Figure Eight Puffer

[Erised]

I've had my 15G setup for a figure eight for about 6 months now, and always only thought about putting 1 in it ... however on one of the puffer sites recommended in Puffer Packs post it says their average size in aquariums is 6 cm .... making me wonder if I might be able to keep 2 in there?

 

[Puffer_freak]

Possssssibly...I'm not an expert. They aren't the most aggressive puffer. It depends on the puffer I'd say, but you'd have to remember good filteration! you could try asking Puferpack. I really don't know...

Food for thought

*Goes off to feed brain*

 

[ingo_1978]

I don't think a 15g tank would be big enough for two f8's as I had two once in a similar size tank and they formed territories, so it was like having one f8 in a 7g tank. Sadly one died but the one left seems to prefer having the tank to him self as he can cruise from one side to the other.

There seems to be a lot of controversity over the the size of mature f8's. I have seen any thing from 3" to 8". The sites which seem to go for the smaller size are also the ones which saqy they are a freshwater fish. From what I can work out the max size for brackish in an aquarium would be about 5"-6", growing to about 8" in the wild.

If all you have is one f8 in a brackish tank. I would strongly recommend getting a few bumblebee gobies instead, as they seem to completely ingore each other as they inhabit different levels of the tank. There pretty cute too, especially if you feed them live food and to watch them jumping about chasing it.

 

[SirMinion]

Also remember that brackish water chemistry is a lot harder to balance than freshwater, and the smaller the volume of water, the more unstable it is.

I would forget F8s in a 15 gallon and go for dwarfs instead. you could have three in there with no problem and there're just as cute and full of character, and are full freshwater fish.

 

[Erised]

blah SirMinion, you're just confusing me now
In the PM you said its ok to keep 2 in a 15Gallon ... here you say I shouldnt do it! And reason I wanted Figure Eights is coz I already have dwarfs
Help?

Mind you, tank has been set up and running for 6 months (with gobies already)

 

[SirMinion]

Yeah, sorry about that, I forgot that you said the tank was up and running and, presumably, stable.

It'd be a squeeze and you'd need to monitor the water conditions very closely, but yes, you should be able to keep two in 15g. Just.

Although it is often down to individual fish personalties. Be prepared to move one to another tank in a hurry!