The Puffer Forum

my friend has a freshwater tank with 2 green spotted puffers in it that he got b4 doing any research on them and when he found out they were for brackish water and told me i could have them so now i need to know how to set up the aquarium. please help me with this. also 1 of them has a white bubble by one of its fins, its just got it in the lst week

Check in the Library of this forum on info about them.

what kind of substrate should i use with them?

Please read the info in the Library & then ask questions that aren't covered in there.

ok ive read it and this is my first aquarium and i dont know alot about them. i do not understand everything that i read about them. how do i switch from a freshwater to brackish water? it has been in fresh water so i figured i could start out iwth freshwater and slowly move to brackish, iis this the right thing to do? how do i add salt? please help me with this.

hey dude i'm new to puffers too. you should read the thread i started titled "new to this site and puffers" everyone has been very helpful in answering lots of the same questions i'm sure you have. i've learned a TON in the last two days or so. the "library" was also very helpful.

You need to buy a hydrometer from the LFS and some marine salt (not aquarium salt) i.e. Instant Ocean Marine mix.

To mix it you should mix it in a bucket making sure the water is the same temp as the tank and leave the salt to dissolve for at least an hour before adding to your aquarium.

The amount of salt in an aquarium is measured in SG (specific Gravity), measured using your hydrometer. Freshwater will have an S.G. of 1.000 and you need to raise the SG to at least 1.005 maybe more depending on their size.

However it is only recommended to raise the SG by no more than 1.002 per week, so not to stress the fish or kill off the 'friendly' (Nitrifying) bacteria.

In order to keep a puffer healthy they require a 50% water change doing per week, so it makes sense to use this opportunity to raise the SG level.

What size tank are you putting them in? Have you cycled the tank?

OK, tell us the length of the fish, and the size in gallons of the aquarium.
Then, run out and buy a testing kit for the tankwater THIS IS VERY IMPO!!! It'll help us help you to start with, and is an invaluable part of your fishkeeping equipment.
When you've got the test kit, use it on the water that the fish are in, and give us the results.
Pami.

the fish are aobut 1.5" and there in a 55 gallon freshwater. i do not have a test kit but i will get 1 as soon as my tank and everything gets set up (i have to get a lgiht and sand and a stand, i got a idea that you guys might like and ill post pics as soon as i get finished with it)

Dude, we're more interested in the parameters of your water than your lighting and substrate. I'm sure you're very well motivated, but you sound a bit misguided, so I feel my bluntness is necessary.
It's an old saying...you don't keep fish, you keep water that happens to have fish in it. Don't forget...water is the fish's air. If your air was contaminated, toxic or dodgy, would you care about decor or lighting?
Your next purchase must be a test kit....really...we can't help you unless we know what conditions the fish are in.
Substrate is quite impo as well, as it breeds friendly bacteria and - if you use a certain type called aragonite - keeps the pH up, but first and foremost, get that test kit and give us the readings.
Pami.

PS..get the test kit
Pami.

well my aquarium is not set up yet, they are still in my friends and i have no idea what his water is like but i was gonna set up the aquarium this week

OK, transfer his filter media and gravel over as fast as poss when you do move the fish...within the space of an hour if you can, that'll preserve the friendly bacteria that you need to convert toxic chemicals from the fish's waste into much less toxic stuff.
This means you've got time to get that test kit...can you lay your hands on any Bio-Spira? This is quite expensive from what I can gather - me being in UK and not able to get it - but will instantly cycle a tank if there's fish in it. It's made of nitrifying bacteria - the good converting ones - and has worked wonders for you guys over the pond.
Pami.

can i not just set it up and let everything get goin good and use stress zyme or something to get bactera in there?

Stresszyme is garbage, an excellent device for separating you from your money while contaminating you tank. It contains no, repeat no live nitrification bacteria. You may quote me on that.