Puffer for my tank

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C

Camaronator

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 5, 2012
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Charleston, WV
I just picked up a hex tank that im trying to find something to do with, dimensions are 22 inches flat to flat, 29 point to point, and about 26 high

I cant remember the volume but i believe its around 50 gallons

What puffer or puffers would be happy in there?

Id rather have one larger one that can live in there its whole life, but if there are smaller ones that could live together that wouldnt be bad either.

Ive done a little research, id really like to stick to pure freshwater and id like one more active than a lurker, i also dont really want to have to deal with the teeth clipping on SAP's.

so where does that leave me?

Thanks, Mark
 
Target species puffers, or a few diff species of red eye puffers. Most smaller species will need dental work, and the larger species need a bigger tank that that. There are a few "mini" fahakas being sold on here though that would work.
 
^ really, besides SAP's i've never heard of the other species needing dental work unless they are given a poor diet with no shell food...


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My mini fahaka actually just went to a new home.

As for a puffer for your tank, if you like the lurkers a congo or hairy would be cool. Otherwise my top recommendation is usually the Abei puffer. You could plant the heck out of it and put caves and hiding spots and do 3 redeye or salivators. 1 male and 2 female. MAYBE just MAYBE do 4 so that you could add one more female.
 
I'd personally be looking into a nice Congo (red or orange) puffer tank with floating plants or even a Brown or Abei if you want more activity.
Toby puffers would be cool too if you want to go salt.
 
I know of one stunted mini fahaka here In socal for sale. If your anywhere near here you could go get it. He'd be great in that tank. Otherwise since you don't want a Lurker, or saps, and wont be upgrading tanks, your Only real option then is the abei. I was in this same boat 3-4 years ago when I got mine.
 
Id love a mini fahaka, ive never head of them until recently, pretty neat though. Is it just a normal fahaka that someone stunted by keeping in a small tank?

Ive been thinking about going salt for a toby, are they as mean and intelligent as freshwater puffs?
 
While I'm certain there are stunted fahakas out there, the "dwarf fahakas" are thought to be from Lake Turkana that doesn't grow over 6 inches.


http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/fo...=1#post5491733

and also take a look at the puffer forum (that I can't seem to link on here).

As far as Tobies go they are not slouches in terms of intelligence and the capacity to interact, but I believe their aggression can vary as some people are able to keep them with inverts, tankmates and some corals while some people are not able to. I know of a case with a spotted toby with a pair of clowns, some inverts such as snails and cleaner shrimp and also some mushrooms in the tank that I think looks good.
 
Hmmm, thats interesting, does there seem to be a way to differentiate the two other than size? Id hate to buy a huge puffer and put it in a dinky tank, id say id figure it out pretty quickly though with the quick growth rate they have.

I guess it would just be an excuse to buy another tank haha
 
Really the Lake Turkana theory hasnt been verified. Its an idea though, however we cant really be sure. Itd really be luck of the draw, for me it was sad. I had two fahakas that came in at 3 inches, not at the same time of course, they went straight into a 120g for 6 months each. Neither of them grew an inch, and neither were agressive towards whatever else was in the tank at the time. Lost a couple tetras, but thats it. So, either the Lake Turkana thing is a possibility, or my other theory is whats going on. I have a feeling exporters are selling to US distributors, who keep them in little 5g holding tanks since they are small, until a retail order comes in. Who knows how long that could be, but they get stunted in the mean time. Both of mine already showed their adult coloration when they came in, nice striping and not all mottled like the babies look. 3-4 years ago when I was looking for fahakas you had to get them in the right season, which I guess was breeding season, and they came in as babies if you were lucky enough to find one. Now, it seems that they are always in stock at LiveAquaria or some other online vendors. Im guessing thats because a bunch are at vendors in holding tanks being stunted. Makes me sad, sorry for my rambles its just my theory as of now. Id try to find one who someone owns and knows isnt growing, like how I sold my last two.
 
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