shih-tzu mom

No, he's not sick-but i had to rescue him as you all know i have been looking at him for the last 2-weeks and today he wiggled at me with his little gills, and that did it. He was in a 2by3 inclosesure and has been for i don't know how long.And from what i understand they need at least 10-gallons for 1 . well that did it. So i bought him and his tank and he is now accumulating in water.Now big question-how do i put him in his own tank -do i just hold the bag and let him swim out lol. i have been doing a lot of research but i would like to be sure. He is already interacting with me when i talk to him, little gills going 50-miles an hour. So i am setting up his tank and putting lots of hiding places, but something tells me he is very friendly and wants to interact. He is a dwarf-green spots and a white belly not to fat in belly but i think he needs a few good meals as they all do when, coming from fish stores lol.I bought him bloodworms and tomorrow when Big Ale's opens i will buy him some snail's. He is a good size not to small, or big just right i think.Any more tips please bella.

Dozey

I understand that the best method is the “drip method”. This is using an air hose with a clamp. Create a siphon and use the clamp to create just a slow drip to introduce tank water into the bag until about 50% of the water has been exchange.

But all that aside… Yep just open the bag and let him swim out when he’s ready.

shih-tzu mom

Dozey;,- He had rather as hard time going in the bag, he stressed more then i wanted to see lol. The grandfather went to take him out and he didn't understand english too much, when i asked to not use a net and let him swim in.But his son came along and he was able to swim into the bag. But poor wee thing is already stressed from that. and i don't think he has seen any swimming room for i don't know how long lol. When he goes in his 10-gallon he will think he is in heaven bella

Dozey

I'm sure he'll love his new lake to live in. I don't know if this is correct or not... but when ever I have to net fish and move them around I treat the tank with API Stress Coat. Just to give them a little help and protect their slime coat.

shih-tzu mom

Dozey; i always do that when i bring them home -ps. see your post=message there for you . and i add a little garlic guard as it seems to relax them and make them feel better all around lol bella

Lucy

Congrats on your new puffer. What kind is he?

hockeyref88

Our puffers are little studs. Practically indistructable.....................He'll have no prob getting used to his new diggs.

MeGustaUnaPez926

When you do put him into the tank, make sure he is never exposed to air. The stress might cause him to puff up, and it is nearly impossible that the puffer will live through that, especially if he fills with air, water is hard enough for them to dispel. What are you naming him?

GouramiGirl1221

I'm not the puffer expert, but you said he was a dwarf green spotted puffer. I don't think there is such a thing...I believe that dwarf puffers and green spotted puffers are two separate things. Dwarfs will do well in a 10 gal their whole lives, green spotted's will need 30 gallons when they're full grown.

You puffer experts, correct me if I'm wrong.

Lucy

I missed where she said what kind of puffer it was.
I know very little about puffers.
A dwarf puffer is freshwater and a green spotted puffer needs brakish water. The have differnt tank size requirements.
Here's a link to PFP's puffer care guide:
General Guide to Puffer Care

shih-tzu mom

Hi: all, he is small and won't get too much bigger and he has a white belly and spots on him. that is all i know lol.bella

shih-tzu mom

Hi: Lucy; i am getting really nervous now, about putting him the tank lol. he has spots on him but they are not green lol i thought they were, but he is a dwarf and i'm scared to put him in the tank. i think i will just open the bag when it's time and let him swim out. the poster above scared me with the blowing up bit. if he was going to blow up he would have at the store that is for sure. But Lucy he is just Precious[sp] lol and just loves it when you talk to him. Little gills go 50-miless an hour lol bella.

shih-tzu mom

MGUP926; Hi; what did you mean by not exposing him to air? that is nearly impossable how do you do it? thanks in advance lol and i think i'll call him just Puff. bella

Lucy

I think dwarfs are adorable. If I had been able to find one with out having to order one, I would have had one by now.

I don't think the stress from a new tank will make him puff up and hurt himself.
I remember PFP saying something about not exposing them to air. Did you read the link I gave you about puffer care?
Probably the most important thing is to make sure he's a dwarf and not a green spotted.
Here's a link to PinkFloydPuffer's tanks. She green spotted puffers:
PFP's Tanks

pinkfloydpuffer

Oh goody, a new puffer.
Is your puffer very small, like under an inch? And a detailed description if not a photo would help alot...

