SPOTTED PUFFERS AND MY FOUL SMELLING FISH TANK

[ELECTRIK]

OK, I HAVE HAD THESE PUFFERS FOR ABOUT 3
MONTHS NOW AND CANT STAND THE SMELL IN MY TANK
THEY ARE FASCINATING FISH, THEY ARE VERY TINY FOR NOW
AND THE GIRL AT THE LFS SAID KEEPING THEM IN MY LITTLE 3 GAL
SETUP SHOULD BE OK FOR A LITTLE WHILE. I HAVE A 50 GAL AQUARIUM
THAT I HAVENT HAD THE TIME TO SET UP YET, BUT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL
THIS SMELL ISSUE IS DEALT WITH, IS IT JUST THAT THE CURRENT TANK IS
TOO SMALL? THE FISH ARE ABOUT ONE INCH LONG AND THEY SEEM
VERY HAPPY, THEY STAY TOGETHER CONSTANTLY, NEVER NIP, AND ...SHARE FOOD .(IVE HAD OTHER PUFFERS BEFORE THAT WOULD KILL EACH OTHER OVER ANY RANDOM THING FLOATING IN THE WATER)NATURALLY THESE THREE FISH ARE UNIQUE AND I WANT THEM TO THRIVE(WHICH THEY ARE, NO SIGNS OF STRESS AT ALL IT SEEMS)BUT I CANT STAND THE SMELL
WHAT CAN i DO?

 

[ryansfish5g]

First of all, KILL THE CAPS LOCK, it's annoying.

Now, are you sure these are spotted puffers, otherwise known as green spotted puffers. If they were sold to you really small then they are more likely dwarf puffers.

Here is a link to pictures of my dwarf puffers, towards the bottom

The smell is probably from what you feed them, what are you feeding them? Also, puffers are very messy eaters, they need water changes more often than standard tanks. They also need better filtration, your filter should cycle the volume of your tank at least 10 times an hour. For example I have a 10 gallon tank, and my filter is rated at 100GPH which is just right.

 

[ELECTRIK]

they are definitely spotted puffers, im feeding them snails, its the only thing they will eat, any tips on that the people at the store are getting sick of getting them for me. that should help on the smell thanks

 

[freshwatergal]

Personally, I think it's the size of the tank that might have something to do with the smell. Ive never had a tank that small, but I can't imagine that it would stay clean. I didn't notice if you said how often you cleaned your tank, water changes and the like. If I were you I would try to get the bigger tank set-up ASAP (I know easier said then done). Puffers are awesome fish, I love mine. HTH and good luck!

Tiff

 

[ryansfish5g]

Personally, I think it's the size of the tank that might have something to do with the smell. Ive never had a tank that small, but I can't imagine that it would stay clean. I didn't notice if you said how often you cleaned your tank, water changes and the like. If I were you I would try to get the bigger tank set-up ASAP (I know easier said then done). Puffers are awesome fish, I love mine. HTH and good luck!

Tiff

I agree, you need a bigger tank ASAP. Especially if those are GSP's (green spotted puffers). Also, a lot of people reccommend keeping GSP's by themselves. Sure, they behave fine now, but as they get older they get more territorial and aggressive over food. It is reccommended to have 20 gallons per GSP.

You can also feed them froozen bloodworms and frozen brine shrimp. As for the snails, I would try to start a snail colony. I just put snails in my 5 gallon in hopes that they will multiply quickly to keep up with my puffers demand.

Good Luck.

 

[MAM]

http/www.pufferfish.co.uk/aquaria/specie...types/index.htm

if you do have gsp, you will need a much bigger tank to keep all three, and you may find that as they get bigger, that they will NOT live peacefully together.

you really ought to feed them more than just snails, they need a varied diet. i feed my dwarf puffers snails once a week to keep their beaks filed, but i otherwise feed them frozen bloodworm, frozen brine shrimp, and live tubifex worms and live brine shrimp when i can get it.

that tank is so small, you really need to do a gravel vac and water change at least once a week if not twice. puffers are messy fish. if you don't clean out the uneaten food after a couple of days, it will start to break down and create nasty conditions. upgrade as soon as you can

 

[ELECTRIK]

i have been doing water changes at least once a week to try and tame the smell, and even changed the entire thing, water gravel, decorations and all, after one night it reeks again. im gonna have to get the bigger tank set up.
as far as the feeding goes, ive tried everything, bloodworms, tubifex worms, ghost shrimp, guppies(i had one once who loved guppies), the only other thing they will eat is worms, regular everyday worms, but they became very sluggish after eating them

 

[Pufferfreak]

I agree completely with MANY_A_MOLLY. You need a much bigger tank! GSP's need 5 gallons of water per inch of fish, so your talking at least a 90 gallon tank for all three of them when they're full grown. For now I would say they should at least be in a 30 gallon. Your fish may seem to be enjoying eachother's company, but not for long. Soon they will be very very aggresive fish towards other fish and towards eachother. You also need a filter that filters the water at least 8 times per minute. That might be a problem with your smell. Also cut down on feeding, you puffers will make you think that they can eat and eat and eat, but they can't. They can easily become contipated and very sluggish as you said. Don't feed them live fish because esspecially feeder guppies, they can carry some bad parasites in their bodies, and once your puffer gets them they are very hard to fix. Do a 75% water change untill you get your new tank. But what I would do is take your puffers back to the LFS and have them hold on to them for you untill you get enough money to buy a bigger tank. Remember, Christmas is around the corner, so maybe that could be on your list. Other than that, just do big water changes once a week and small ones throughout the week. It should help a little. Good luck.
Joe

 

[Pufferpack]

Hi ELECTRIK

I would say the smell is definately due to the size of the tank. GSP's (puffers in general) are very messy eaters, as I'm sure you know by now, and have a tendency to leave food uneaten in the substrata. If you have to keep them in a tank as small as the 3 gal I would recomend Daily 10 - 20% water changes just to keep ahead of the buildup. As mentioned by the others you really should try to set up the 55 gal as soon as possible (speed up your cycle time with Bio-spira) and move them over to the bigger tank because GSP's can put on quite the growth spurt when they are still young and if still in the 3 gal tank their growth will be stunted. IMO a 55 gal should be sufficient for 3 GSP's, provided you have a visually complex setup. As helpful as they may seem, I don't believe any advise the lfs gives me on puffers, unless I know the employee has personally kept puffers, even then I will check as many other sources as I can find.

One question, are you planning to set up the 55 gal as a BW tank for the GSP"s? As they mature they require higher end salinity (right up to full marine sometimes) to be happy and healthy.

Oh ya..congrats on the new puffers

 

[petshop johnny]

I think the Fart smell is coming from rotting snails and the small tank .feed them frozen foods any for saltwater fish will work.when you set up the big tank the fart smell will increase but you should be use to it by then :kira:

 

[Pufferfreak]

Accually, when you set up your 55 gallon tank the 'foul' smell will decrease because a bigger tank can maintain itself a lot better than a 3 gallon. So you won't have the problem after you switch tanks.
Joe

 

[ELECTRIK]

thanks everybody for all your help, the little tank is already starting to smell less offensive, and i actually am getting the big tank this week. just found out too that its not a 50 gallon tank but a 75! , im getting it from a friend who hasnt used it in years and finally will have time to transport it to my place. good news for me B)