Leopard Spotted Puffer/ Green Spotted Puffer

- I use to own a leopard spotted puffer fish and it died. And I was wondering why it did die?
Info:
1. Was in a 20 gallon freshwater fish tank
2. 3 tank mates which were smaller fish
3. Puffer was about 2 inches
4. Biweekly water changes
5. No signs of ich or fin rot
6. Lived for a week
7. Water tested 100% a.o.k
8. Pet store worker told me that the puffer fish would be okay in a freshwater fish tank

 

I thought puffers were brackish fish???
That could be why but don't know much about them.

 

Did you treat him for parasites? Puffers are wild caught and often have parasites, pet stores often don't bother treating them. They need to be in saltwater to thrive, but they can live in fw so that is not the culprit.
Was it puffed up when you found it? They can puff up from stress however, it is often fatal to the fish.
It may have been stressed by the smaller fish if they were fin nippers.
Wild caught fish are typically weaker than captive bred fish.

 

Did you treat him for parasites? Puffers are wild caught and often have parasites, pet stores often don't bother treating them. They need to be in saltwater to thrive, but they can live in fw so that is not the culprit.
Was it puffed up when you found it? They can puff up from stress however, it is often fatal to the fish.
It may have been stressed by the smaller fish if they were fin nippers.
Wild caught fish are typically weaker than captive bred fish.

This thread is very old.
green spotted puffers can slowly be moved to saltwater but need to start in brackish.

 

This thread is very old.
green spotted puffers can slowly be moved to saltwater but need to start in brackish.

Didn't see how old it was. They are naturally found in freshwater and brackish water. The bigger concern with increasing the salinity to fast is killing beneficial bacteria and crashing a cycle, the fish can adapt well.