Fahaka Puffer

[toofazt]

I am getting a Tetraodon lineatus (fahaka puffer) AKA: Nile puffer, Band puffer, globe fish, butterfly coral fish. He is going in a 60gal aquarium all by himself unless there's any fish that he won't eat or can't catch. I was thinking about a 6'' Peruvian Flounder. Does anyone know of any fish that might do well with the puffer? Aslo I have heard that the fahaka puffer is a fresh water fish and I have also heard that you should move him to brackish water as he gets older. Any one know the truth to that? Does anyone know if he will eat plants? Any other tips? Thanks, Steve.
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/images/fahaka.jpg

[redtailfool]

It would be hit and miss to mix anything with a Fahaka. Its all about the individual
fishes personality. Some are laid back and some are monsters. Trial and Error if you want to mix.

[piranha45]

they should be kept in freshwater throughout their lives. tankmates are always at risk; stories abound of fahakas that tolerated tankmates for a year or more, then one day flipped out and slaughtered them.

[The TRUST]

Yeah if you start seeing nipped fins. that means tank mates should go. But sometimes we are not so lucky to get a warning like that.

[iheartfishies]

Yay!

I'm getting one today, if my ****ing ******* bf goes and gets it.
I have a feeling he's going to be a total dick and not get it for me.
I CANT HELP IM LEAVING FOR THE BEACH FOR A WEEK TODAY.

If you get a fahaka, send me some pics.
If I get mine, I'll send you some.

[EFeX]

You guys are so lucky, I always wanted a Fahaka. I wish I could get one that easily over here.

[The TRUST]

They are evil fish

[MouthWash]

my friend kept 2 of the puffers with a Hydrocynus vittatus(African tiger Fish) for 2 1/2 years they died of being fried from the heater cracking and frieng them to a crisp.you can buy Hydrocynus vittatus here http://liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1029

[The TRUST]

Dang! that's a rip off price.

[Oddball]

You can try introducing fish that you won't feel too bad about losing to a fahaka. A sedentary fish like the flounder is probably not the best choice to start with. My fahaka not only will not tolerate any tankmates, I had to paint the sides of his tank so he could stop trying to get through the glass to the fish in adjacent tanks.

[The TRUST]

You can try introducing fish that you won't feel too bad about losing to a fahaka. A sedentary fish like the flounder is probably not the best choice to start with. My fahaka not only will not tolerate any tankmates, I had to paint the sides of his tank so he could stop trying to get through the glass to the fish in adjacent tanks.

Ahahahahahaa!!

[piranha45]

how big is that specimen, oddball? how old?

[Oddball]

I need to update the pic. He was a year old in that pic and a foot long. That was 2 years ago.

[toofazt]

If I feed my Fahaka feeder fish, is there a high chance he could get a disease from them? And are ramshorns snails better than common pond snails to feed him? Thanks for all the answers :)

[piranha45]

If I feed my Fahaka feeder fish, is there a high chance he could get a disease from them? And are ramshorns snails better than common pond snails to feed him? Thanks for all the answers :)
yes there's a high chance he will get disease from feeder goldfish. Not to mention feeder goldfish don't seem to have much nutritional value anyway, and are deficient in a certain nutrient that aids proper growth. Goldfish are trash dude; swimming corpses. Don't feed your fish trash. ;)

can't answer about the snails...

[Oddball]

I never use feeder goldfish. Too much risk of disease and too high in copper levels. I use bait shiners and minnows that are trap caught from the wild.

I use ramshorn snails because they're large enough to interest the fahaka. Common pond snails are too small for him to notice. I also raise garden land snails for my puffers. The fahaka doesn't seem to like them as much as he likes ramshorn snails so he usually just kills the land snails and ignore them afterward.

[toofazt]

Are feeder danios just like goldfish with no nutritional value and high chance of disease?

[piranha45]

danios are great, but apparently all cyprinids lack Thiaminase, so you wouldn't want to make danios the only part of your fish's diet.

[toofazt]

So what food contains Thiaminase? Also is a sand substrate good/ok for the tank so the puffer can hide in the sand if he wants?

[piranha45]

fish pellets contain thiaminase. Any non-Cyprinidae species prolly do, as well.

puffers love sand.

[unknownuza13]

I just got a fahaka last friday about 4'. He has accepted frozen raw shrimp and freeze dried krill. I hand fed it to him. I will post a video later today, hopefully in the video he wont get my finger instead even though it would be cool for the board. He has also eaten a few crayfish and tadpoles.

[iheartfishies]

I just got a fahaka last friday about 4'. He has accepted frozen raw shrimp and freeze dried krill. I hand fed it to him. I will post a video later today, hopefully in the video he wont get my finger instead even though it would be cool for the board. He has also eaten a few crayfish and tadpoles.
**** hat.......



it's mostly mine.but...

I wannna see it..
where is it?

[Freshy]

hi,

does fahaka puffer grow fast? :)

how long does it take for a 3inches to reach 8inches or more..?

:cheers:

[iheartfishies]

The new Fahaka is the coolest puffer EVER.

He watches you and follows you all around the tank and constantly dances for food.

Then he pushes his face up to the tank when you get close, and shows his beak, then dances some more.

I need to make a video of it. :hearts:

[piranha45]

he'll prolly hit 10" in a year or so

[bluedempsey]

congrats

[venwu225]

insane price of the tigers

[chrisnsimon1]

My fahaka didn't even take a year to get 8 inches. Started him in a 20 gal., them in afew months had to get him a 55 gal. Now he's in a 150 gal. and loving it. Glass is half an inch thick. So I don't believe he can break it. He's about ten inches, got him when he was two inches.

[Miles]

My puffer grew ridicolously fast.. 2-10" in less than 6 months. I started him off in a 55g, then upgraded him to a 120g at about 6".. I also feed him alot of high protein foods, such as silversides and prawns.

I don't know if this is the reason why he allows tankmates today, but ever since he was just a tiny guy I had tried to socialize him with larger, non-threatening fish. He has been with a green severum since the first day he arrived, and they still live togethor today. No Nips yet!

[Gr8KarmaSF]

wow, really enjoyed learning about this fish, makes me want one!

[seighten]

yeah, a cool looking fish... but, was wonderin with that sort of temperment how the hell they stand each other long enough to breed...?!

by the way, glad to see heartfishies' #%@&!* bf come through... lucky him!!

[deD3]

cute fish hahaa