Puffer or not to Puffer?

[GrantA94]

So, I may be having a switch around of my stock which leaves me with an empty 3'x3'x2' (cube-ish tank) and I wanted everyones opinion on whether it was suitable for a fahaka puffer? I understand they grow large. So this will not be it's permenant home. I will switch it to a longer tank (6x2x2). However, how lomg would it last in this tank? It is 1-2" currently (the one I am looking at). The tank is cycled and in use with a sump and lots of media. Combined with 3x 30+% w/c and 50-70% w/c fortnightly.

Care and such? Other than clean water what do I need to be doing? I have heard of teeth trimming by feeding snails and other crunchy stuff, but what else do they need?

It is not a definate yet. So please talk me in or out of it dependant on your opinion.
Thanks guys.

 

[Pyramid_Party]

Why not start with the bigger tank from the get-go? Probably should think about a smaller puffer. There is a bunch that would be fine in a tank that size.

 

[GrantA94]

Because right now I see no reason to dismantle a perfectly set up tank and cause a whole lot of fuss when I can do it slowly at a later date. Doing it all now would prolong the wait and I given that it is hard to find fahaka's (for me) I would sooner get it now than miss out.

Feel free to make suggestions towards other puffers. I don't wish to go brackish though.

 

[Fat Homer]

I will say this, i got my Fahaka when she was about 1.5" long, and within the first year hit 12" no problem... right now a little over 2 years, i would say shes probably just over 13"-14", although i've also heard people who've had theres grow to almost full size within the same amount of time...

Feeding i personally recommend (for teeth trimming) deforsted frozen clams in full shell / mussels on half or full shell / Crays (home raised) / Snails (although keep away from MTS since they have been known to crack a puffers teeth) and then things like frozen defrosted Shrimp / Scallops or Pellets

Now as for the tank, the reason its better to place a large puffer in its final home at the start is basically trying to move a large fish is already difficult as is, but when you have to move a large fish that shouldn't be gulping any air it makes it even more tricky... since if a puffer puffs full of air, there is a chance that it may not be able to expel it all and cause an early death...

 

[GrantA94]

I will say this, i got my Fahaka when she was about 1.5" long, and within the first year hit 12" no problem... right now a little over 2 years, i would say shes probably just over 13"-14", although i've also heard people who've had theres grow to almost full size within the same amount of time...

Feeding i personally recommend (for teeth trimming) deforsted frozen clams in full shell / mussels on half or full shell / Crays (home raised) / Snails (although keep away from MTS since they have been known to crack a puffers teeth) and then things like frozen defrosted Shrimp / Scallops or Pellets

Now as for the tank, the reason its better to place a large puffer in its final home at the start is basically trying to move a large fish is already difficult as is, but when you have to move a large fish that shouldn't be gulping any air it makes it even more tricky... since if a puffer puffs full of air, there is a chance that it may not be able to expel it all and cause an early death...

Thankyou for the advice.

I understand that they grow fast (and I figured it would be around 1" pm). So that would give me how long in the current tank? What size max would you let it go to? Not suggesting that I would or will leave it as late as possible. However I have read that they aren't/can be very unactive? Is this true? If so then do they need masses of swimming space? Again, not trying to get out of upgrading, merely trying to understand it.

I have read on a few sites that 120g is suitable, which I guess is a 4x2x2. Given that mine has a larger footprint would it not be suitable for the puffer for a long(ish) time? I don't just want the puffer to survive, I want it to thrive, so I will certainly be giving it the largest tank possible.

Back to the puffer itself. Having said above that I have read they are fairly inactive. I have also read they are very responsive and can become bored, opinions on this? I would really enjoy a very responsive fish so I hope it/they are so.

I understand the problems with moving it, however there must be ways around this to allow them to pets stores and homes, right?

Thanks again.

 

[Fat Homer]

Thankyou for the advice.

I understand that they grow fast (and I figured it would be around 1" pm). So that would give me how long in the current tank? What size max would you let it go to? Not suggesting that I would or will leave it as late as possible. However I have read that they aren't/can be very unactive? Is this true? If so then do they need masses of swimming space? Again, not trying to get out of upgrading, merely trying to understand it.

I have read on a few sites that 120g is suitable, which I guess is a 4x2x2. Given that mine has a larger footprint would it not be suitable for the puffer for a long(ish) time? I don't just want the puffer to survive, I want it to thrive, so I will certainly be giving it the largest tank possible.

Back to the puffer itself. Having said above that I have read they are fairly inactive. I have also read they are very responsive and can become bored, opinions on this? I would really enjoy a very responsive fish so I hope it/they are so.

I understand the problems with moving it, however there must be ways around this to allow them to pets stores and homes, right?

Thanks again.

Honestly, a fahaka up till maybe around 10"-12" i would guess should be okay, since the footprint is decent, although longer is naturally better imo...

As for activity levels, it does depend, at a young age mine was very active always exploring the tank, and as such i've always decorated my tank to give my puffer areas to explore... Now that shes older, shes not quite as active, but i still catch her exploring the tank from time to time, especially if i've been re-arranging stuff...

Onto the responsiveness, it will depend on the puffer itself, since each puffer has their own personality much like a dog...

My fahaka literally swims up to one side of the tank when i come home to greet me, and whenever im walking upto the tank, she'll also cruise up to the glass and say hi and see if its feeding time...

As for tank size, personally i would say 120G is the absolute min, which is why i personally went for a 200 just to give her maximum swimming space and to prevent any chances of stunting...

Hope that helps you somewhat in your decision making...


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[GrantA94]

It certainly does help me with my decision. I appreciate all the advise you've given. How do you know yours is a she? Or do you you just call her a her?

Here is a picture of the one I am possibly picking up. Again only a few inches at best.

 

[Fat Homer]

^ actually, i only found out she was a she the first or i should say 2nd time she laid eggs, first time around i didnt know they came from her, then the 2nd time i saw her dropping thousands of them when she got excited waiting for me to feed her...


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[GrantA94]

^ actually, i only found out she was a she the first or i should say 2nd time she laid eggs, first time around i didnt know they came from her, then the 2nd time i saw her dropping thousands of them when she got excited waiting for me to feed her...


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Haha, that's actually quite cool. So I guess there is no other way to tell, or? Do males and females attain the same size? Are they similar to other fish whereby females are more placid? I guess you only having a female means you mightn't know, however it's worth an ask.

 

[Fat Homer]

As far as i know, unless you do an autopsy, the only way to confirm if you have a female is by her laying eggs...

As for are females more placid? Not sure, but an example would be Kev's fahaka on here i think is also a female, but hes said his will tear everything apart that hits the water, but mine on the other hand lives with a rubber lip pleco and a yellow lab cichlid without any real problems.

With that being said, i would guess two things play into this though, 1) being space and decor in the tank & 2) being the nature / personality of said puffer.

Pufferpunk is a good example of this, her fahaka lived with i think a polleni? For some time with no problems, and hers turned on the polleni one day and easentially killed it...

So if you decide to try tankmates like i did (not that i really recommend it), i would try with something cheap you dont mind losing, also add them all in at the same time if possible so they grow up together rather than being introduced when the fish are larger and more aggressive...

Btw, sorry for the wall of text, but thought you'd rather here of peoples personal experiences for more of a better view...


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