I have experience with fish for many years now both saltwater and freshwater and recently went to my closest fish store looking for some pea puffers but they didn't have any but offered me a school of 7 figure 8 puffers. They seemed very aggressive at first so I did some extra research and come to find they are actually green spotted puffers. I have heard so many mixed things about keeping them and no one can seem to make up their mind if they are brackish or full saltwater. Right now they have settled in and get along very well with eachother. They are in a 40 breeder with salinity at 1.007 about 1 to 1.5 inches big on a diet of freeze-dried shrimp, blood worms, and baby snails. Is it possible for them to live as a group growing up together or will I have to return them and pick one to keep. Yes the tank is fully cycled and yes they are all healthy and happy with the only major issue being a few small nips out of back fins.
Green Spotted Puffers
- Thread starter SniperFishGirl
- Start date
You will need a huge tank to tank care of that many for long. At LEAST a 180 will be needed. You can keep one in that tank long-term. Also, they are incredibly aggressive. They do not "school." They might be fine for now, but this will not work for long. Luckily, they are slow growers. 7 F8s is also too many for a 40B as it is. You've made a big mistake, but luckily lots of places will be willing to take them
Hmm I disagree 7 is too many for f8s with enough maintenance but that's just personal preference. However, I do agree letting them give me green spotted instead by accident was a big mistake and will probably be taking them back to exchange for the puffers I wanted.
So to answer your first question, they tend to live in very high end brackish waters as adults, so a lot of people just keep them in marine conditions so they can use live rock in their tanks…
As for keeping 7 of them in a 40G long term. That probably won’t work out too well for them as they can be quite territorial and aggressive as they age…
You maybe able to pull off 2 in there but if thats the case its probably best to just have a solo guy who will most likely be happier and healthier in the long term…
However, if you are planning on giving them a larger tank eventually, say something in the 125G and up then you could definitely keep a few of them together (maybe 4-5) but i still wouldnt be surprised if there was the occasional bickering among them even in a larger tank…
As for keeping 7 of them in a 40G long term. That probably won’t work out too well for them as they can be quite territorial and aggressive as they age…
You maybe able to pull off 2 in there but if thats the case its probably best to just have a solo guy who will most likely be happier and healthier in the long term…
However, if you are planning on giving them a larger tank eventually, say something in the 125G and up then you could definitely keep a few of them together (maybe 4-5) but i still wouldnt be surprised if there was the occasional bickering among them even in a larger tank…
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