aww, man!

[wataugachicken]

it seems like all of north carolina got a huge shipment of GSP's - they're everywhere! i saw some at wal-mart (because i always look out of a morbid fascination with the way they keep the fish), so then i went over to my LFS to find out more and, lo and behold, they had some too!
i said to myself - i gotta get me one of those.
so, wanting to do things right, i decided to wait until i could get back to my nice aprtment with an internet connection, and talk to you people to enhance my fish edumacation, then i'd get a tank, and cycle it, and hope that there were still some little precious puffers at the LFS waiting for a home.
now i'm not so sure. i don't have room for a 30 gallon tank right now.

can i justify a temporary 10g home for a GSP with a promise to it and myself and God that i'll get it a bigger tank in a year?
(and it would be its very own 10g, sharing with nothing but plants)

[reiverix]

I know how tempting it must be, but in the long run I think you'd be better off getting a tank that can accomodate a GSP before buying. They are quite chunky and messy fish and require the salinity to be raised over time until eventually they are full marine.

But all is not lost. A 10g is ok for a lone figure 8 which is pure brackish. Or maybe a trio of dwarf puffers in a FW setup.

[Puffernewbee]

I would say a 10 gallon would be OK for one year. I know they are cute but you may what to heed the other posting talking about the F-8.
Things to think about with GSP:
1. Need hard foods such as snails or live ghost shrimp to keep teeth ground down.
2. Need full marine environment when mature (are you ready to deal w/ Salt water tank)
3. When you get the 30 gallon he will probably all you can put in it. They are not the friendliest of fish and tend to eat tankmates.
4. All algae maintenance must be done by the owner. I own a Figure 8 and the algae grows like crazy. You cannot put in any algae eaters because the GSP will eat them.
While I was looking up a little more info I found this article from someone who loves their GSP but has some honest input. You may want to read this over before you make your decision.

GSP info (http://www.aquatic-hobbyist.com/profiles/brackish/gsp.html)

I love my F-8 (P-Diddy) but I must confess his tank is a pain to keep up with. I can clean my 29 gallon fresh in less that half the time it takes for my 10 gallon F-8 tank.

[greenpuffer]

Interesting article. I have wanted a GSP for a long time. Someday when I free up more space.

[wataugachicken]

well, i think that if i seriously want to get puffers, i'll follow reiverix's advice and look around for some dwarf puffers, they are pretty cute too.

i know i don't have the room for a GSP right now, and full saltwater isn't something i want to get into yet, but going to walmart makes me all messed up in the head, you know? it's like, anything i can offer is better than 6 or 7 puffers in a FW tank full of (now) finless gouramis.

[Puffernewbee]

I think you have made a wise choice. Dwarfs are very cute. The only problem I have with them is you need a magnifying glass to appreciate their cuteness. The great thing is they are fresh water.
If you don't mind going brackish and the algae maintenance, the Figure-8 is very cute, only gets to 3-4 inches and can live in a 10 gallon.
Poor Wal-mart Gouramis. If the GSP's get any hungrier, it will be VERY POOR gouramis since the fin appetizers are gone.

[greenpuffer]

going to walmart makes me all messed up in the head, you know? it's like, anything i can offer is better than 6 or 7 puffers in a FW tank full of (now) finless gouramis.

I know the feeling, last time I went to walmart I had a 20 gal with 2 large ornamental goldfish. I wound up leaving walmart with a baby oscar as he was the only one with color left in the tank.Then I gave the goldfish away and now I have a 55gal with a medium oscar and will likely need a 75 in a year or two. Not that I mind as I have been keeping fish off and on for 15 years. It's just that my apatment is very small.Maybe I should knock out a wall or two.
:joke: