The Puffer Forum

Arnold and Danny...aka "Twins"



These 1" Green Spotted Puffers are my newest addition to the family. They arrived today and I'm here after following a post @ FishGeeks who have been a lot of help with my 55gal community tank. These guys were picked up from Walmart (sold as FW tropicals ) and I have them in a FW tank that I'll be converting to BW (real informative boards guys!)

so far:
nitrite 0
nitrate 0
GH 150
KH 180
pH 8

They are in a 12 gal Eclipse Tank that I have cycled and planted.

I gave them each a live feeder fish today. I'll get up to Petsmart tomorrow and buy some plants (snails) for them

My Clown Loach loves snails too!

Anywhoo........ nice to meet ya all!

...some day I'll need a bunch of 55gal tanks

Yep, the sooner the better getting them to a 55G.

Take this from my experiance, I kept my 2 GSPs in a 25G for about a year and they grew very very slowly (stunted). Once they got into my 55G they were a totally different fish!

I'd upgrade as soon as possible. 12g is good for 1 really... and only till they are 2".

Yeah.... I hadn't planned on buying either of them. I just went to the store to buy "something" for my 12gal. I guess I'll be buying a new tank soon!

Good to hear! How was the tank cycled? Keep a close eye on water parameters, in the meantime. May have to do 2x weekly water changes.

Welcome!

As far as your upgrade is concerned, I would go larger than a 55. Each one should have at least 30-gallons of water each, and after decor and such, a nominal 55 is on the small side I think. Just my 2 cents!

As others have said, keep a close eye on water params. Have you read the puffer foods article in the library?

Good luck!!

Yes, welcome aboard and I agree with Lisa - try for something as big as you can handle. A 75 may have 60 gals of water after allowing for gravel and decorations. And don't accept the stated volumes on the tanks - calculate the volume yourself: (LxWxH)/231 = gals for std. rectangular tank. Have seen some surprised tank owners when I show them their tank is less volume than they think!

Oh Chesapeake, never stay away so long again! I missed you!

PLEASE read the library articles here, and DO NOT feed GSP's feeder fish (or any sort of fish). You need snails (I'd recommend starting a breeding tank ASAP, with two you'll need a good supply)... in the mean time you can use bloodworms (freeze dried/frozen), freeze dried krill, live blackworms, ghost shrimp... and as they grow the different items in the library articles.

Please get them out of that 12g ASAP. My GSP Wasabi was a tiny little guy when I got him from petco, and he went immedialy into a 50g tank (he is the only inhabitant) and he's growing so nicely.

You'll want to pick up a hydrometer at the least (much more recommend a refractometer, you can get them on ebay for about $40 shipped) and marine mix.

unrelated side note, you'll also want to do a major upgrade on the 55g soon, I believe your sharks get pretty big? Oh and cory cats like to be in groups of at least 3
Good Luck

lisalisa wrote:Oh Chesapeake, never stay away so long again! I missed you!

me too! why have you been gone so long?

Got a 5gal breeder tank going for pond snails last week! Petsmart was glad to scoop up a couple dozen from their system.... seeing as how their whole system was completely overrun! I got myself an 80gal tank for them today. I'll be setting it up tomorrow! They'll only have to be in the 12 till it cycles! I'll probably end up getting another 80gal for the sharks!

I'm so glad to hear about your new tank!!
That 80 is just right for 2 GSP's

As for your 55, you really do need an upgrade. Bring on the tanks!