Green Spotted Puffer (and Figure Eight?)

[tattae]

I've got a Green Spotted Puffer living in a community fresh water tank. He seems fine and have great appetite for snails and frozen blood worm. The LFS sold me the GSP in plain fresh water, claiming that the puffer has been "converted" But after some research, am I correct to say that the GSP when young, can live happily in fresh water but eventually need stronger brackish water when becoming an adult? If so, how long would that be? What are the signs that I need to look for to tell it's time to move him to brackish water? Sometimes his underside is plain white, but sometimes it's black. Is this because he's living in freshwater or it's because of something else?

Also, I would like to keep young figure eight and green spotted puffer together, one of each. I think they look really cute together. I read from a thread here and understand that, eventually, they will need different water parameter and will have to be seperated. But how long can I keep them together? Would that be in term of months? or years perhaps?

Too many questions But thank you so much in advance.

 

[demonmagus]

not too sure about the combo but I wouldn't risk it - GPS's are pretty nippy.


anyway, your GSP should be in 1.005 s.g. now (assuming he is a juvenile)

this is a great page for you as well

edit: against rules because it's from another forum. PM me if you want it lol

 

[nmonks]

But after some research, am I correct to say that the GSP when young, can live happily in fresh water but eventually need stronger brackish water when becoming an adult?

Broadly, yes, this is true. In the wild, GSPs live primarily in freshwater but enter mangroves and estuaries where they are exposed to varying salinities. In the aquarium, they simply do not do well kept in freshwater permanently.

If so, how long would that be?

In practical terms, any GSP above about 5 cm in length needs to be graduated to a brackish water environment.

What are the signs that I need to look for to tell it's time to move him to brackish water?

Just do it as soon as possible. Brackish water fish get sick when they've overstayed in freshwater conditions. Since treating a GSP is tricky, you may as well avoid the problem.

Sometimes his underside is plain white, but sometimes it's black. Is this because he's living in freshwater or it's because of something else?

Possibly.

Also, I would like to keep young figure eight and green spotted puffer together, one of each. I think they look really cute together.

Definitely not an advisable combination. GSPs have the potential to be fairly aggressive and territorial, and being twice the length (= eight times the weight) of a figure-8, any fights will be completely one sided. Both species can be kept adequately well at SG 1.010, so water chemistry isn't really an issue, but broadly, GSPs seem to do best at higher salinities than figure-8s prefer.

Cheers, Neale

 

[dscchannel]

i need help!!!
i have green spotted puffer fish and both of 'em were feed a cricket and munched happily on it and a while later
it looked dead it wuz floating so i poked it with the handle of my fish net gently and it began swimming around a bit and kinda
looked like it was gonna throw up or something and it had black rings around its eyes and rested at the bottom and that worries me what happened??

 

[tattae]

Thank you all for the reply.

I've returned the GPS to the LFS since obviously I don't have the right set up for him.

I will be setting up a new tank for F8 soon. And will let you all know how it goes.

Thanks again.

 

[Marine/Freshwater?]

You should not keep more than one puffer. It stresses them to death.

 

[Marine/Freshwater?]

You should not keep more than one puffer. It stresses them to death.

 

[ac106]

You should not keep more than one puffer. It stresses them to death.

what does this mean? GSPs or puffers in general? either way its overy broad and incorrect.

 

[Fella]

You should not keep more than one puffer. It stresses them to death.

what does this mean? GSPs or puffers in general? either way its overy broad and incorrect.

I agree. it's totally inaccurate information. Some puffers are schooling, to say they would be "stressed to death" from the company of another puffer is totally untrue (and would beg the question how would they ever breed).

 

[Deep Freeze]

The combonation of keeping a fig8 and a GSP is very risky. Every puffer has their own temperment. If you decide later on that you want to try this combo again, I would introduce the fig8 before the GSP as they tend to be more docile. If keeping a fig8 as you said you were going to do, be sure to slowly acclimate it to a low brackish SG of around 1.006. They also need a minimum of a 20 gallon tank. Sorry if you already knew this, just making sure.

 

[JerryINva]

As far as the keeping more than one thing goes...I've got two green spotted that have gotten along great, for along time. One is literally almost twice as big as the other, but they don't quarell at all, and do well with the rest of the community in the tank. And as far as the black belly goes. I've noticed that on both of our puffers for a long time as well. I'm certainly no expert, but have noticed it only after they have eaten a lot (which is pretty much every day) and then their belly goes back to normal size and color after a while. I'd be willing to bet that has something to do with eating a lot, then dropping it out as waste.