GSP Questions

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021414

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Aug 30, 2010
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Nicole
Hi,

I'm considering a green spotted puffer fish and have not yet purchased a tank. I've read several posts on this forum and others about a standard 30 gallons of tank per puffer fish. I've also read that puffers will be happier in a 50 gallon tank. I'm wondering if puffer fish are happiest with a companion puffer fish of similar size and age, or if they would rather live in a solitary tank. What kind of experiences have others on this forum had with tank size and their GSPs?

I would only get more than one puffer fish if I purchased a 50+ gallon tank, provided they are happy with friends. However, I don't necessarily want to purchase a 30 gallon tank just because that is the minimum requirement for puffers. I also wouldn't consider housing a GSP in a 10 gallon aquarium for any reason, my sense is that it might be too stressful to transition a fish from a small tank to a large tank if you could bypass all of that by just getting an adequately sized tank for the fish.

I'm currently leaning toward a 40-50 gallon tank with a solitary puffer fish. I plan on feeding it a diet of ghost shrimp and pond snails. I'm also wondering if sand or gravel would make a better substrate for the bottom of the tank? Also, does anyone have a preferred method of filtration for their GSP tank? Also, does anyone know of a reputable place I can purchase a GSP online?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
 

AwesomeM96

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Jan 15, 2011
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Michael
get two, because they are always happier with playmates! Just make sure you get the 50+ gallon aquarium! Keep good care of the puffers, they're long term companions!
 

AwesomeM96

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Michael
I do not think that it matters as much as with some other fish, but I think sand tends to be softer and better for them. Also, a GREAT website is the puffer forum, and I would recommend getting an account there. They are dedicated to puffers and have a lot of great info! They'll also reply to almost any questions you have about your puffer!

Good luck!
 

Pufferpunk

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my sense is that it might be too stressful to transition a fish from a small tank to a large tank if you could bypass all of that by just getting an adequately sized tank for the fish.
Very sensible. BTW, you're getting advice from a 14 year old with a GSP in a 10g tank (although I believe he's upgrading to a 30g soon).
http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum...onely-the-importance-of-keeping-puffers-solo/
http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum...cus/an-introduction-to-green-spotted-puffers/
 

AwesomeM96

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Michael
hey he's still on 1 inch, and I'm already cycling the 30 gallon! I just have parents who don't know any thing about fish! "sigh"
 

021414

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Aug 30, 2010
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Nicole
I've read both articles and have found them extremely helpful. Thank you for taking the time to link me to each. As I've continued to research and assess whether I can financially afford the right sized tank for a puffer fish, I seem to be leaning toward a 40 gallon tank and possibly a Figure 8 puffer. The primary reason for wanting a Figure 8 puffer now, is that the LFS where I live doesn't carry puffers. I have however found Figure 8 puffers on drs foster and smith's live aquatics. Do you have any experience with purchasing fish from this website? Are they reputable? Thanks again.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=954+1601&pcatid=1601
 
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