Green Spotted Puffer Fish & Algea Eaters

[char_bear90]

Hi, I had a Blue male Betta fish for two years before he died just the other day. Early this morning I went a bought two green spotted puffer fish and one algea eater. they are all three in a 2.5 gallon filtered tank together. I got them before I knew they grew to 6" each so when they get bigger I will get them a bigger tank. The only thing that worries me is I was just doing a little reaserch on the fish I bought when I came across a lot of stories about how they will not get along, now is this true? Any advice would be apreciated.
--They seem to like eachother a lot so you see why I am confused--

 

[Matty P]

2.5G is way too small for GSPs. Green Spotted Puffers grow to around 6", will require a tank at least 80G and will eventually need full marine conditions.

Here is a good link

 

[char_bear90]

2.5G is way too small for GSPs. Green Spotted Puffers grow to around 6", will require a tank at least 80G and will eventually need full marine conditions.

Here is a good link

The tank they were in when I bought them was actually that size. I am now aware the size they get (I wasn't when I get them the man didn't tell me that) when they get bigger and I get more money I will get them a bigger tank. I just wanna know if they will be happy together.

 

[Matty P]

Not in a tank that size, but in a much bigger tank with planty of decor/plants etc they will be ok.

 

[DarkEntity]

Hi, I had a Blue male Betta fish for two years before he died just the other day. Early this morning I went a bought two green spotted puffer fish and one algea eater. they are all three in a 2.5 gallon filtered tank together. I got them before I knew they grew to 6" each so when they get bigger I will get them a bigger tank. The only thing that worries me is I was just doing a little reaserch on the fish I bought when I came across a lot of stories about how they will not get along, now is this true? Any advice would be apreciated.
--They seem to like eachother a lot so you see why I am confused--

The GSP's will easly hit 6" each and currently while small will need High Brackish water conditions, not freshwater. Once they reach adulthood they will then need moved to full saltwater. The Puffer fish in general is a very aggressive fish and will happily nip and attack other fish. You really need to think about rehoming them since you really dont seem to have the necessary requirements to home them. You will need to seperate them from your other fish and provide a 50Gall plus sized tank for the Puffers alone if you intend on keeping them.

 

[jballs]

according to the research i have done and my own personal experience, a gsp only needs 30g minimum, but that is per gsp. so if you had 2, you would need at least a 55 (since they dont make 60g) or a 65. also, he might not be a threat to your algae eating fish now but when he gets a bit larger he will be so keep that in mind. one day, you might wake up to see no more fish and a happily fed puffer. like previously mentioned, he will need to be slowly moved to full salt but you have some time still for that. also, make sure you feed him a health diet of meaty foods such as snails now and ghost shrimp and later on clams, muscles, and so on.

 

[gourami_fan]

For optimal growth, it should start off in a large tank instead of a small one in the first place. I hope you're ready to keep them since your going to need to change them to saltwater and their agressive behaviour. If not, consider returning them for a different fish.

 

[eschaton]

No one else asked this, so I'll cover the other angle - what do you mean by an "algae eater"?

My worry is you got the dreaded "Chinese Algae Eater" These can grow to be close to a foot in length, and once they start growing, stop being interested in algae and start to prefer eating the slime off other fish. They're also aggressive and territorial once they mature. While in terms of temperament they actually might be fine with the puffers, they'll need to remain in fresh water.

You could also have gotten a Siamese Algae Eater, a False Siamese Algae Eater, a Flying Fox, an Otocinclus, or one of many "Pleco" species. I suggest you look at pictures and discover what you have. If it's a Chinese Algae Eater, I suggest you return it now while you still can - or you'll have two big tanks in your future which you can't put much else in.

 

[*blacksnapemoor*]

btw still on the algee eater subjectwhat is the smallest one that will get along with a blackmoor and a oranda

 

[Tommy Gun]

I am going to put my foot in my mouth...again, and say that full marine conditions are not needed for a GSP and in fact, the website that Matty P. links to points that out rather clearly. Brackish yes, full marine, no.

I am also going to venture to say that sometimes we place too much importance on the need for an algae eater when in reality, rushing to get one too early can lead to starvation, and in fact, the term 'algae eater' is simply that, a term, not an implication that these fish/inverts will eat any and every type of algae eater. Nor is it a good idea to keep most, if not all algae eating fish in a cold water...in the case of the oranda and blackmoore question. On the other hand, I can't help you with any brackish water algae eaters either.