Getting puffers got a few Q's

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
F

flydustydawg

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 12, 2010
19
0
0
MI
Ok so my fiance is getting puffer fish. Probably the figure eight or the green spotted puffers.

First question. I have heard they are brackish and have to have salt. Others have told me that they dont really need brackish water. Answer?

Second question. Are those whisper filters that come with the starter kits any good? It says it has 105 GPH. I made her get an AC 30 just in case.

Third question. She bought a 20 tall. Is this big enough for 2 or 3 of the puffers she wants?

Fourth question. Are the how well do the heaters work in the kits you buy. Its just a cheep heater tetra brand I think. Carter if you are reading this its the same one you have. I also made her buy a good heater just in case lol.

I know pet co is having the dollar per gallon sale but it was a better deal to buy the package deal from Meijer. For a 20 gal tank with hood filter heater net and thermometer it was 74. Just the hood for a 20 gal tall is $40.

So I figured if she only bought the kit for the tank and hood she would still save money. Even if she has to buy a new filter. So for the last Q. Did I have her do the right thing?

I know its a lot but if you can answer just one of the questions that is fine. Thanks!
 
1 - Most species are brackish

2 - I had hear poor reviews on the whisper filter, But I never had one so I can't comment. 105 GPH is about 4x turnover rate so it should be adequate. But bigger is always better. So use the ac30. Or better, both.

3 -If you go GSP, 1 is enough for a 20g. F8P you could keep 2~3. But if she like a herd of them, go for dwarf puffers, you can keep like 4~5 of them in there. Be sure to heavily plant/deco your tank since they can be quite aggressive. Also make sure your tank is fully cycled as they are sensitive to ammonia and nitrite.

4 - I had luck with my cheap atman heater, but its a chance you have to take.
 
dwarf puffers are freshwater, I would go the dwarf puffer route. Green spotted puffers and figure eight are brackish. It's been a long time since I researched either puffer, but I'm pretty sure a green spotted puffer needs a pretty big tank. I wouldn't get more than 1 puffer for a twenty gallon, unless it's a dwarf puffer. I would do some research on all these puffers before making a decision. There is a puffer forum on the internet. dwarf puffers are probably your best bet, becuase they are freshwater, and if your really want more than one puffer dwarf puffers will be able to fit in a twenty
 
Howdy,

First question. I have heard they are brackish and have to have salt. Others have told me that they dont really need brackish water.
Click to expand...

I suggest you post that Q in the "Puffers" forum under "Other Monsterfish"

Second question. Are those whisper filters that come with the starter kits any good? It says it has 105 GPH. I made her get an AC 30 just in case.
Click to expand...

These filters are good enough if you only keep one or two fish in the tank.

Third question. She bought a 20 tall. Is this big enough for 2 or 3 of the puffers she wants?
Click to expand...

I suggest you post that Q in the "Puffers" forum under "Other Monsterfish"

Fourth question. Are the how well do the heaters work in the kits you buy. Its just a cheep heater tetra brand I think. Carter if you are reading this its the same one you have. I also made her buy a good heater just in case lol.
Click to expand...

These are never high quality heaters. May last, may not. Good enough to start, but better to upgrade to a Jager.

Did I have her do the right thing?
Click to expand...

What's the point? It already happened?!

Best of luck with the puffers,
HarleyK
 
Most species are brackish
Click to expand...
There are very few BW puffers. There are many strictly FW puffers.

Look here: http://www.**************.com/forum/ug.php/v/PufferPedia/
http://www.**************.com/forum/library/
 
go to pufferpedia and get click freshwater puffer. Some of the smaller sized ones may be harder to find but if you keep searching you may be able to find a smaller sized one that costs about the same price as those brackish species you listed above. I HIGHLY encourage you do so as brackish is definitly harder than freshwater to maintain correct paramters. (at least for me haha)
 
Im thinking the dwarf puffer route is the best way to go also. It is her tank though not mine. The GSP is out of the question though because they get up to 6 inches. I would not let her keep even one in there. Two Figure 8 puffers might work. She put both the whisper and aqua clear on the tank. So she should have plenty of filtration.

Thanks for all the helpful links guys! We have a little time to decide since the tank still has to cycle. Ill let you know what we end up doing.
 
If you go GSP, 1 is enough for a 20g. F8P you could keep 2~3
Click to expand...
Terrible advice! If we're talking about their lifetime, then GSPs need a minimum of 30g (a singleton would be really happy in a 55g). Only 1 F8 in a 20g, especially a 20H. Puffers are better in tanks with long footprints.
http://www.**************.com/forum/library/puffers-in-focus/fig8/
 
Except they like to be kept in groups of 3 or more & need regular dentistry.
http://www.**************.com/forum/library/puffers-in-focus/sap/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom