Is This A Possible Setup?

[ferco]

hi there i was just wondering i had to sell my archers because i could no longer spend the time on them like feeding and so on... it just wasn't fair on the fish- but more importantly i go away for like a week or two to my holiday house on the other side of Scotland (lol so only a 2 hour drive).
Now could i possibly get a small maybe 10gall aquarium and get one or two figure eight puffer fish... now could i leave them for maybe five days at a time and just put a lot of snails in the tank (i should mention this is only when i do go away on holiday) as my older sisters boyfriend can come in a keep an eye on it... he's got marine fish.
i also thought about keeping two figure eights/or another puffer with maybe three bumble bee Gobi's?
but then i can't leave them to feed on snails...?
I know puffers can decimate snail pops quickly but will they just keep eating... or will they only eat when they're hungry?
or is this a possible solution:
having a small divider in the tank so the snails can breed in one side and the puffers can't get to them? or could that not garentee the puffers getting food?
Basically the main point is will the puffers keep eating and eating... if so this would never work. lol
Also this is just an idea i just want to see what some people think about it.

 

[BiffMalawi]

Each Figure 8 puffer needs at least 15 gallons.

Figue 8s should also be kept in brackish water for best health and longevity.

In a 30g you could add a couple of bumblebee gobies.

Once your puffers 1 1/2" - 2" you could just not feed them if you are only talking 4 0r 5 days once in a while.

In brackish the snails would all die fairly quickly.

 

[ferco]

Thanks for the feedback-

'In brackish the snails would all die fairly quickly.'

Not if i put in brackish snails, surely?

So you reckon a figure eight puffe needs at least 15gallons... is that american or imperial? there's like 20litres difff. really annoying with three volume masurements lol. Thansk what about dwarf puffer? i know they can't be kept together either but could i keep a dwarf puffer in a 10gallon tank (US this time lol- ok 60litres).

 

[nmonks]

There are brackish water snails: Malayan snails thrive in brackish water, Colombian ramshorns will up to a point, and many of the "nerite" type snails either tolerate or prefer brackish water.

Your problem will be the puffer will eat the snails.

In a 10 gallon, I'd be tempted to stick with inverts plus a few gobies. Collect some nice rocks from the seashore and add some crushed shells to make a nice substrate that will buffer the pH/hardness. Add gobies of your choice (BBGs ideal, but there are others) and then add a few nerites, Malayan snails, and algae/river shrimps (UK feeder shrimps do well in warm brackish water provide the oxygen levels are nice and high). In no time at all you'll have a very cool little "rock pool" tank bustling with activity.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[ferco]

that's awesome and very tempting i must say... but i was sort of hoping to get a puffer... like so many before i have fallen in love with puffers lol. so i was thinking of having another 10gal tank with the backup snails for my puffer... so there is always a good supply... so i need about 70 liters for a figure eight puffer- what about a dwarf puffer? also would i need especially small snails for a dwarf puffer? thanks for any help

 

[nmonks]

I've never kept dwarf puffers so hesitate to comment. There's a very good pinned topic on them in the Oddballs section though. I'd suggest looking that over, and if you still have questions, posting them in Oddballs where the dwarf puffer keepers can see them.

Cheers, Neale

 

[ferco]

thanks will do just that! cheers for all of the help