Puffer tank....

[enchanted]

Alright. I am extremely tempted to get 2 puffers that my LFS has, but I'm unsure of current and future tank setup.

He has two spotted puffers. Between him telling me it was fresh, here telling me they are brackish, and the sites out there just as diverse I made a lot of phone calls. So, before you beream me with brackish here me out.

There is the "Green Spotted Puffer" which is a Brackish fish. Then there is the spotted puffer. Very few differences in them, but the spotted puffer is primarily Freshwater but easily adapts to and handles brackish.

That was told to me by Professors at Boise State University, Washington State University, and NYU. The strings I had to pull to get hold of those people............. They were not too pleased that all I wanted was to answer a question about puffers either.

Now that that is settled here is what I am thinking and I would like opions. Both puffers are still young.

I have a 30 Gallon Long tank (36") already up and cycled. From what I understand the bottom space is actually more important than the gallons. I.E. a 29 Gallon is not as good for puffers as a 30 Gallon Long because the 29 Gallon doesn't have the same bottom space. Please correct me if I am wrong.

I thought I could put them in the 30 Gallon while I build and setup a 45 Gallon Long I have (48") then migrate them to that tank when it is ready. (About 6 months). I also plan to put a pleco with them (haven't decided bread) and somebody mentioned some catfish, but I can't remember what kind.

Other than those this will be a full species tank. I thought I would try a very mild brackish when moved to the 45G Long and see how the catfish handle it as I have read and talked with people who have done this successfull. But any advice on this would be welcome.

This is also going to be a planted tank, but I have heard that puffers tear up plants?

Any and all advice is welcome. I haven't set on this yet, it is still just a thought, but I'm hoping to maybe pick them up tomorrow.

 

[Pufferpack]

Hi ddreams

The Green Spotted Puffer Tetraodon nigroviridis is the one of the more commonly found puffers in most lfs, and is definately a high end Brackish water species (right up to full marine). The trouble is they are often identified as "Spotted Puffers" and labled as FW. The fish that they are being mistaken for is more commonly called the "Congo Spotted or Leopard Puffer" Tetraodon schoutedeni, which is a Fresh water species that is extremely rare to find in the hobby at this time, although they do occasionally sneak in with a shipment of GSP's.
AFAIK the main differences in appearence between the two species is the GSP's have a smoother skin with an almost flourescent green patch patch on their heads just behind the eyes, and the patterning on their backs usually ends around mid body, turning to an all white belly. The Congo Spotted Puffer on the other hand has visable spines (you have to look close but you can see them), no flourescent patch and the patterning has a tendency to continue further down the fishes belly. Another big difference is size, GSP's are reported to max out at about 6 inches (15 cm) while the CSP's only reach about 4 inches (9 cm).

If you have been lucky enough to find a couple of T.schoutedeni they should do fine in a 30 long, as long as it is heavily planted to cut down on their aggression. As you surmised the issue with puffers is always space, as they can usually be very territorial, but water volume is also very important in keeping the water quality pristine. Puffers being a very messy fish will put a heavy bioload on their tank and unless you want to do more frequent water changes bigger is better, so the 45 gal would be a great permanent home for the two IMO, but the light BW conditions would then be un-necessary as they are a FW species.
On the issue of puffers tearing up plants, it does happen, but usually as a consequence of their hunting snails. They seem to bite at any little speck on a plant leaf, in the hopes that it is food, and will usually end up leaving little bite holes in the plant in the process, makes for an interresting green lace doily look in the tank.

HTH.

 

[enchanted]

From everything I have read and what the LFS says they have to be congo's.

The LFS keeps correcting me when I call them Green Spotted Puffers (because they are green....) and says they are "Spotted Puffer" then proceeds to tell me the big difference is Freshwater or brackish and that the Green Spotted Puffer is Brackish but the Spotted puffer is not.

From the descriptions and information given to me over the phone I feel that they are the freshwater spotted puffer. Also, these guys are only between 2 to 3" at the moment.

Well, enough of which they are. I will take the camera to the LFS with me tomorrow and take pictures there, and more if I decide to bring them home.


Okay, then I need to put more plants in the ground. One big question is am I going to be able to put my hand in that tank to change things? I guess that is my biggest worry because I will need to make changes occasionally, especially after I get the 45 Gallon up because it will take time to get it the way I want it.

