The Puffer Forum

Hi there --

This is my first post here. I recently purchased what I believe to be a leopard puffer fish from my local fish store. I was told he was just a freshwater puffer fish and will never be brackish. I have had him about 3 weeks and he is wonderful and happy. He lives in a 29 gallon tank with a Blue Ram Cichlid, Serapes, Gold Barbs, Cherry Barbs and a Long Fin Rosy Barb. He is completely content living in there and his attitude has not changed. He LOVES frozen bloodworms and him and the Cichlid are quite entertaining when eating.

I was now recently told that I more than likely have a brackish puffer and he will need to be moved. He does not look unhappy, but will he change and become sick?
Can anyone assist me on what I should do?


Does this video work?
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10 ... =3&theater

Thanks so much!!

No, that link doesn't work.
Look at our Pufferpedia (under the Learn tab, above) to get an ID for your wet friend.

Let's try this--

So I do in fact have a brackish puffer? Did you read my above post about what type of environment he is living in now? What would you suggest I do going forward?

He needs his own BW tank, before he kills everything in there. Did you read that link?

I did read the link thank you so much!

So here are my options.

I heard he can be in a min of 30 gallon tank. This is where he is currently. Can I remove the other fish and put them in a new cycled tank? Then start to turn the water the puffer is in into a brackish tank?

Congrats on unknowingly buying a gsp! You're not the first and won't be the last (unfortunately) I would go full saltwater in a 40+ gallon tank... You won't be disappointed...

hadla wrote:Congrats on unknowingly buying a gsp! You're not the first and won't be the last (unfortunately) I would go full saltwater in a 40+ gallon tank... You won't be disappointed...

+1

Okay-- anyone else thoughts on my situation?

What was said above is spot on

Fishlad wrote:I did read the link thank you so much!

So here are my options.

I heard he can be in a min of 30 gallon tank. This is where he is currently. Can I remove the other fish and put them in a new cycled tank? Then start to turn the water the puffer is in into a brackish tank?

Yes you could do as you propose, once the other fish are out you can up the SG by no more than SG0.002 per week to maintain your filter bacteria..

Alright -- thank you all so much. I just wanted to make sure I was doing this all correct. I have purchased a new tank and am in the process of moving my fish out. "Toad" as my kids have named him will be in his own in the next week and the salt level will slowly be increased. It there a good link to use when converting an existing established tank to brackish?

Thanks Pufferpunk -- this is the one I just printed right before you responded.

So once my puffer is in the tank by himself I should start with the "How to" section and just follow along with the directions?

I am sure I will be asking a million more questions.

I did print off a resource for what plants can live in the brackish tank, would you suggest any to start with? Also, I want him to not be bored, so what would be a good placement of plants? Do puffers like to have little caves or anything?

THANKS!!!!