Emory

The fish store down the street had a brand new shipment of GSPs in. I have never seen them there, actually. There were about 20 in a 10 gallon tank, which was connected to the other freshwater tanks. I heard they can survive short periods on freshwater.

For a 2" GSP would it be cruel to put him into a 10 gallon and introduce salt. I will be moving, too, in a few months and hope to get a 55 or 75 gallon, and he could have my 29 all to himself.

I can easily abort this thought, but I have never seen any kind of puffer look this healthy in a fish store. White fat little tummies and they all were at the front of the tank assessing my snackability.

I wants it.

But not bad enough to put it in poor conditions. Please advise.

Lucy

Hi Emory
I moved your question to a thread of it's own, hope ya don't mind.
This way you can get more persoanlized info
GSP's are too cute for words.
In case you haven't seen it, here's PFP's General Guide to Puffer Care

sirdarksol

Yes, GSPs can survive for awhile in freshwater, but it's not a good idea.
In the long run, neither is a GSP in a 10g tank.
However, if you can readily get it into a larger tank in the next couple of months, it would likely be doing a lot better than being stuck with dozens of its brothers and sisters in a 10g tank.

Emory

Thanks Lucy and no I don't mind the move at all. I just tacked this post onto the other thread because I was in the same situation as the other poster... ie wanting a puff and denying an impulse buy.

After a talk, my husband and I are pondering selling our platies and then moving our zebra danios into a 10 gallon. He is intrigued by puffers and the idea of owning one. A LFS that I love bought some of our platies and offered me a deal if I would breed them, so I know he will take the 5 I have now. "Red sells," he said.

That would empty out our 29 gallon except for 1 otto. I can put him in the 10 gallon with my betta and a couple of other ottos.

I think he could deal with a 29 gallon freshwater for a day until I could get some salt water made.

Is the general school of thought REALLY 1 GSP/30 gallons because I would LOVE to have two.

I'll need to add additional filtration. Right now the 29 has a Top Fin 30 HOB. Suggestions?

I've been toying with the idea of dwarf puffer since the Bettas vs. Puffers thread was started and tonight when I saw those GSPs I fell in love. They were so adorable. I felt myself being manipuated with cuteness by about 20 little pairs of eyes.

OMG! Is it impulse buy if you leave the store empty handed and return the next day to buy one? (or two?) I actually bought some of the parasite drops that Pink recommends before I stopped into this store. I knew it was a sign to get a puffer, then.

Please tell me I can get buy with 2 in a 29 gallon.

*crosses fingers and toes and eyes and everything else I can think to cross for good luck*

If not, please tell me I can provide a good home for 1 in a 29 gallon.

*crosses fingers and toes and eyes and everything else I can think to cross for good luck*

namehater

i dont think it classifies as impulsive if you sleep on it and still want it

Emory

Glad to hear you say that! The husband and I are still discussing this. Now I am wondering if 2 would work in a 29 gallon for 3 or 4 months until we move. Getting a 55 gallon for them would be no problem, especially with craigslist.

pinkfloydpuffer

For 3 to 4 months, I think 2 small ones in a 29 should be ok. But only if you can get them into a 55 asap. They are very very very messy and get more aggressive as they age, so they need the room. Oh, and they get really really fat as adults

Emory

Well, then that settles it. I'm gonna convert my, I mean "our" 29 gallon to brackish. After that settles down I will get 2 puffers.

I can't find anything about substrate. I will eventually convert that in between the 29 gallon and the future big tank. Crushed coral?

*is excited*

pinkfloydpuffer

Crushed coral or any aragonite based sand/substrate is fine. I have oolitic sand in one tank and aragonite bits in another.

Emory

Thanks Pink!

Now I'm thinking that since they are already in freshwater that I will go ahead and place them in my tank. With my next water change I'll incorporate some saltwater.

If I were to add 5 gallons of saltwater to the 29 gallon, what specific gravity should I shoot for in the bucket?

pinkfloydpuffer

You want to raise the salinity by about .002 SG per week. So.... um.... too much math for my brain right now...

Emory

lol, yah I don't do math. That is my cue to summon the husband.

Thanks Pink, and all other contributors.

This is me signing off for the night.

Sweet dreams ya'll!