Puffer Show Offs Please Check This Out!

[Puffdaddy]

I've got mine in my marine tank at the moment with a figure of 8 and porcupine. I'll try and get some piccys tonight.

How does your Figure 8 seem to handle full marine conditions? Are there any special or cool trait that you've noticed in the Porcupine Puffer? I'm thinking of getting one in the near future.

 

[doresy]

Thank you for your valued input Puffdaddy and for restoring sanity to this thread

You see, your experience was probably started by 'text book' information but honed to suit youself. This was all I was asking of members. Of course I could just read up and look at pinned posts but, on the most part, this is only like reciting the manual. We all 'bend the rules' a bit and expand the peramitters a tad to suit both ourselves and our fish.

Anyway (lightening up and forgetting past posts) I spent a VERY nice afternoon at a LFS. Walked in, confessed that I was not in the immediate position to make any puchases but would like to speak to someone who was conversent in Puffer.
Result was, a half hour chat (On a busy Saturday afternoon!) with a nice young lad who not only was extremely knowledgable on the subject but also personally keeps Nile and Colomesus Puffers and a marine one that I cant remember the name of.

I appreciate your experiences Puffdaddy but I have now decided to follow a freshwater puffer rather than brackish or marine. (i am going to take up marine when I retire )

So bye bye F8.

One thing I am finding hard to pin down is the rate of growth in time. I sort of got the impression that it would be ok to start off my chosen species of puffer in my 34 ltr while it is only small. Then after about six months transfer it/them into the then empty of fish but fully cycled and matured 155ltr. (I understand about keeping the bacteria alive)
So, how long before say, a Nile puffer would become uncomfortable in 1) the first tank then the second. Note, have not done all my research yet so if a Nile IS unsuitable I apologise now
I can see that YOU read my whole post Puffdaddy and I yours. I can see the reasoning behind all your answers although the salt thing wont be an issue for me. GREAT pictures BTW
Many thanks to you and if there is anything else that you think I should know at this stage please stay involved

 

[Puffdaddy]

I'm not so sure a Nile Puffer, aka. Fahaka Puffer (Tetraodon lineatus) is the best choice. It's not that there hard to care for it's just that they get quite larger, up to 20" (50cm) but more than likely will get reach a size of 15" (37cm) in home aquariums. I had one about 6 or 7 years back and had to sell him and his home do to finacial difficulties when starting my business (rough-in plumbing). Anyway here are some tips you should know.

1) As stated they get rather large
2) They grow very quickly, up to 8" the first six months and close to 12" in the first year, then level off from there
3) Best to get sand substrate, they can be lazy and sit on the bottom for long periods of time
4) They also like to bury themselves in the sand
5) An aggresive puffer best to keep alone
6) Absolute min. tank size 150gl (600ltr. or so) when adult

So you may want to do some serious thinking about this puffer before getting one.

 

[timmystood]

I've got mine in my marine tank at the moment with a figure of 8 and porcupine. I'll try and get some piccys tonight.

How does your Figure 8 seem to handle full marine conditions? Are there any special or cool trait that you've noticed in the Porcupine Puffer? I'm thinking of getting one in the near future.

Figure of 8 seems to be loving the full marine. It's interesting watching the adaption. The nigroviridis was straight at home. The fig. 8 took about 24 hours to settle in but seems fine. They have settled straight into porc's tank. It's like they own the place!

I've found the Porcupine's to be quite submissive. He would rather let the Spotted and Fig. 8 eat and leave him alone than bother them. The porc is mega cute though. I believe that the Porcupine Puffer's react to their owners nearly as well, if not better, than the mbu. Anyone else and he's not interested but with me, he begs. He's brilliant! I think it's a nice set-up with the porc, Tetraodon nigroviridis and fig. 8

 

[doresy]

I'm not so sure a Nile Puffer, aka. Fahaka Puffer (Tetraodon lineatus) is the best choice. It's not that there hard to care for it's just that they get quite larger, up to 20" (50cm) but more than likely will get reach a size of 15" (37cm) in home aquariums. I had one about 6 or 7 years back and had to sell him and his home do to finacial difficulties when starting my business (rough-in plumbing). Anyway here are some tips you should know.

1) As stated they get rather large
2) They grow very quickly, up to 8" the first six months and close to 12" in the first year, then level off from there
3) Best to get sand substrate, they can be lazy and sit on the bottom for long periods of time
4) They also like to bury themselves in the sand
5) An aggresive puffer best to keep alone
6) Absolute min. tank size 150gl (600ltr. or so) when adult

So you may want to do some serious thinking about this puffer before getting one.

Hi, thanks for that (again) 3) to 5) I got from the guy in the LFS. 1) 2) and 6) was a bit vague. Take your advice everytime.

Nile is OUT What would be your freshwater choice in my position with the 155ltr?

 

[andywg]

Figure of 8 seems to be loving the full marine. It's interesting watching the adaption. The nigroviridis was straight at home. The fig. 8 took about 24 hours to settle in but seems fine. They have settled straight into porc's tank. It's like they own the place!

I've found the Porcupine's to be quite submissive. He would rather let the Spotted and Fig. 8 eat and leave him alone than bother them. The porc is mega cute though. I believe that the Porcupine Puffer's react to their owners nearly as well, if not better, than the mbu. Anyone else and he's not interested but with me, he begs. He's brilliant! I think it's a nice set-up with the porc, Tetraodon nigroviridis and fig. 8

I am not sure how wise it is long term to put a fish found in FW (fig 8) into a marine tank. Also, keeping a fish that gets to a max of 2-3" with one that will get past a foot could prove risky.

