The Puffer Forum

about 3 weeks ago we got 3 GSP's from the local wall mart.
the first 2 didn't do so well, wouldn't eat as much as the first and we lost those but the last one we have was doing good until the last few days.
he was in a 10 gal freshwater tank, until we read that they liked brakish water, so we started gradually adding marine salt, he started getting better but now he's not eating and turning purplish. we're using a charcoal filter. is this wrong?

we tried melafix but didn't see any changes. thought he might have ich so tried Rid-ich+ and that seemed to help for a day or 2.

right now were at a 50% water change at least once a week.

Could you post a pic? Never heard of them turning purple--do you mean he's just darker? Have you tested the water? Knowing the ammonia, nitrites, nitrates & pH, would help.

I was just thinking I'd really like to see a purple puffer.

If you've read PP's article on the GSP in the library, you must know that a 10 gal tank is inadequate for your puffer, let alone three. He requires a minumum of 30 gal. Turn the 10 gal into a snail tank. The darkening is evidence of stress - I suspect he is being poisoned by his own waste and uneaten food.

Increases in salinity should be done very slowly. Can you measure the salinity? What is the temperature? What type of filter are you using and is it providing aeration?

This sounds like a kid who just bought one, well, or three puffs, and doesn't know a thing of what he's getting into...

So what happened to this fellow?

SkeptikaL wrote:This sounds like a kid who just bought one, well, or three puffs, and doesn't know a thing of what he's getting into...

That's how a lot of people get involved with puffers. Let's face it, good information on puffer care is not easy to find and most LFS employees don't have a clue. On the bright side, some of the folks that bought puffers not knowing what they were getting into are now very active and educated TPF members! P)0

Yea, but some aren't willing to be dedicated to them as much as you need to be and will just let them sit in those improper condition til death...

Don't assume that about this person yet. We are trying to educate and help them.

At least he posted here. I wish he'd come back though...

Maybe he would had someone not insulted him. For shame I say smackbum . JK, but don't be so quick to judge.

Hey when i first bought my GSP i didn't know a thing on BW. Of course I'm sure everyone here has heard this plenty of times, The expert at the LFS told me at the time of purchase they needed salt in there tank, and yes Aquarium salt. So of course a bought a box table salt/aquarium salt . But as soon as i got home i did my research on gsp and quickly learned the true meaning of BW. My plan in the first place was far from buying any kind off puffer, but once I seen them swimming around I was hooked and had another outlook and plan.

he died after we did the post. being we bought them from walmart we figured they were just a freshwater fish till we found some info to turn it to brakish water. then the night we posted the ? we found that they wanted 30 gal and didn't have one set up yet. and were not new to the fish thing we've got 2- 55's, 2-29's, that 10 and a 2 gal tank. we figured if the fish had special need's they would have said so. maybe we'll set up one of those 29's and come across another GSP and stand half a chance with him.

awwwww, i'm sorry that he died

a 29g would work for a GSP, but they would be happiest in a 55g or larger.


I hope you will conisder getting puffers again, they are great fish! if you stick around on TPF for a while, you will learn a lot too!

Thanks for dropping in with an update sjpuff. Sorry to hear the little guy didn't make it.