The Puffer Forum

Okay, here goes. My name's Amanda and although I've had aquariums since I was 14, I've only learned recently that I was doing it all wrong. So I'm still learning (I don't change my water or my filter as often as I should---please don't hate me). I have a 10 gal with some tetras. I got it last year and set it up (didn't know about cycling) (or QT for that matter), and of course it's been restocked a couple of times since then. So on one mission to restock, I went to Sam Walton's store (yeah I know...I told you I'm still learning) and was told about the puffer. It was so cute! I had to have it. I was also told that it would get along fine with my tetras, which it did....it had a "fine" meal by the time we got home! So I knew I couldn't keep them in the same tank. I didn't have another tank and I needed something that my cat couldn't tip over, so he spent the night in the blender with rocks on the bottom to hide the blade. The next day I went to buy a new tank, but being new to the subject and not having a lot of money, I could only afford a 5 gal, which he's in now. He also has a reaaally bad case of ich. I feel so sorry for him. I read some topics you guys have on ich and I did a 50% water change and put the heater in and put some salt in. I have no idea what the specs on the water are as I don't have the testing stuff. I don't want him to die and I don't want him to be miserable (oh yeah, right now he's about 1 1/2")(oh yeah again, he's a GSP). I need help!! Thank you for letting me write this novel, and I hope to be learning a LOT more about this cute, wonderful little fish.

Start with this article: http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/ ... ffers.html

Since you know about cycling now, how did you cycle the 5g tank? Personally, I'd return the puffer, till you can cycle at least a 10g tank & be prepared to upgrade to at least a 30g tank after he grows to 2". If you don't see any of that in the very near future, then forget about keeping this particular puffer & get a dwarf puffer for the 5g (after it's cycled).

Confession: I haven't' really cycled my 5 gal...like I said, I have just recently (like in the past two days) learned about this. I just did a 80% water change and took out the gravel to clean it. I didn't put the gravel back in yet (don't have a vacuum thing..yet) I can't return him now...who's going to take him with an infestation?

Sorry, I missed that part. There is an article on treating puffers w/ich in the Hospital section, where I'm moving this to. With the ich & being in a too small, uncycled tank, he doesn't really have much chance of survival.

If he does survive, it won't be long before he reaches 2" & will need a 30g tank.

I'm working on getting a larger tank (which WILL be fully cycled before he goes in). I just looked in on him and he's swimming around...his color is a lot better (except for the obvious white spots) and he's eating well, so I'm hoping those are good signs. I hate to leave him, but I have to go to work. I do have a bubble stone in there since the temp's higher (about 84 right now).

You should try to find some BioSpira ASAP. This will cycle the tank immediately. The GSP will die if it's in a tank that is cycling.

Thanks. They have some at one of the LFS.

Surely the LFS should have told you about cycling before they let you take the fish.

I think the LFS i bought boomer from is one of the better ones i've been to. I bought both him and my tank from them. I was allowed to reserve him but was only allowed to take him home 2 months (minimum) after i bought the tank.

Its probably best you do your own research on these little guys beforehand, I trawled the net for weeks before getting my mbu! Thats how I found this place

I hope it works out ok for you. Keep us posted....

boomer wrote:Surely the LFS should have told you about cycling before they let you take the fish.

Remember, I got the fish at Wally World....nuff said. He seems to be doing better this morning. His belly is not as black, and he's eating well. I'm going to Petsmart today to spend a bunch of money for him. I'll keep you posted. Thanks everyone for all your help!

Why would an LFS tell you about cycling? I know my does but it seems to be an abberation as far as LFSes go from what I hear from everyone else. If you buy a bunch of fish from the LFS to stick in an uncycled tank and they all die, you'll just go back and buy more. So why bother instructing you on how to keep them alive?

Surely the LFS should have told you about cycling before they let you take the fish.

I observed something the other day that almost made me faint. I was at Petsmart (West Hills, CA) as they were having a tank sale. I've only been there a few times as it's not near my place. The 2 women in the fish department that day were exceedingly knowledgeable. I think they take a class. One of the women there told me that "It's advised to keep one goldfish per 10 gallons of water but I think one per 15 or 20 is much better. . . " Then I overheard another sales woman there tell a customer about stunting and how big fish stay small due to polluted tanks, and how bad/cruel it is etc. I'll definitely go back to that store, though I generally am appalled by the big box pet stores.

Yea my fav. lfs can barely speak english...surely the only they said was "you can add a spoonful of salt if you want, but don't have to".

Oh, and I once saw a Walmart employee top off a fish bag with cold tap, chlorine and all even though there was a filtered water spout right there. I wonder if that little gold fish made it home alive . . . .

Puffernovice2006 wrote: Remember, I got the fish at Wally World....nuff said.

If you already knew it wasn't the best place to get fish, why'd you do it? I personally can't support a place like that and feel good about myself in the morning. I would definitely stick with Petsmart or a LFS.