Useless point, technically the Porcupinefish is from the family Diodontidae (porcupinefish and burrfish) and not Tetradontidae (puffers and Tobies) meaning they are from a different family from puffers, and not taxonomically true puffer fish (though they do have the ability, like puffers, to expand when threatened). If you look at most books describing Tetraodontiformes, they will not refer to fish from the family Diodontidae as puffers.

 

[doresy]

Hey, Andywg. How about helpin out the OP?

Wishing to turn over a fully cycled and matured community tank, 155ltr (34 galls UK) to 1-2 Freshwater Puffers (not Dwarf/pigmy).

Open to experienced Puffer enthusiast advice

 

[Puffdaddy]

Hey doresy, here are some alternate choices for you. Might I suggest searching through the internet to see if you favor any then maybe come back for some specific Q's.

1) South American Puffer (Colomesus asellus) 3" (7.5cm)
2) Common Puffer (Tetraodon cutcutia) 4" (10cm)
3) Red Tail Red Eye Puffer (Carinotetraodon irrubesco) 2" (5cm)
4) Abei Puffer (Tetraodon abei) 4" (10cm)

The Puffers I listed are more on the active side, I decided to leave out some off the "Target" Puffers do to the fact that many of them are inactive and like lay and hide in the substrate.

 

[Lhutch]

i plan to get some f8s this tuesday, on like every care sheet is says the sg is very very low 1.002 to 1.004 and i know they need like 1.005 so i think thats what im gonna put mine at , i plan to get two f8s,names still in the process, i wanna make the perfect enviroment for my f8s, i had a gsp but it didnt last long there was a few problems, but there all fixed now i cant wait for my f8s, i hear they do something called a wiggle dance?, can anyone vouch for that? 8)

 

[timmystood]

Figure of 8 seems to be loving the full marine. It's interesting watching the adaption. The nigroviridis was straight at home. The fig. 8 took about 24 hours to settle in but seems fine. They have settled straight into porc's tank. It's like they own the place!

I've found the Porcupine's to be quite submissive. He would rather let the Spotted and Fig. 8 eat and leave him alone than bother them. The porc is mega cute though. I believe that the Porcupine Puffer's react to their owners nearly as well, if not better, than the mbu. Anyone else and he's not interested but with me, he begs. He's brilliant! I think it's a nice set-up with the porc, Tetraodon nigroviridis and fig. 8

I am not sure how wise it is long term to put a fish found in FW (fig 8) into a marine tank. Also, keeping a fish that gets to a max of 2-3" with one that will get past a foot could prove risky.

Useless point, technically the Porcupinefish is from the family Diodontidae (porcupinefish and burrfish) and not Tetradontidae (puffers and Tobies) meaning they are from a different family from puffers, and not taxonomically true puffer fish (though they do have the ability, like puffers, to expand when threatened). If you look at most books describing Tetraodontiformes, they will not refer to fish from the family Diodontidae as puffers.

Yeah I know that Porcupine's aren't true tetradon species. From my experience and the literature i've read, I believe that Figure 8's will tolerate full marine. Yes, in the wild they are one of the Tetradon that don't emigrate to marine conditions but I feel that from mine, and other peoples experiences it will be ok. I will keep you informed though. As to the size issue. I also think this will be ok long-term. The porcupine isn't an overally aggressive fish and seeing as all are roughly the same size now.. they should be ok in the long term.. watch this space though. Sorry to OP for hi-jack.

 

[doresy]

i plan to get some f8s this tuesday, on like every care sheet is says the sg is very very low 1.002 to 1.004 and i know they need like 1.005 so i think thats what im gonna put mine at , i plan to get two f8s,names still in the process, i wanna make the perfect enviroment for my f8s, i had a gsp but it didnt last long there was a few problems, but there all fixed now i cant wait for my f8s, i hear they do something called a wiggle dance?, can anyone vouch for that? 8)

I am trying to get up to speed on puffers and by what I have learned so far is F8 start off in freshwater then at some stage progress slowly into brackish but I guess you are prepared for this

 

[doresy]

Hey doresy, here are some alternate choices for you. Might I suggest searching through the internet to see if you favor any then maybe come back for some specific Q's.

1) South American Puffer (Colomesus asellus) 3" (7.5cm)
2) Common Puffer (Tetraodon cutcutia) 4" (10cm)
3) Red Tail Red Eye Puffer (Carinotetraodon irrubesco) 2" (5cm)
4) Abei Puffer (Tetraodon abei) 4" (10cm)

The Puffers I listed are more on the active side, I decided to leave out some off the "Target" Puffers do to the fact that many of them are inactive and like lay and hide in the substrate.

Saw your reply late but researched number 1 and that species already looks favourable......thanks for your time and interest

Will get back after more research, please watch this space

Cheers PD

 

[Deep Freeze]

If you plan on a SAP, you will want a snail breeding tank handy. These guys are very prone to overgrown beak, and need a snail preferrably a day to keep their teeth worn down.

 

[doresy]

If you plan on a SAP, you will want a snail breeding tank handy. These guys are very prone to overgrown beak, and need a snail preferrably a day to keep their teeth worn down.

Yup, read that too but thanks. In my sig, tank on left to be a puffer tank and the litlun on the right is a food tank, ie snails etc.

IF my plan goes into action that is

 

[jackel931]

I have two colomesus asellus and they are great puffers. I keep them in my 55 gal community tank. They are great because they are one of the least aggressive species and can be kept in a community. The only downfall is that their teeth grow so fast you have to clip them about twice a year. they get to about 5.5 inches, so that would definilty be a size your tank could handle. They are also completly freshwater fish. Their common name is south american puffer (if that matters)