Gsp Breeding

[AZGSP]

I'm looking for help on breeding GSP's. Does anyone have documentation if it is possible?

 

[nmonks]

There are a few reports of them breeding in aquaria, but only in brackish water. Having said this, confusion in the past over which species is the "green spotted puffer" means that such reports are difficult to assign to any one particular pufferfish species. Indeed, as is well known to scientists, but less so aquarists, it is actually not possible to reliable differentiate between the two species by colouration alone. In any case, laboratory work seems to show that the sperm of "green spotted puffers" are more mobile in salt water, and this has led some to believe that they breed in the sea. I'm not sure I believe that, but it's worth thinking about.

Cheers, Neale

I think they breed in fresh water, but they are impossible to sex.

 

[AZGSP]

I hope my question didn't appear to be a set up question, i just didn't word it right. The reason I ask, is that last saturday i found a GSP fry swimming in my tank, about 5mm long. He is now about 7-8mm and you can tell he is a GSP like the other 3 in the tank. It appears that everything that the experts write about is completely wrong or barely right. You are right about the sex issue, as one of the three boys is obviously a girl. I'm documenting with pictures and video along with a journal on their behavior.

There are a few reports of them breeding in aquaria, but only in brackish water. Having said this, confusion in the past over which species is the "green spotted puffer" means that such reports are difficult to assign to any one particular pufferfish species. Indeed, as is well known to scientists, but less so aquarists, it is actually not possible to reliable differentiate between the two species by colouration alone. In any case, laboratory work seems to show that the sperm of "green spotted puffers" are more mobile in salt water, and this has led some to believe that they breed in the sea. I'm not sure I believe that, but it's worth thinking about.

Cheers, Neale

I think they breed in fresh water, but they are impossible to sex.

 

[Curalingua]

The Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine-August 2009 issue has an article in there about breeding GSP's (pg 98 - 101). In the article it explains how they are breeding them, how new & rare captive breeding is, etc. and how they discovered that these fish spawn in marine conditions. In tracking sperm count and activity it was found out that in fresh water it barely moved, in brackish it was sluggish, but in full-strength sea water it was actively swimming around looking for an egg! The conclusion was that, in nature, spotted green puffers spawn in marine conditions.

 

[AZGSP]

That might explain several interesting changes that are occuring in the tank. I have been raising thpH level in my tank over the last several weeks. Thanks for the help!

The Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine-August 2009 issue has an article in there about breeding GSP's (pg 98 - 101). In the article it explains how they are breeding them, how new & rare captive breeding is, etc. and how they discovered that these fish spawn in marine conditions. In tracking sperm count and activity it was found out that in fresh water it barely moved, in brackish it was sluggish, but in full-strength sea water it was actively swimming around looking for an egg! The conclusion was that, in nature, spotted green puffers spawn in marine conditions.

 

[didz04]

So your green spotted puffers have breeded if i am reading this right?
How big are they and are they in freshwater?

 

[AZGSP]

So your green spotted puffers have breeded if i am reading this right?
How big are they and are they in freshwater?

The parents are about 2 inches in length and they are in brackish around 20 on the hydrometer.

 

[jennybugs]

That's great news! Pics!

 

[AZGSP]

That's great news! Pics!

Would love to attach some photo's, but they won't, I guess they're too big. I'm not really good at computers, but I can e-mail you some if you would like. The new guy has developed two spots on each side and they (the spots) do turn darker as he becomes more active, just like big puffers. He's pretty much just eating cyclops now and seems to be doing well on that. He's also in a little breeder net, cubical thing so the food stays near him. I did have ghost shrimp and two crabs in the tank, but have since removed them as I think they may have eatin the other eggs.

 

[AZGSP]

There are a few reports of them breeding in aquaria, but only in brackish water. Having said this, confusion in the past over which species is the "green spotted puffer" means that such reports are difficult to assign to any one particular pufferfish species. Indeed, as is well known to scientists, but less so aquarists, it is actually not possible to reliable differentiate between the two species by colouration alone. In any case, laboratory work seems to show that the sperm of "green spotted puffers" are more mobile in salt water, and this has led some to believe that they breed in the sea. I'm not sure I believe that, but it's worth thinking about.

Cheers, Neale

I think they breed in fresh water, but they are impossible to sex.

Neale, I have finally read most everything that you have written i think. It is nice to see that someone actually knows something about brackish fish. Most writers seem to guess at brackish fish and their environment, but all of your information seems to be based on brackish experience. I will be putting a lot of your work to the test in the coming months as I would like to try and get some more baby GSP's. It's a long shot, but I have one, so I know it's not impossible.

Thanks for all of your published information,
Beau

 

[digdog]

What size tank are they living in?

 

[AZGSP]

What size tank are they living in?

They're in a 55 gallon tank. 404 fluval filter and crushed, black coral sea bed.

 

[jennybugs]

If you want to email me pics I can post them up here for you

I'll pm you my email addy

 

[jennybugs]

Here are the photos of the baby gsp (SO cool!)

The parents

Beautiful parents and the baby is great

 

[AdAndrews]

#32###! This is awesome!!! arent you gonna be like one of the few people which have bred them in captivity?

i hope the babies grow up nicely for you, i should be getting mine tommorrow, but if my bad luck of late continues i can see it being friday, or even next week

good luck