The Puffer Forum

I passed on these fella's a few months back. I hate that walmart keeps these as I know so many will eventually die. My main question now that I have purchased one after properly researching them is still the brackish non brackish question.

1.Can this fish be housed in freshwater while in it's youth? I know walmart sells these and I am sure they are housing all fish in the same water. Doesn't make it right, but I really want him in my tropical if I can instead of alone.
2. He is under 1" Maturity about 6" if I have read correctly. How long is maturity in GSP's?
3. Has anyone sucessfully kept GSP with OSCARS. I have some 3 1/2 juveniles that have yet to become agressive and content with pellets and veggies and earthworms, can I keep my Gsp with them or will they eat him.

Thanks. I look forward in contributing in whatever way I can.
Thanks

Dennis Kasprzak
Roy, UT USA

Check out the GSP article in the library. It should answer all of your questions.
And Welcome to the site!

There is no brackish not brackish question with a GSP. It is a brackish water fish, in nature and in home aquaria. You must be thinking of Figure 8's, they are the puffer than lives in FW in the wild but lives much longer in BW in aquaria. So the tropical community tank is definately not an option, unfortunately. Additionally, I would not keep the GSP with oscars, even when they are all little. The GSP might harass them, or they might harass the GSP, but mixing different types of aggresive fish is unlikely to go well, especially since the GSP will need brackish soon anyway. They can stay FW to an inch or so long, then it's time for low brackish, and at least SG 1.010 by the time they are mature(4"+). Maturity happens before max size, not all fish may reach max size, and some fish may exceed it buy a bit.