Im Thinking On Getting A New Tank

[black molly3]

hi im thinking about geting a new tank when i get the money and putting puffer fish in there.
has anyone got any tips on how to keep them healthy or what food i could feed them.i already know that they need 1 table spoon of salt to the UK gallon and i know they cant be kept with other fish and that i need to feed them some sort of live food or cokles. anyone any tips.
thanks
black molly3

 

[Inchworm]

Hi black molly3

Perhaps someone who posts in the Oddballs section can help you. I'll move your thread there.

 

[mikster]

What kind of pufferfish did you want and how big will the tank be? Im guessing the people will actual puffer knowledge (not me) will want to know that.

 

[CAC]

Well what size tank do/will you have?
The smallest puffers are the dwarf puffers, they get to 1" and need a 5g tank. They feed on snails, blodworms etc.
The biggest are the Mbu puffers, which get to 2 feet in length, and need a 5x2x2 tank at the least. There is also sizes anywhere in between.
Those i mentioned above are both fresh water, so no need to add salt, but some need brackish and some full saltwater.

Mikey

 

[Fella]

hi im thinking about geting a new tank when i get the money and putting puffer fish in there.
has anyone got any tips on how to keep them healthy or what food i could feed them.i already know that they need 1 table spoon of salt to the UK gallon and i know they cant be kept with other fish and that i need to feed them some sort of live food or cokles. anyone any tips.
thanks
black molly3

Black molly,

there are varying different species of pufferfish available in the UK, and the US. In order to help you we'd need to know the specific species you plan to keep.

MOST puffers in the aquarium trade DO NOT REQUIRE SALT in their tanks. Most puffers cannot be kept with other fish, and most will not take preprepared food as a staple diet.

I currently keep

Tetraodon lineatus (fahaka puffer)
Tetraodon biocellatus (Figure 8 puffer)
Tetraodon cochinchinensis (Fangs puffer)
Carinotetraodon salivator (zebra puffer)
Carinotetraodon irrubesco (Red eye - red tail puffer)
Carinotetraodon borneensis (bornean puffer)

and have kept

Carinotetraodon travancoricus (Dwarf puffer. I have also written the pinned article at the top with regards to these puffers)
and Colomesus asellus (The South american puffer/SAP/Peruvian puffer)

All of these puffers have different requirements, and only 1 requires any salt in it's environment.

If you've seen a puffer in an LFS, if you could describe at least what it looks like, then I could help you from there.

Puffers are great fish, and (as you can tell) they're among my favourite fish. I'll try and help how I can!

Well what size tank do/will you have?
The smallest puffers are the dwarf puffers, they get to 1" and need a 5g tank. They feed on snails, blodworms etc.
The biggest are the Mbu puffers, which get to 2 feet in length, and need a 5x2x2 tank at the least. There is also sizes anywhere in between.
Those i mentioned above are both fresh water, so no need to add salt, but some need brackish and some full saltwater.

Mikey

An Mbu puffer will need a tank far bigger than a 5x2x2 for life.

 

[joloco]

definately work out which puffer you want first!
they're all different but fascinating little and not very little fish

if money is a problem - how about pigmy puffers - very cheap (two pounds each in my lfs) and depending on the tank you could have a few...

note - the name dwarf puffer is used on a couple of the smaller types, one of which is also called the pigmy puffer so becareful as you could find yourself with a not so dwarf puffer

http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/puf-trav.htm this is a link to the dwarf / pigmy puffer which i and catfish mentioned and on which fella has a pinned topic at the top of this page