The Puffer Forum

Hi, I am new to this forum and have used some of the things on this forum already with awesome results. Like most people that have found these neat little GSP at there local Wal-Mart labeled as "Freshwater" puffers have come to find out that as they grow they need a different tank. Well in the next couple of weeks I am going to be picking up a new 55 gallon home for my GSP's. Right now they are in a 90 gallon with my African Cichlids and doing great but they do not have any chance at getting ghost shrimp and pest snails for snacks as the chilids think this is awesome.

My question is my three GSP's are around 1.5"-2" and I was wondering how many I can put into the 55. My local pet store said no more then 5. Also I was curious if I could put some Monos in with them in the 55 and how many? I don't want to over crowd the tank as this is the problem that I am running into with my cichlid tank right now.

Looks like you need to do lots more reading. Find my GSP article in our Library & study that. As far as monos, they are schooling fish that grow a foot long. A school of 5-6 adults would need a 300+g tank. I had more than 1 adult GSP in my 55g (see their pic in that article) & I had to re-home them--it was too crowded in there. I'm sure 1 would have been happy in there, w/maybe a few damselfish for tank mates.

Thanks for the info on the Monos. I will look into the damelfish or just have the tank as a GSP tank.

Welcome Chin_Z

Well picked up the 55 last week and have the stand built to match my 90 gallon. Now just need to stain it and start to decorate, so hopefully in a week I can post pics of the new home for my GSP's. My larger one looks at me everyday like, "Get me out of here, these Cichlids are crazy." It is close to being done.

Am I understanding you still plan to put 3 GSP's in the 55g? This is a bad idea, you really want 30g per puffer... and it's pretty agreed upon that a 55g is to small for 2 adults even.

Can you move your cichlids to the 55g and put your 3 puffers in the 90g? That would be a MUCH better plan

Make sure that new tank is cycled with biospira or a fishless cycle before adding anyone too

Agreed, moving the cichlids into the 55 and putting the three GSPs in the 90 gallon would be ideal for the puffs.

I don't think that 10 African Cichlids would like a 55 gallon. My largest Cichlid right now is pushing 7" and his mate is about 5 with all the rest around 5" also.

The GSPs are going to get about 6" each as well, and they are really aggressive little guys. The 55 can only be a temporary home for them, you're going to need to get a bigger one eventually...or more than one. If you can get 3 tanks that are all around 55gal, that would probably be best.

I think then you have to make the decision to either buy another 90 gallon, return one or two puffers, or move the puffers into the cichlid tank and move the cichlids into the 55, giving some of them away.

The puffers will be much more territorial and aggressive in a 55 than your cichlids. And, at 6"+, they will be large; imagine 3 footballs that size in your 55 gallon aquarium, and then factor in their aggression, waste, and activity levels. They may seem meek now, but as GSPs mature in the wild they have to defend large territories in order to have enough food to survive on. Trying to keep 3 adults together in a small space can be tricky, even with a steady food supply, so they need to be able to establish clear territories and to be able to get out of one anothers' way.