For example, ask a staff member what sort of food puffers like to eat. If they don’t know, or they say to just feed it fish flakes, you may want to shop at a different pet store. Most stores sell puffer fish for $20 to $60. If a store offers puffers at a lower price than this, this is also a possible sign that the store isn’t a reputable one.
Ick can present a variety of symptoms, ranging from benign spots to lethargy, loss of appetite, and even death. Note that ick is usually treatable, so don’t worry if your puffer develops it after you buy it. However, because it can be caused or exacerbated by stress, avoid buying and transporting a puffer with ick into a new aquarium.
In contrast to more common pet fish, puffer fish require very good water quality, a lot of aquarium space, and a good diet. They’re definitely not starter pets. You’ll need to remain with your puffer fish often, as it requires feeding once a day, and possibly more if it is kept around other fish. This means that if you were to go on a holiday, you would need to find a person to care for your pet.
The reason this choice is so important is that if you choose a saltwater or brackish water puffer fish, you’ll have to make sure the salinity level of the water in your tank remains constant. Note that a bigger puffer requires a bigger tank, so, just like other fish, it is necessary to find a tank that’s appropriate for your puffer. Puffer fish are usually pretty aggressive and so they shouldn’t be kept with any tank-mates.
Puffer fish are very territorial creatures, so having a lot of space in the tank is very important for minimizing any fighting between your fish. Some of the larger species of puffer fish require a great deal of space. For example, puffer fish that grow to be 12 inches (30 cm) long need at least 100 gallons (380 L) of volume in their tank. Check with your local pet shop to see what type of tank you need for each species of puffer.
You can buy these cleansers at any pet shop that sells aquarium supplies.
You can purchase these filtration systems at any aquarium store or pet store that sells fish supplies. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to install these systems correctly.
You can buy plants and ornaments for your tank at any aquarium store. Java moss and java ferns are pretty popular plants to put in a puffer fish tank. While you should put hiding places in the tank, you should also make sure that there are plenty of open areas of water that your fish can swim around in.
For example, if you live in a colder climate, don’t place your aquarium near a window or a door that goes outside. A good place to keep the tank in your home would be a small room (e. g. , an office or a bedroom) where the room temperature is easy to control. You can buy aquarium thermometers at any aquarium store. Note that you may also need to purchase a water heater to keep your water warm enough.
For example, adult green spotted puffer fish require a salinity level of 1. 02 of specific gravity. Most brackish puffer fish, on the other hand, require a salinity level of 1. 01. Talk to an expert at your local pet shop to determine what type of water would best suit your fish and how to maintain the right salinity level. The pH level in the tank should always be between 7. 5 and 8. 5.
Don’t pour your fish out of the bag and into the tank. Instead, submerge the opening of the bag so that some of the tank water fills the bag and gently tap the side of the bag to encourage your puffer to swim out on its own.
Aim to feed your puffer fish at the same time once in the morning, once in the middle of the day, and then once again in the evening. Your puffer fish will not eat flake food or pellets, so you have to invest in some live or frozen food if you want to have a puffer as a pet. If your puffer doesn’t finish the food you give it, feed it a little less next time.
You can buy this type of food at any aquarium store that also sells puffer fish. If you allow your puffer’s teeth to get too long, it will eventually need to see a vet to receive dental care.
You don’t need to remove your puffer fish during this process, so long as you don’t bother the fish as you remove the water. Replacing the water is necessary for keeping on top of ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites that build up in the tank. You can buy water cleanser at any aquarium store.
