How much salt should I add

[DrDeath]

to a 37g ? The LFS said 1-2 tsp per gallon, but that is way more than the package said. Package says 1Tbls per 10g. Opinions? Facts?

BTW I am adding salt because I just acquired a spotted puffer:D I love him :)

DrD

[ewok]

this is definately a brackish puffer?

hopefully you aren't keeping it with freshwater fish......

this question could be best addressed in the "brackish" forum, quite a number of people here have puffers and they might be able to give you a decent estimate "for now". normally salt levels would be addressed by a test that measures "specific gravity", i believe.... there's a little gizmo for measuring this that makes it alot easier than guessing. salt also doesn't evaporate, so it will need to be replaced during water changes. unfortunately that's about all i know about it. :D

[cdawson]

you need to use marine salt for brackish fish, aquarium salt won't do. You basically need to treat your puffer like a marine fish, as it will need marine conditions in about a year or two when it starts to hit the 3" mark. you should start off by getting yourself a hydrometer and some instant ocean synthetic marine salt. Aquarium salt lacks the beneficial minerals, trace elements and ph buffers that a brackish aquarium requires. If you've got it in with other fish I highly recommend returning the puffer or it's tankmates. The puffer will in time make short work of all the fish in your tank. They become 6" jaws of terror, they start off small and cute and become VERY aggressive and can take down even the largest of tankmates. Keep in mind this fish has almost no natural enemies as it's a death sentence to anything that eats it (either through puffing and asphyxiation or killing it with the most powerful neurotoxin in the world know in nature).
Make sure your ph is around 8-8.5 and that your tank is completely cycled before you add any puffers.
If you want to build a tank up from the frameworks you should use a coral substrate (crushed coral) and decorate your tank like you would a saltwater aquarium. Lots of filtration and a strong current are a neccesity.
Puffers are very sensitive fish and can't tolerate any length of bad water quality, change your water religiously or your puffer won't last long.
If you want any more opinions post another question in the brackish forum.

[OrionGirl]

Moving to Brackish... OG

As noted, a brackish water fish will need more care than just a few cups of salt. Marine salt is needed, not just "Aquarium Salt", and other fish may need to be moved out to prevent them from becoming snacks, a little bite at a time. You'll also need to acquire a reliable source of snails--crunchies are a requirement for living, not just health. Puffers are wonderful, and worth the extra effort of meeting their needs.

[cdawson]

Originally posted by OrionGirl
Moving to Brackish... OG

As noted, a brackish water fish will need more care than just a few cups of salt. Marine salt is needed, not just "Aquarium Salt", and other fish may need to be moved out to prevent them from becoming snacks, a little bite at a time. You'll also need to acquire a reliable source of snails--crunchies are a requirement for living, not just health. Puffers are wonderful, and worth the extra effort of meeting their needs.

Definately, I have two (a GSP and a SA puffer) and I plan on doing anything I can to keep them till the end of their natural lives. truly one of the best aquarium pets out there.

[Pufferpunk]

Green spotted puffers (GSP) need high-end BW-SW as adults. They grow to 6" & will eventually need at least 20g/fish. If your puffer is in FW now, raise the SG .002/week, until you reach 1.008, if the puffer is still small (<2") Once larger, you'll need to raise it higher. It takes a cup of salt/5gal to raise the SG .005.

[DrDeath]

Sorry I haven't been back to check this I have family in from out of town for the holidays!

WELL, the BAD news is the beautiful puffer was added to a tank of freshwater fish. I also added the salt(that was what the fish dpt manager said to do - this was before I checked in to ask you all) Everyone is getting along great which is teh GOOD news.

Well this stinks that it's a brackish fish. Would the puffer do okay in a 10g? I have an empty 10 I can put him in and have the appropriate water qualities it needs.

Ever since I added the salt my tank has been cloudy. Is this the result of the salt or is it another problem? The salt has been in for about 4 days now.

Thanks,

DrD

[DrDeath]

Sorry - another question:

What do they eat besides snails? He isn't interested in any of the food I have tried so far. And the store told me he would eat what all the others eat!

I am going to do whatever it takes to keep him!

DrD

[RTR]

IME, the GSP (green spotted puffer, Tetraodon nigroviridis) need a minimum of 20 gal per fish, 30 would be better, and is likely to be best as a singleton.

Optimum for me is an aragonite substrate (need not be deep, they are not diggers/buriers) with mid-level brackish. But bring the density up slowly as Pufferpunk noted before. If you wish you can take it to full SW (your option) where they do seem to hold color best.

When small, snails and krill seem best for feeding. As they grow a bit (they won't in FW, they stunt easily), you can purchase "bits and pieces" from the seafood counter at the supermarket. The folks there know me and save broken off crab legs, a few lobster claws, a small clam or mussel, etc, for me. I rinse and freeze much of the stuff to be thawed and fed as needed. Anything crunchy is the idea. PP can offer more options, she feeds her critters better than I do. ;)

LFS unfortunately are very poor sources of info on puffers. These fish are very hardy once established in captivity, and with proper and clean water conditions can exceed the lifespan of the Cichlids easily.

HTH

[Pufferpunk]

What do they eat besides snails? He isn't interested in any of the food I have tried so far. And the store told me he would eat what all the others eat!

:duh: Can you imagine how many more folks are continunally given wrong info & never get to us? How many puffers are flushed, because it bit their fish, or starved while the owner waits for it to eat "whatever the other fish are eating". At least kudos fo you for comming here, although if you see a fish you're not familiar with, it's best to research it 1st, before buying it. I am glad you're willin to do whatever it will take to make your puffer happy! :D

Make sure you fishless cycle his new tank 1st, or just add Bio-Spira for an instant cycle.

[cdawson]

I agree, good for drdeath. Go out and purchase a 30g, they really aren't that expensive at all. It would probably cost you roughly $180 for a full setup for your puffer.
A 10g won't do in the long run, you'll need at least a 30g. These fish get BIG and if you haven't seen first hand, check out pufferpunks tank ;)

[DrDeath]

I did check out PuferPunks tanks - they are beautiful!

Thanks for all the information, this site has ALWAYS been helpful. I should have known better than to buy the puffer as soon as I saw it. I was at the store last Sunday and they didn't have anything exciting. I went back again on Tuesday and they had 2 puffers! I almost bought both :)

I keep seeing mention of green spotted puffers. Mine is yellow with black spots. The store identified it as a "spotted puffer". Does anyone know (without seeing pics) if this name fits the description I gave? He's about 3" long from nose to tail and they told me it was full grown.

I have tried getting pics of him but he moves too quick (or am I too slow?)

Thanks again!

DrD

[RTR]

He is likely the green (pause) spotted puffer, not named the green-spotted puffer as he/she is not. They are one of the commonest and best looking (IMHO) and most active high-personality fish. Most fols don't ever see one larger than 3" total because they keep them FW or FW with a few spoonsfull of salt. In high brackish to full SW they will get to ~6" standard (not counting tail/caudal fin).

The sure and certain ID of these is an almost-fluorescent green patch surronding the spots atop the "head" of the fish.

but you can see a decent pic of a young fish at

http://www.pufferfish.co.uk/aquaria/species/pufferfish/types/index.htm

under the listing for Tetraodon nigrifilis - even the gooid sites have confusion on names.

They are not easy to capture on film without a blur...

[DrDeath]

That's it! Thank you. You guys are all great! I have checked out the sites everyone linked in their responses. I truly appreciate all the information!

DrD