an experienced cichlid keeper and when he started using their store, was very impressed at how much good information they were giving people, so I assumed they were knowledgeable about this too- regardless I know I am totally to blame for not doing my own research.

The fish is only little, maybe 1.5 inches at most and is currently in a cycled 50l FW (which I feel like crap about). Ive had him for 3 days.

I went out last night and bought a 125l tank, I cant go any bigger as we have totally maxxed out on tank space. Come August when we move house, we are having a custom cichlid tank made - so I can upgrade the puffer to their old tank which is double the size, then my axolotl will get this 125l (hes in a ~100l).

Options;
1. Leave him in the 50l until the 125l is cycled
2. Move him to the 125l, stick a load of media from one of the other tanks in there and water change very often (maybe add safe start too, I don't know if this stuff actually works)
3. I could ask the store to take him back until the 125l is cycled but he will be going back to a tiny ~30l FW tank so seems like a bad idea

Ideally I'd go with option 2, but puffers are super delicate from what I read and I'm worried he wont make it through, hence asking for your help!

I have done lots of reading about brackish water conditions and I have the marine salt and a hydrometer, I was planning on waiting to start adding salt until he is settled in the 125l, is this okay?

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[Pufferpunk]

Safestart does work. Add it directly to the filter & add your fish to the larger tank. Check parameters & wait at least 2 weeks after stable, to start raising the SG by no more than .002/week.

Same care/feeding as the GSP, just an extra 40l.
library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/

BW mixing: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=19348

[pod101]

Ive done what you suggested, thanks a lot, he looks SOOO small in the tank haha The tank looks crazy as I didn't want to leave it bare, so I put all the random tank ornaments I have collected over the years in there Just need to think what I actually want it to look like..

Thanks again for your help