GouramiGirl1221

That's what I had read. I didn't think the dwarfs had green spots. But, like I said, not a puffer expert, even though I hope to have one eventually. Although, when I do get one, it will probably be in my SW tank that I'm dreaming about.

pinkfloydpuffer

The dwarf puffer's spots will be black as well... a picture would be very helpful, or at least a link to one that looks just like yours.

shih-tzu mom

Hi: Pink, at last i got you. He is little about an inch and has spots lol he is in his bag as i am scared to take him out lol above poster kind of scared me and i read your posts on Puffs. He was really stressed at the store and i feel if he was going to puff up it would have been then. He was kept in a 2-3 little divided something and no swimming room at all, and they said he was healthy and was there a long time and they had another one. But Pink according to your link that Lucy gave me he looks healthy lol clear eyes and white stomach and spots and i can't tell what colour lol i guess when i get him in the tank-if ever tonight sometime i will be able to tell bella

pinkfloydpuffer

Just direct him out of the bag. Don't remove him from the water, but get him into the tank with as little transfer of bag water as possible.

shih-tzu mom

Pink, i just looked at his spots and they are black lol and he is small. They said he was a FW dwarf but you know LFS. lol i have a million questions but for now just how to get him in the tank safely-10-gallon with lots of hiding spots and plants ect.
I bought him some blood worms and have to wait until tomorrow as the lfs didn't have any snail's and i also have some shrimp for him.But i was also reading they like shrimp and the lfs said better to buy live or frozen-true or not Pink.And do they like anything else to eat? i have been reading on their food and care lol but this little guy i have seen there at least 2-weeks and i think a lot longer then that ,as he looked a little depressed lol and has perked up since i have been talking to him. bella

pinkfloydpuffer

I'm betting he is a dwarf if they said he is. Especially if he is really tiny. Luckily that's one they usually don't mix up with different species, lol.

shih-tzu mom

Now, Pink, i have a few snails in one of my betta tanks that came in with live plants and they are tiny snails.Can he eat those for tonight lol And do i just ask for pond snails tomorrow and what happen's if Big Ale's don't have them lol what kind can you raise yourself? I think that would be better and healthier for him.bella

pinkfloydpuffer

Yeah, those will work. Just ask the store if they have any 'pest' snails they want to get rid of. They'll usually just give them to you. The best choices would be pond or ramshorn snails.

shih-tzu mom

Ok, Thanks Pink. i am still waiting for the temp to come up on the Puff tank lol. It has been in there a long time and i think i'm going to switch heaters other wise he will be still in his bag in the morninglol[joking] but the one heater don't seem to be bringing up the temp at all. Now when i cut the bag to open- will the air hurt him? boy am i scared lol. bella

pinkfloydpuffer

The air doesn't hurt them, it's just if he puffs up while in the air then it's potentially damaging or fatal.

shih-tzu mom

Oh, ok then; i was under the impression that the poster ment he couldn't have any air what so ever lol. Thanks so much Pink-now i feel a little better lol. well as soon as temp is up 79-80% ok, then i will put him in. Thank you very much for all your help tonight Pink and a very Merry Christmas to you and your's bella

Pink-sorry do they ever puff up or is that just fear or stress that causes them to puff.? bella

pinkfloydpuffer

It's a self defense mechanism. So they'll just puff when they're really stressed and feel like they are threatened.

shih-tzu mom

A little update for you Pink;- he is really well and came to see me this morning lol and he ate some shrimp and bloodworms last night and very busy exploring. and as i said earlier he don't appear to be frightened at all lol. He seems more curious and happy then anything else. Doing a lot of swimming and when i first took him out of the bag he was just going up and down the aquarium and then he realized he had a whole tank to himself as they kept him, in not so good conditions lol and now he's a happy boy/girl and very, very busy. bella

pinkfloydpuffer

That's great to hear! I just love puffers, they're so curious and friendly

Emory

So when do we get a picture of him/her? You know how we are about pictures (we are always excited to see them!)