The Puffer Forum

Hi guys,

I have just bought a GSP (after months of searching) and thought I would introduce myself.

Jerry is currently in a 190l brackish tank (~50 US Gallons) and has been settling in for the past few days. All seems to be going well so far.

He was kept in Brackish at the store (hurrah!) with a few other brackish fish and never bothered them, the store folks said he is the most timid GSP they have ever had. He has no tankmates at the mo (and I have no intention of adding any for now) except for a whole hoard of baby swordtails. [After cycling the tank with ammonia I put in a couple of swordtails from my community tank to keep the bacteria going while I looked for a puffer - needless to say they bred while in there and I can't get the babies out!!!] I'm sure they will become a meal at some point for him...

My long term plan is to acclimatise him to marine as he ages (as per pufferpunks article) and then hopefully see if he will tolerate a tankmate. Does anyone have an opinion on keeping a single GSP in such a large tank while it is brackish? Would he prefer another GSP tankmate? He does seem a bit lonely in there.

Jeni

As an aside I can thoroughly recommend the aquatic centre at Cheddar Garden Centre. One of the lads keeps pufferfish and they had great customer service.

Hi Jeni!

Congratulations on your new puff.
I think that your new GSP will be quite happy growing up in that 50 gallon alone. GSPs need a minimum of 30 gallons per puffer, so your tank is not large enough for two, and keep in mind that is just a minimum. Your puffer has a very good thing going right now having all of that territory to himself without any competitors. If this GSP stays as timid as he has been described (which I doubt he will, considering his species but nonetheless) then another puffer tankmate may be too stressful for him.

I would wait until he is mature enough to be moved to full marine. By then you'll know his temperament and you'll have many options for small, non-puffer tankmates. What size is he/she right now?

He's between 1-2 inches at the moment and I'm keeping him at an SG of about 1.005.

I have no plans to bring him up to full marine until he is adult. I have always wanted a marine tank but only ever had freshwater so I'm looking forward to running brackish and bringing the SG up slowly. It feels a little less scary this way!

JerryGSP wrote: I have no plans to bring him up to full marine until he is adult. I have always wanted a marine tank but only ever had freshwater so I'm looking forward to running brackish and bringing the SG up slowly. It feels a little less scary this way!

It's not as bad as it seems, but I know how you feel. I vowed to never get into saltwater myself, but then I was sucked into it by an adorable marine puffer!

Yeah SW aren't nearly as bad as people tell you. Welcome to the forum and good luck with your little puff!

I am sure that 1 of my monster GSPs would have been happy in my 55g alone. Maybe you could get a couple of damselfish or a tomato clown, once it reaches marine.

Saltwater itself isn't hard.. its corals that are tough!

Yep tomato clown when he goes to full marine is my ideal scenario. I'm sure by then I will be ableto afford all the extra expense that goes with equiping a marine tank and keeping it healthy! I would love to be able to have corals in there but I get the impression Jerry might take rather roo much of a liking to them...although I guess I will play it by ear when I get there!