Acclimating New Puffers to Tank

Okay so, I just started a 30 gallon tank with the plan of only adding puffers in. Last Friday, I added in 2 Figure 8s, Saturday, added in another figure 8, and today, added in a Green Spotted. Went and had the water tested and everything was good except the PH was a little low. Right now, they are in Freshwater but, within the next week, I'm going to start acclimating them to the brackish water which I assume will raise the PH. Any tips and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

What are the dimensions of the tank? I think a green spotted puffer is a bit too much for this tank with 2 figure 8s already in there - not sure how they'd get along. MJDuti

I would start adding marine salt as soon as possible. Soft, fresh water is not good for them.

 

It's a 36x12x17. The water is more of a hard water. Not very soft. I've seen people using regular freshwater aquarium salt but I've also heard the actual saltwater salt too. Which one would be better?

It's a 36x12x17. The water is more of a hard water. Not very soft. I've seen people using regular freshwater aquarium salt but I've also heard the actual saltwater salt too. Which one would be better?

And the GSP was not my idea :| she fell in love with it at the LFS so, she had to have it. I planned only having Figure 8s

 

Marine salt would be better.

With a low pH, it's likely on the softer side. Unless you've tested your KH and GH?

Pending a more informed reply from MJDuti, can you explain to her that tanks should be stocked by what's best for the fish?

 

The PH was at a 7.6 or 7.8. I think they're supposed to be at around an 8.0 or 8.2?

 

That's higher than what I was thinking when you said a little low. I was thinking it was under 7.

 

No I meant a little low for their optimum level. My fault.

 

No worries!

 

Congrats on the puffers! Your pH is fine, just raise your salinity (with sea salt, not aquarium salt) slowly. While I would love a tank with multiple species of puffers I would typically not recommend it, esp with these two species. Figure 8's are usually one of the more docile species of puffers. While GSPs are usually on the opposite end of the spectrum and can be ruthless. Any puffer, even the big bad Fahaka can be a super sweet and not care about anything else in the tank, or they kill everything in site, or be somewhere in between. You just need to be prepared, regardless of the species. This is also why most people do species-only tanks. I have mixed feelings, but that's another conversation.

Another reason for not mixing them is that Figure 8's are low-end brackish fish while GSPs are actually full marine. Add your salt regardless of what you keep right away though. No point in keeping either of them in FW.

And lastly their sheer size difference. Figure 8's are rarely pushing 3 inches, while GSPs can double that. Now that might not seem like a big difference, but with such a girthy fish like a puffer, every inch is a noticeable difference.

My suggestion is to either keep the figure 8's OR the GSP, but not both. With that tank size I would suggest the figure 8's. Three of them is pushing it, so keep an eye on your water parameters and for signs of aggression. If you could return one of the figure 8's it would be ideal. If you want to mix them with something, you could always look into bumble bee gobies. These are cool fish and both species shouldn't bother each other.

My other advice, which you can ignore if you are familiar with puffers already, is that they need a crunchy diet (snails, shrimp, clams, etc) to keep their teeth, aka "beaks", trimmed. If they overgrow it makes it hard for them to eat anything. Then you have to perform dentistry (not kidding). I will also recommend a pair of feeding tongs that you can find in the reptile/amphibian section of a pet store. Heavy filtration since these fish are pigs. Heavy decor to keep these little guys entertained. They never stop moving! There are some plants that do well in low-end brackish as well if you were interested. Not only do they look better IMO, they will just help keep the tank cleaner.

Best of luck. Puffers are amazing wet pets!

 

Yea. I've been feeding the a mix between snails and frozen brine shrimp. I have a strong filtration system on it. I've got a marineland C220 canister filter and a marineland penguin 200 filter on the back. The puffers love playing in the flow from the filters. I was also told to put some cheap goldfish in the tank as well.

 

Don't add goldfish. Puffers do not need them as feeders, and they'll only serve to dirty your tank and possibly transmit diseases to your puffers.