I did some impulse buying tonight. I purchased 2 very small puffers. The are a 1/2" long. The tank was labeled "Freshwater Puffers". I think I screwed up. I am placing them in my 30 gallon tank and my nephews are taking the guppies. Should I add salt to this tank to make it brackish? If so how much? I have some instant ocean on hand and can add salt if needed. What's the salinity I should shoot for however? Could you also give me any info on them that you can. The guy at the store told me they are eating tubifex worms, black worms, and baby brine shrimp? Should I feed them something else? What should the temp be??? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Freshwater Puffer??? Need help!!!
- Thread starter Stephen
- Start date
If they were kept in FW at the store, don't worry right away about changing their conditions. Let's find out what they are 1st. Check out the FW & BW fish in this forum. Click on the fish in the left corner: http://chunkypuff.net/projectpuffer/search.htm
I believe it's the congo spotted. They are so small though. Smaller than my thumbnail. They look kinda like the green spotted but more like the congo spotted.
I've mixed 1 cup of instant ocean in 2 gallons of freshwater from the tank. When everything completely dissolved I started adding it at a 1 drop per second. It's being delivered in a tube the size of normal airline tubing. I ran to the local squad building and got an IV dripper tube from a buddy. It's never been used so it should be safe. Is this a slow enough rate? The container the saltwater is in is clear and I've barely noticed any movement in the last 10 minutes.
A little about the tank.
PH 7.0
Hardness: The kit read 90 ppm (ok?)
Sand bottom
Plastic Plants
Emperor 280
Heater (temp is 78)
Small airstone
I've mixed 1 cup of instant ocean in 2 gallons of freshwater from the tank. When everything completely dissolved I started adding it at a 1 drop per second. It's being delivered in a tube the size of normal airline tubing. I ran to the local squad building and got an IV dripper tube from a buddy. It's never been used so it should be safe. Is this a slow enough rate? The container the saltwater is in is clear and I've barely noticed any movement in the last 10 minutes.
A little about the tank.
PH 7.0
Hardness: The kit read 90 ppm (ok?)
Sand bottom
Plastic Plants
Emperor 280
Heater (temp is 78)
Small airstone
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If you think it is a Congo, then why are you adding salt? They are FW. Does the fish have the wavy black line separating the spots from the white stomach? Also, there should be visible spines on it's belly. In the many lfs I know that sell puffers, I have never seen a Congo for sale. The more commonly sold GSP is usually available in most stores.
If you do decide it is the BW GSP, then they like a specific gravity of around 1.008 as juveniles & much higher as adults. I keep mine at 1.016-19.
If you do decide it is the BW GSP, then they like a specific gravity of around 1.008 as juveniles & much higher as adults. I keep mine at 1.016-19.
No there are no wavy lines and no spines. It's spotted like the green spotted. But there was a fish on that site you posted called the spotted congo puffer. It looked more similar to that. Could it possibly be a mistake? On the 2 other sites I've looked at it looks like the green spotted. The color isn't as vived though. That's the reason I thought it was the congo spotted from the site you listed. The color is more similar to that.
These things are about the size of a big pea. And it's difficult to tell. They are hanging out together. If that will help any. lol
These things are about the size of a big pea. And it's difficult to tell. They are hanging out together. If that will help any. lol
That tiny huh? What about a dwarf puffer? They're FW, too. http://www.rr.iij4u.or.jp/~kohda/en-index.htm
Alright. I don't know if it was the lighting or whatever in the store or what. They looked the same in the bag even with the stress. These little guys have taken on a bright green color in thier new home though. Scratch the spotted congo. I'm 90% sure they are green spotted.
Judging from the fry pics on that site I'd say no. The spot patterns are different. They are circles and ovals instead of shapes like the ones on the site.
The only problem though is... The dwarf has the larger spots and the GSP has smaller spots. The ones I have have bigger spots. I'm starting to change my mind again.
About 3 cups of the salt mix got into the tank so far. I've stopped putting it in just to be sure. Thanks for all you help. I'm going to wait a while and try and figure out what they are when they get bigger. If it's the dwarfs they aren't gonna get too much larger.
The only problem though is... The dwarf has the larger spots and the GSP has smaller spots. The ones I have have bigger spots. I'm starting to change my mind again.
About 3 cups of the salt mix got into the tank so far. I've stopped putting it in just to be sure. Thanks for all you help. I'm going to wait a while and try and figure out what they are when they get bigger. If it's the dwarfs they aren't gonna get too much larger.
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So it sound like you have the green spotted puffer (GSP), a BW fish. They should last a while in a 30g tank. I have my 2 GSPs (5") in a 50g. Your tiny guys will love blackworms (especially live), plankton, & tiny pond snails, needed to keep their teeth (beaks) trimmed. As they get larger, they will eat any kind of shelled food. Mine eat "people" shrimp, earthworms, clams, mussels, oysters, crayfish, scallops, krill, & crab legs. As your grow, you can cut up any of these for them. I buy it at the grocery store & freeze.
stik6shift98
I HAVE A HOME FOR YOUR FISH!!!