expansion5th

I have an empty 15g with lights and filter and I'd like to put a puffer in it.

I was originally leaning towards a Figure 8 because I heard they are more communal and I wanted to add a few other fish, but there is so much enthusiasm about the spotteds, I might be leaning in that direction instead.

How about keeping one of them with a few bumblebee gobies? What salinity would be best for both the puffer and the gobies? Also, my local fish store keeps their spotteds in freshwater ... in that case is it better to start with a fresh tank and slowly up the salinity, or start brackish and give the fish a few hours to acclimate?

Also, what's the most affordable way to measure salinity? this will be my first brackish experience...

Thanks!

Micah

clinton1621

It would probably be best to start out with fresh water if thats what they are currently in, and then slowly (very slowly, like over several days) increase the salinity... this is actually not that hard or expensive to do either, a simple plastic hydrometer will give you your salinity reading.

The only recommended tankmates that I know of would be... scats, monos, and archers... all of which are too large for a 15g =(

expansion5th

I heard tiger barbs and bumblebee gobies were good choices for a spotted ... anyone have any luck with these?

And how do they do with the whole salinity thing? can I put bumblees in freshwater and slowly up the salinity over a few days, or do I need to add them once the salinity is established?

Thanks,

Micah

pinkfloydpuffer

Green spotted puffers will get up to 6" and will need a minimum of 30 gallons, so a 15 would not be good for them. Tiger barbs are freshwater, and would not be a good companion anyways. I hear that bumblebee gobies will work well with them, they are often recommended. I have mollies with mine, but be warned, if they show any signs of weakness, they will be eaten. My Jimi got eaten when he developed a swim bladder problem from the other molly picking on him. Brackish fish are generally very adaptive, so you would likely be just fine starting in fresh and slowly changing salinity. I just started mine at 1.008SG. If you want a GSP and a BB goby though, I'd still say 30 gal is the absolute minimum. Puffers are very very messy. Figure 8s are smaller (only get up to 4"-ish) But still with 15 gals the only puffer I'd recommend is a freshwater dwarf puffer.