Green Puffers Turning Grey

[mmqq]

we bought three little green puffers with black spots at wal-mart, and there were no care instructions
they are in a freshwater tank with a few other fish
the others have been fine for months, but after two weeks one puffer died, and the other two are turning grey
what is going on, and can we do something to save them?

 

[Nevernormalalwayscrazy]

It sounds like they are brackish (between fresh and salt), some brackish fish do fine in freshwater, until they don't. they tend to last ohhh anywhere from a couple days to a few years. You never really know, but most die off withing a few weeks. If you could ID it (google), you could then see if they are brackish or not (the only puffer I know that is truly freshwater is Dwarf Puffers, they stay about the size of a nickel). Also Puffers are mean, it is not a good idea to keep them with other fish they tend to pick them to death. So if they turn out to be brackish you would need to start a new tank (sounds fun), or if they are freshwater, here are some questions:

1. what size of a tank
2. How many fish and what kind
3.what are your water readings
4. Do you do water changes?
5. what have you been feeding them??

If you answer thes question we may be able to help you out a little more. COOL FISH BY THE WAY

Ohhh and do a water change if you have not been doing one, do about 20-25% the first time. Puffers need very clean water. Then about a week later do 30-35%. From then on you can change 35% of the water every week or every 2 weeks (but every week is better)

 

[phlawed]

if you got them at walmart then they are green spotted puffers. here are some general rules for them

1. ONLY 1 per tank. Fishmates are hard to come by as they are very agressive, they just wear a sweet face.
2. A green spotted puffer (aka GSP) is a brackish fish. They are spawned in freshwater but move into brackwater conditions and eventually even marine conditions
3. territorial, as they grow they will become territorial and they do fight to the death
4. feeding: every other day brine shrimp, bloodworms, freeze dried shrimp, ghost shrimp(can survive in water up to 1.010 in my experience)- snails once a week or every other week to keep teeth trimmed down. They need the shells to trim their teeth or they will grow so much that they cant eat at all and die. Dont use flake food as this is not part of their diet and is not suitable. Dont be scared of the big belly they get after feeding it is normal.
5. keeping them occupied - they love to explore their terrain. Stacking rocks very high on the rear of the tank with lots of caves and tunnels usually does the trick.
6. Use marine salt not aquarium salt. Marine salt is a must as aquarium salt is not ment for brackish or marine fish to live in but as more as a medice for freshwater fish.
7. Puffers are very shy during their first few weeks in a new enviroment. Do not pressure them to come out if they dont want to. Eventually they recognize you and show you all the personality you could ever ask for in a fish. Just give them time.
8. Acclimate them to salinity slowly. raising the water .002 every week is how i did mine. He is now in 1.021 full marine conditions.
9. water temp of 78 while in freshwater-brackwater 80 once in brackwater
10. minimum tank of 20g up to 3" after that it will need a 30+g tank
11. Heavy filtration. Puffers are messy eaters and often food settles to the bottom. I have a 20g tank with a 55g filter on it. 25-50% water changes weekly with syphon is a must.


well i cant think of anything else at the moment. hope this helps you some.