tank size of a green pufferfish?

Question

I was looking at the fish section in walmart today and I noticed that they had this new amazing looking fish called a green pufferfish. I was going to buy it on the spot but then I decided to do my homework first. What I found was that these fish need tanks no smaller than 30 gallons. My biggest tank is 10 gallons. Is that enough room for 1 pufferfish? Should I get more than one?

Answer 1

Good thing you're doing your homework. Green puffers (more like green spotted puffers, actually) do need a large tank. Not only because they'll grow, but they're very sensitive to ammonia and nitrite in the water. These should only be put in a tank that's already cycled. Green spotted puffers are actually brackish water fish, so they need a high salt concentration in the water, close to full marine strength, even though as juveniles they can tolerate freshwater for a time. They're also aggressive, so they should be in a tank of their own.

While I don't want to discourage you from owning one (they're fum fish to watch), it might be better to pass on the current batch and wait till you get a larger tank and get the tank cycled before you decide to buy one.

Answer 2

The green spotted puffer needs a 30 gallon tank. They grow up to 6". It also requires brackish water (about 1 tbsp aquarium salt per gallon). Usually puffers need to be in a tank alone because they're very aggressive. They also have strict water requirements (they don't take change well) and diet requirements. Their teeth are like a rodent's: without something to wear them down they'll keep growing until they need to be filed manually. You have to feed them crustaceans and snails to grind down their teeth on shells.
A 10 gallon tank could hold 3 or up to 4 dwarf puffers and they are freshwater, not needing the additional salt. They only get about 1 1/2" at adult size but do need about 3 gallons per puffer.

Answer 3

Those types of puffers actually do need a bigger tank, 30 gallons just liike you said. You could squeeze one in a 10 gallon, but it would be kind of cramped. If you want a cute-looking puffer in a 10 gallon tank, then get a school of 4 dwarf puffers. They only grow up to 1 inch, but need 2 gallons of water for one. Here's a website with more info on DPs:
http://www.dwarfpuffers.com

~ZTM

Answer 4

Copper pretty much covered it. Just be sure to set the up a brackish (salty) tank. I have 2 Figure Eight Green Puffers living in my Reef tank which is Salt Water.