Little baby Fahaka just not growing

[ride1226]

I have been reading about this fahaka "sub species" and Im almost thinking thats what I have. When my little guy gets moody, he gets very blackish and you cant see his patterns almost at all. The rest of the time he looks like an adult fahaka. Gorgeous yellow tail, nice lines, some maroon/orange in between his stripes. He really is a gorgeous fish, I just wanted a big fahaka, not a mini size in a huge tank. Quite upsetting. Weird thing this whole time for me is, he really is not that aggressive. As you can see there is that school of black skirt tetras, been there for months. Not a single one gone. He lunges for one every now and then to make them run, but I know if he really wanted to he could eat them. Only thing thats ever gone missing is tetras, but they are smaller and easier to eat I think. He also lives with that big cat you see, Im prepared to move the cat, but in six months nothing has happened. Every now and then Ill catch my little guy sneaking up behind him to give him a little nip, but that cat usually catches his and when he does make it its barely a pinch and no damage has every been done.

Now Im a little upset that I invested all this money to build a home for the one fish I ever really wanted, and ended up with a mini size. Was really looking forward to growing a big fat fahaka up.

 

[ChewyFlipper]

im not sure how the whole stunting the growth thing works. but i purchased my mbu puffer from bigals, i got the one out of the two.
about 8 months later, i had a emergency in my tank and brought my puffer back to big als for safe keeping, until i got my tank back under control.they still had the tankmate there. and put my puffer next to it, i guess hoping to finaly sell it, which they did. my puffer was about 7" at that time. and the other mbu was still the exact same size, as when i purchased mine,it had not grown at all.

thinking your fahaka could of been a previous owners puffer which was returned, or like you said kept in a holding tank too long. which never gave him the chance to grow. and making your puffer not a guivinile anymore. this is where i dont know how the stunting works, as if left in small tank too long, will it never truly grow to full size or at all anymore.?!? as your puffer now being in a bigger tank and still not growing.

could just still not be comfortable in your tank. as i was told probably why my i.d. shark (recently named O.G( Original Gansta, he was the first fish i purchased) didnt start growing for over 14 months, and then doubled in size in less than 3 months. once i changed the way my tank was set up and extra filter was added. he started swimming around more, and guess finaly felt more comfortable, with the new setup.

in the end, sounds like you have a amazing puffer. and seems healthy. being concerned is important but i wouldnt worry too much. sometimes things take time, health and happiness is what i go by with my fish/turtle community.

there is still hope he can grow and i bet he will. you could have a real ******* puffer that gets huge, and you cant enjoy.
iv worried about my setup with my puffer, and turtle and everyone i talk to suprised they have not killed eachother, but they arent like that and so happy they are who they are and i have a beautiful tank with alot of different personalities in it. which makes it so enjoyable

beautiful fahaka btw, and setup

 

[kevinfleming21]

Back around 10 years ago, I received 4 fahaka puffers from Wes. These 4 were from Lake Turkana, Kenya and arrived at about a 1/2" in length. The 4 were definitely non-aggressive towards conspecifics and were kept together with no problems. About the same time, I also bought a fahaka from another vendor. Over a year later, the single (aggressive) fahaka grew to over a foot in length and the Lake Turkana 'fahaka' puffers only attained a length of about an inch and a quarter. Unfortunately, these were lost after a power failure and I never found any more info on them. I also couldn't find another source to get more. They maintained the same patterning as a maturing riverine fahaka. The only noted difference is that when the riverine species got 'moody', it darkened slightly but you could still discern its entire pattern. The Lake Turkana species turned nearly black when they got 'moody'.

My 18 inch female fahaka does the same thing. When she is upset about something she nearly turns completely black lol.

 

[ride1226]

beautiful fahaka btw, and setup

Thanks. I appreciate it. Hes always had fantastic markings on him which is why I was so stoked for him to get bigger and really show them off. Im gonna just keep my fingers crossed, but my guess remains on the stunted or lake variation at this time. As much as he eats, and how big his home has always been, and my perfect water parameters all make me think in that direction. I wonder if he was returned and someone else had him in a tiny tank for too long. Who knows. He really doesnt have that juvenile look to his face, he looks older. But then again what do I really know, Im no expert.

 

[DrUgS]

I have had a fahaka for probably around a year now. I got him when he was about 2 inches in length and he is now only around 5 inches in a 120 gallon tank. He has been kept with some angel fish his whole life without any issues. I think I may have one of those midget fahaka puffers too

 

[ride1226]

i hate to say it but id almost be willing to trade my midget to someone with a growing fahaka since i wanted a big fish in my tank. All this money in this tank and this little guy would have been fine in something much smaller.

 

[DrUgS]

I know what you mean... I have thought about putting the fahaka in my planted 55, but I would have to get rid of my gold piranha (spilo.). I am thinking about changing up my 120 soon and going a different direction than the puffer. Hard decision

 

[charlie1187]

i hate to say it but id almost be willing to trade my midget to someone with a growing fahaka since i wanted a big fish in my tank. All this money in this tank and this little guy would have been fine in something much smaller.

i have a fahaka about 5"ish and growing and i would love to trade if your serious i also have a baby about an 1.5"but he maybe a little fish too lol but im serious if u are let me know

 

[FLESHY]

Very interesting. Too bad you arent closer - I would love a "mini"

I was going to say it was IP's as well - as I am 99% sure that is what got my first one, but I was unable to medicate as I sent the fish to my lab, and didnt return for a long time. Volunteers didnt feed or medicate properly. (Best way to medicate for IP is internally)

GL with this new guy, seems like a pretty cool fish.

 

[ride1226]

i have a fahaka about 5"ish and growing and i would love to trade if your serious i also have a baby about an 1.5"but he maybe a little fish too lol but im serious if u are let me know

Charlie, not sure if you saw I'm in San Diego, but if your close maybe we can work something out. Can't pm you, so shoot me an email at ride1226@gmail.com

I know what you mean, this Guy would have been perfect in my old 55 or 75 planted but I built this 120 just for a big fahaka.