Newbie puffer questions

[BlueDSM]

Okay, Id like to get some brackish water puffers, I just need a few questions answered that I can't seem to find on the net.

1) Can I mix a green spotted puffer with a figure 8 puffer? Will they harm a scat if I decide on getting one of those as well?

2) I read that I should put about 1 tblspn of salt per gallon for brackish, and keep the temperature around 80F. Is this about right for the above fish?
would a SG of 1.009 be okay for the above mentioned fish?

3) The puffers are carnivores right? whats the best things to feed them? Would they be okay with just snails and un-cooked, un-prepared raw "people" shrimp (the stuff you get at the grocery store in the fish section)?

4) I have a 15 gallon now, and Im getting a 50 gallon in December, could I put the 3 fish in the 15 gallon for now - before someone else buys them (the last time I saw puffers at any of the local pet stores was 6 months ago), and then later transfer them into the 50? If 15 is too crowded for the 2 puffers and a scat, can I just get 1 puffer for now? I dont want to have to wait 6 more months....

5) In the 15 gallon I have an outside aquaflow, a water circulator/wave maker, and an air pump with a long air stone. Whats the best type of filters to use? Also, on the media thats supposed to absorb ammonia, it says "freshwater only"....do I only use the mechanical sponge thing and carbon rocks? can I use that "cycle" bacteria stuff to set-up my tank?


Ive kept fish before, for extended periods. I started years ago with simple betas/danios/barbs and such, then cichlids, then one oscar, who ended up being a big fat bastard, then I stopped keeping fish. Now Id like to start again

Thanks for any help, Id like to set it up soon...

 

[Pufferpack]

Hi BlueDSM Welcome to the forum.

1. Green Spotted Puffers are a fairly aggressive puffer that grow to about 6" and would NOT be a good mix with Figure 8's. The 8's and Scats MAY work together, but I would recomend having a back up tank in case one needs to be relocated in a hurry.

2. I'm not sure on the exact mixture, but would recomend getting a Hydrometer to measure your Sg. 1.009 should be fine for the GSP's or 8's. I believe GSP's and Scats do better at the higher Sg's (right up to Marine) and the 8's prefer a range of 1.005 to 1.010

3. Yes a diet of snails and shrimp, muscles, cockles etc. from the grocery store would be great.

4. A 15 gal is too small for the 2 puffers and scat, even on a temp basis (the GSP would probably attack the other 2). On a Temp basis (a couple months max) you could probably get away with tha Fig. 8 in a 15 gal, but I wouldn't recomend any longer than necessary.

5. Cycle should be fine for your set up, but as far as the filter questions I'll have to let someone else take a shot at that. Personally I have given up on using any carbon in my filters unless I am trying to remove meds. I just use sponges and do frequent water changes.

 

[Lithril]

Hi Bluedsm, if you've got your tank cycled properly there shouldn't be any reason to use media thats going to absorb ammonia as the bacteria will convert it for you. Personally I find that the best form of filtration is an Eheim Canister filter, you tend to pay a bit more for them buy they're definately worth it in the long run. Personally I wouldn't use carbon in a tank unless like Pufferpack says its to remove any meds that you've added.

In my eheim for my 30 gal I have a course sponge (remove most of debris), then I've got some Eheim substrate (says it has a 450 square litre of surface area per square meter of substrate) then another thin sponge to seperate the layers, Ive then put a load of filter floss in followed by another sponge to stop it coming out. With a setup like that, once cycled you have plenty of bacteria to convert any amount of ammonia in the tank. Saying that I still a weekly partial water change but thats mainly to vacuum up any poop on the floor (sand floor so you can see it easily).