Okay, well ive been looking up about this brackish fish. Do maintain its health and make it live the longest you would want to keep the salinty at 1.015, right? I know you can change it to full salt, but I wont it to live the longest possible. Basically, what salinty would it have to be to make it live the longest.
Green Spotted Puffer
- Thread starter nanojimmy
- Start date
- Messages
- 90
- Reaction score
- 0
Green Spotted Puffers (AKA Wal-Mart Puffers) are ONLY brackish as juveniles. As adults, they more to full salt water. You can go ahead and acclimate them to salt water a little bit at a time. Test the water they come in, then raise the salinity by a little bit at a time over the course of a month or so until it reaches full saltwater conditions. My GSPs thrived in full salt water; they were more active and grew faster under those conditions.
However, I do NOT recommend keeping GSPs in any tank except a predator tank. They are generally VERY aggressive fish, even moreso than most puffers I've kept. You will not be able to keep a cleanup crew and you will not be able to keep small, docile fish like chromis. They will end up as puffer food. GSPs will also fin-nip other aggressive fish, even ones many times their size.
Additionally, GSPs get to be six inches or more long, and they're very active instead of spending a lot of time hovering like many puffers do, so they need a pretty large tank.
In summary: I love GSPs to death...but I don't recommend them, unless you're willing to make a purely aggro/predator FOWLR tank. And don't buy the Wal-Mart ones, if you decide to get one. Find them at LFS. They're almost guaranteed to be healthier.
However, I do NOT recommend keeping GSPs in any tank except a predator tank. They are generally VERY aggressive fish, even moreso than most puffers I've kept. You will not be able to keep a cleanup crew and you will not be able to keep small, docile fish like chromis. They will end up as puffer food. GSPs will also fin-nip other aggressive fish, even ones many times their size.
Additionally, GSPs get to be six inches or more long, and they're very active instead of spending a lot of time hovering like many puffers do, so they need a pretty large tank.
In summary: I love GSPs to death...but I don't recommend them, unless you're willing to make a purely aggro/predator FOWLR tank. And don't buy the Wal-Mart ones, if you decide to get one. Find them at LFS. They're almost guaranteed to be healthier.
I agree with trigger..my first tank was a brackish tank with GSP's. if you have little babies then match the salinity they came from and slowly raise it as they grow - not sure about full salinity within a month but eventually, yes. i never got mine to full salt conditions as i sold the tank and started a reef. I kept mine with african cichlids as they loved teh higher PH and a little salt but the cichlids will need to be removed when you get above a 1.018. it has been over a year since i had em so dont take my advice as gospel.
They need lots of tank room - no more than 2 per 50 gal or somewhere around there. They are fun little guys but are known to have health problems later in life. Their bellies will let you know when they are stressed or not feeling well by turning dark..make sure they get lots of teeth trimming foods (hard shell) as they grow fast and wont eat anymore when their teeth get too big. i used to stuff old snailshells with krill to help aid with this.
They need lots of tank room - no more than 2 per 50 gal or somewhere around there. They are fun little guys but are known to have health problems later in life. Their bellies will let you know when they are stressed or not feeling well by turning dark..make sure they get lots of teeth trimming foods (hard shell) as they grow fast and wont eat anymore when their teeth get too big. i used to stuff old snailshells with krill to help aid with this.
I saw a beautiful puffer at the LFS last week. It's called the valentines puffer. The man at the store said he was reef safe "with caution" He may pick at small inverts if not fed well. I almost bought him but didn't. lol Really pretty for a puffer though.
- Messages
- 90
- Reaction score
- 0
Llewella: you're thinking of the Valentini Puffer. Fantastic little guys.
The Petland in Athens has those tiny Dwarf Puffers in stock, or they did a couple days ago. They're absolutely adorable. I'm thinking of starting a tiny freshwater tank just for those. Means I'd have to find a new how for my land hermit crab, though...he's in my small tank, lol.
The Petland in Athens has those tiny Dwarf Puffers in stock, or they did a couple days ago. They're absolutely adorable. I'm thinking of starting a tiny freshwater tank just for those. Means I'd have to find a new how for my land hermit crab, though...he's in my small tank, lol.
- Messages
- 90
- Reaction score
- 0
I had a deal going with a few LFSs and pond supply stores, where I'd get all their "pest" snails whenever they got a shipment of plants in. My GSPs loved 'em! 
- Messages
- 1,247
- Reaction score
- 0
I have a green spot in my tank and he is cool as can be.
He is the toughest fish I have ever had. Salinity to .030 is not a problem for this fish.
He is the toughest fish I have ever had. Salinity to .030 is not a problem for this fish.
Similar threads
