Puffers (Fahakas) vs. kids

[Lizardking]

Im thinking of getting a fahaka, everytime Im researching a new fish I must take into consideration how skittishh they are because of my kids, my 1 and 2 year old bangs occasionally on the tanks just because they think it looks fun when the fish are scared. Of course they are not allowed to do so, but it happens sometimes.. Now, I keep discus which are very unskittish and not so shy as some discus are, (maybe because of them getting used to annoying kids) and cichlids in general dont seem to bother but I have stayed away from Pirahnas and other skittish characins because of this.

How is it with fahakas, are they very skittish and nervous? May I risk losing the fish to stress if it puffs if (or when) my kids scares it?

The Fahaka would be living in a planted 140g 5*2*2, alone (I guess).

 

[Pufferpunk]

Get those darn kids trained already! No really... It's very possible the puffer could puff & then you'd never get them to stop after seeing that sight. It's also possible the puffer could jump out of the tank. I'd hate to see what would happen if one of them tried to pet him!

 

[Lizardking]

Yeah thats right, thats also what have stopped me from getting malas and such, because of their teeths.Does a fahaka havethe strenght to push up a lidon a tank if they get spooked?
But what do say about the stress thing?

 

[Pufferpunk]

Absolutely. You might want to read this story:
http://www.**************.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=151
Shows the power & aggressiveness of this species.

 

[Arowanana]

next time the kids decide its fun to smack the glass of the tank you should wait until they are asleep in bed that night and run in the room screaming bloody murder. After that if you explain that is how the fish feel they might not do it anymore

 

[Lizardking]

Absolutely. You might want to read this story:
http://www.**************.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=151
Shows the power & aggressiveness of this species.

Thank you very much!

next time the kids decide its fun to smack the glass of the tank you should wait until they are asleep in bed that night and run in the room screaming bloody murder. After that if you explain that is how the fish feel they might not do it anymore

hmm...um yeah, I will have to think about that

 

[Fat Homer]

next time the kids decide its fun to smack the glass of the tank you should wait until they are asleep in bed that night and run in the room screaming bloody murder. After that if you explain that is how the fish feel they might not do it anymore

That sounds like a clever idea to do to any one that constantly taps on the panel of a fish tank...

But yeah, i agree that i'd be more worried about the kids sticking their hands in the tank, coz as any one who's owned a reasonably sized puffer would know, their bite can do a heck of a lot of damage... especially to a young kids finger...

 

[BIG_ONE]

Make sure they don't stick those fingers in. That puffer will make their finger the puffer's meal.

 

[DarkStorm]

My little niece 4 years old. really enjoys my fahaka , when she first came over she wanted to bang on the glass so her mom put a pot on her head an smackd it with a spoon, when she realized it hurt her ears she didnt want to bang on the glass anymore. fahakas are really cool pets tho im sure your kids would grow to love it and not want to cause it harm.

 

[losertastictoaster]

I'd be worried about the fahaka puffing up. My local lfs has one as a store pet and he now has a large gash on his belly from children banging on the tank and causing him to puff up and cut himself on something in his tank.