Help Identifying Puffer

[MadamBetta]

Hi Peeps,

I am so ashamed to say it but I have no idea which type of puffer has stolen my heart...

I have several aquariums and set up a seperate 40 liter tank for a puffer which has completely cycled...

Off to the pet store today and there he was...cute little button...the name tag just stated 'puffer fish' <clever huh?> and when asking the staff they had no idea which specific one it is but assured me it was a freshwater puffer.

The little puffer is now happily swimming in his new tank and enjoying the snails I have been breeding for the past month for him...but now I am having my doubts as to whether he really is a freshwater...I want to be sure he has the best and only the best and going to brackish is no problem if I have to...

I suspect he is a t. nigroviridis but on hunting further I notice he also looks similar to the T. schoutedeni & t. fluviatilis. If he is a t. nigroviridis there is so much conflicting information on this type...some say brackish, some say freshwater...others say both...very confusing and it is making it hard to truly know what is best.

Please excuse the bad photo's:

and also uploaded a video which might make it easier:
http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL4HFV8lHFU

I hope someone can help me to make this little guys life happy by making sure he has the right conditions...

Also another quick question...I have the filter set to a low current as I am not sure if puffers like a strong or low one...if someone could help me with that?

Many thanks in advance XXXX

Xxx Jess xxX

 

[Fella]

Tetraodon nigroviridis, the green spotted puffer. High brackish as it grows older, low brackish to begin with. minimum 55g, won;t eat dried foods, will need a large filter and big water changes, and should be encouraged to eat founds that will grind down it's teeth. Tankmates are possible but unlikely, make sure that water stats are perfect form him (o Ammonia, 0 Nitrite, lownitrate).

Sorry for teh short version I'm off to bed. Don't mean to be abrupt!

 

[MadamBetta]

Thank you so very much xxxx No probs about being shortish I can happily go out to bed as well now after hours of hunting knowing which species he is now... thanks xxx

Breaks my heart to think of all the other ones in the shop which 'most' people are going to take home and keep as freshwater...I wonder how many puffers around the world are suffering because of the big hype they are at the moment (remember the Betta in a flower vase craze)

Ok ...brackish...new territory for me (have 3 freshwater)...how long will he be ok in freshwater?? Need to pull out all the plants and redo the aquarium... need I change the gravel for sand? Will he be ok for a while without plants while I hunt down plants that can cope with saline?

Well shopping list for tomorrow is hydrometer & marine salt....

N02 is 0 as is the N03 - it is a well cycled tank. Temp is at 27C no need to think about tankmates as this tank is exclusively for him, have live food, frozen worms etc & also a snail breeding tank...shellfish etc. will also be a new experience...are the prawn etc given whole in the shells? ... any ideas on the filter current - strong, weak?

Off to bed as well now relieved

Xxx Jess xxX

 

[MadamBetta]

Could somone please help me a little?? I have set the current on the filter to full power and he seems happy...I bought some mixed seafood (prawns, mussels, octopus) and also prawns with shell...I have no idea how much to give him??? The mussels are the same size as him!! This morning he had live Water Fleas which he liked and some snails and then I laid a whole mussel in...he picked at it like mad but I removed it after 5 minues...What a mess!! But he has a huge fat little belly bulge.

He also seems to be extremely shy and scared of me...if you go near the tank he straight away swims away and hides behind the plants squinting through them to see if you have gone yet...LOL He is also swimming up and down the glass an awful lot which looks like he is stressed??? I have only had him 3 days now.

There are tons & tons of plants in the water and a cave....I am going to start slowly with going to brackish next week for him...do I need to remove all the plants straight away while doing this?

Many thanks in advance
Xxx Jess xxX

 

[BiffMalawi]

Your tank is way to small you need at least a seriously over-filtered 30 - 40 gallon tank for 1 GSP. They are messy eaters and grow to 6" not counting tail. You need a new tank asap.

Swimming the glass usually means boredom and not enough space and decor to explore.

The swimming away and hiding will change soon. Your GSP will be at the glass looking at you in no time.

You handled the feeding well. Just remove the extra. His belly sounds like he got enough. They are very messy eaters.

The plants will slowly die off as salt content increases. Some plants will tolerate low brackish and when you get to high brackish some marine plants can be used. If you want to save the plants I'd pull them now.

I am assuming you are using marine salt and not raising the SG by more than 0.002 a week right?