The Puffer Forum

Hello,
My name is kallie and here are my water Parameters:
Puffers:
30 gallon tank
pH: [Ideal: 7.2-8.0] 8.2
kH: ppm (na) don't have test to check
gH: mg/L (na)
Ammonia: 0.25ppm don't have test to check
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 0ppm
Temp: 80.2 degrees
Tank mates:
2 juvenile gsp
1 f8p (was 2)
1 Cory catfish
2 Minos
10 tetras
Some snails & ghost shrimp used as food

My one gsp has pop eye & I've been treating her in a separate tank but no signs of illness on other fish

Woke up to find my 2 inch figure 8 puffer "resting" on a rock, only to realize she was dead. No physical injuries, looked normal. I've put some freshwater salt in this tank (about 3 tps) and use beneficial bacteria from pure pond (the tiny tank ones) in the filter to keep everything going. There's slight Ammonia in the water from what I can tell, test was difficult to read. I'll do a partial water change today, but any idea as to why my puffer may have passed? I've only had her 2 weeks

So sorry for your loss!
It appears your tank is grossly overstocked. You are keeping FW & BW species together & I do not recommend keeping GSPs & F8s together
How do you know your parameters if you don't have a test kit? Please answer ALL the Qs above in red, so I can better help you.

Hello,
I meant to put that on KH and GH. I have a test kit, but it doesn't come with kh or gh which is super annoying. Is there a reason I can't keep them together? I've read success stories online and the petstore told me I could, so I'm interested to hear the truth lol. I feed them once a day, usually blood worms or a clam. I pull out anything they don't eat within 10 minutes. My aquarium was cycled a month with minos before I put in other fish. I normally do 25 percent water changes evert two weeks. With my tank being overstocked, would getting another over the tank hanging filter be beneficial for more beneficial bacteria?

You're also keeping soft water fish and fish that do not like any type of salt at all with fish who prefer low end brackish water and some who prefer salt water.

GSPs and F8s require very different salinities. GSPs grow 3 times the mass of the F8.

Overstocking a tank doesn't always have to do with the filtration. It also has to do with fish feeling uncomfortable an unsafe, not having their own territories. In these instances, there are immune systems are compromised and disease is a very common result from the stress.

I would attach 2 articles for you but I'm on my cellphone and can't I get to them right now. Look under the drop down tab in our Library.

Thank you for the advice, is there a brackish point that I could meet in the middle for the figure 8 and green spot? Or is keeping them in the same tank completely out of the question? I've heard success stories and horror stories. Do you think they could stay together if I found a middle brackish point and got them a bigger tank?

I'm sorry I have so many questions. The tetras and other tank mates I can move into a different tank if they can't withstand brackish. I should of just gotten mollies.

Since these fish can live upwards of 20 years, I would certainly hope that you would want to keep them in the best conditions possible for their longevity. Unless you plan on keeping multiple tanks, you're going to have to make a decision here.
Is research before purchasing is always your best option.

Since these fish can live upwards of 20 years, I would certainly hope that you would want to keep them in the best conditions possible for their longevity. Unless you plan on keeping multiple tanks, you're going to have to make a decision here.
Is research before purchasing is always your best option.