Green Spotted Puffer Fish (GSP)

My local fish store (LFS), Pickering Valley Farm and Feed, has a small saltwater section which I mentioned before.   Typically, they have the run of the mill stuff, but every once in a while they get in something interesting.  And, because they are not known for saltwater fish and coral, I can be pretty confident that the “interesting” thing will remain there for a few weeks for me to watch.  Such is the case with a green spotted puffer fish.  Commonly called a GSP, and not to be confused with the other GSP, green start polyps.  This is such an interesting fish that I watched it for several weeks.

What is most interesting about this fish is that it is typically a brackish water species, starting in freshwater estuaries when young and then moving more towards a marine species as it ages.  This particular fish, through only about 3 inches, arrived in saltwater and has thrived in such water for several weeks.  Its a bit of a risk to add to a reef tank because it may choose to nip my clams and corals.  It will certainly take out my snail and crab population, but I am okay with that.  They are inexpensive and can be replaced on a fairly regular basis.  So, after some research, I took the plunge.

And, so far, I have been rewarded.  This fish has a ton of personality and is quite beautiful.  It acts much a like a dog, hanging out in the back of the tank doing its thing until I arrive.  Them it is right up in front and follows me back and forth.  I really enjoy its playful personality and it has yet to bother any other fish, coral or clams.  My only concern is that the black spots have become almost white now.  They seem to change at will from black to white, but seem to be more white than black when I see it. I do know that they do change colors so I am not sure if I need to be concerned.

A sure sign of illness is if its belly turns from white to dark gray or black, which has not happened at all.  I do hope that this experiment is successful because they are known to live for 10+ years and it is quite an eye catching and interesting fish.

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