If my money is right tomorrow I will be picking them up. $6.50 US each then I need food. From what the LFS said he is feeding them each a 1/2 block of Frozen bloodworms each day and a pack should last about 2 weeks at $3.50 then I figured I would pick up a 10 Gallon tank, put an airstone in it, and pick up about a dozen feeder shrimp (about $.25 each) for a total cost of about $30.00.

 

[Pufferpack]

Sounds good. I don't see a problem with putting your hand in the tank to do some Aquascaping, none of my puffers ever attacked my fingers, although some of them like to chase the gravel vac.

I like to feed Skinner (a 3 inch T. cutcutia) frozen Black Tiger Prawns from the grocery store. I just cut them in half and hang 1 half in the tank on a piece of thread. Skinner seems to enjoy hunting the prawn as it flutters in the current, and the thread makes it easier to remove the leftovers once supper is done.
You'll also want to bug the lfs for some pond snails and set up a little breeding tank/bucket/jar as a good food source and to assist in keeping their teeth worn down.

Hope to see some pics soon

 

[LadyMinion]

Okay, then I need to put more plants in the ground. One big question is am I going to be able to put my hand in that tank to change things? I guess that is my biggest worry because I will need to make changes occasionally, especially after I get the 45 Gallon up because it will take time to get it the way I want it.

If my money is right tomorrow I will be picking them up. $6.50 US each then I need food. From what the LFS said he is feeding them each a 1/2 block of Frozen bloodworms each day and a pack should last about 2 weeks at $3.50 then I figured I would pick up a 10 Gallon tank, put an airstone in it, and pick up about a dozen feeder shrimp (about $.25 each) for a total cost of about $30.00.

I assume you are concerned about them biting you? I've never been bitten by a puffer, they generally just keep out of your way. Even my fahaka doesn't bother me when I have my hands in there (yet).

Your puffers will love those feeder shrimp. They'd also love live bloodworm if you can get it. Mussels and cockles are popular with my lot, and if they can manage it a prawn is a much appreciated treat.

Looking forward to seeing some photos. Keep us posted.

 

[enchanted]

I was thinking about some grocery shopping for fish, until I realized that it would probably be "MY" food money going into the fishes mouth.

As for bloodworms, I have to order them online. Niether LFS carrys liveones but I have been trying to convince the one I visit regularly to carry California Blackworms.

It definitely helps that I can change things around and reaquascape. And yes, it was biting I was worried about it. I have read all up on there poision.

I might have to email my aunt in Seattle and see what she can get. Being right there on the coast she might be able to get "through backs" of a lot of the food they would love. Then just figuring out shipping.

Well, now I'm convinced. I have wanted puffers for a while.... I just wish I had the stand built for the 45 I already have a Pengiun 170 for it (I know, should be a 330) an the 200W I'm using to heat the 30 is actually designated for the 45.

It's lights, substrate, plants, fertilizer, stand, hood, that are holding it up. About 2 to 3 months....

I will take my camera to the LFS tomorrow and get pictures and then get pictures after I get them in the tank.

I wanted to post some pictures of my LFS anyways. I'm trying to convince him to get a website and hosting so I can trade for some of these growing expenses......

 

[Pufferpack]

I've found that buying "people" seafood and setting some aside for my puffers is quite a bit cheaper than buying fish foods. A blister pac of frozen Mysis shrimp runs for about $6.99 at the lfs, whereas I just picked up 2 - 454g bags of Tiger prawns for $9.00 at safeway....one bag for me and one for the puffers.....as a treat 1 or 2 times/week the prawns usually last about 5-6 months...then I finish off the rest because they start to get freezer burn if left any longer.

 

[enchanted]

I will have to check that. Anything that saves money.

 

[enchanted]

Well, no puffers this week. My main 55 Gallon tank just sprung a leak. It looks like a seem leak, which means I can probably repair it, but it just threw a kink in everything.

I'm in the middle of draining it now so I can swap it with the other 55 Gallon, but I need to repair it and build the hood/stand ASAP now because both these tanks were used and came from the same place. I believe they are the same age also. I figure I need to get this one completely resealed and up on its own stand w/ hood so I can move the fish back to it then do the same thing to the other 55 Gallon.

Right now I have everyone in the 30 Gallon Long, and I would leave them there if it wasn't overstocked and the fact that I have plants that won't fit in the that tank.

 

[enchanted]

Well, some how I managed to get the tank swap completed so the puffers are still on.

I'm wondering about tank mates though. I know I either want Plecos or Otos, but which would be better?

And are there any bottom cleaners that would be okay? These puffers are still juvenille so is there a chance they might "accept" something as a tank mate?

 

[LadyMinion]

I think a nice large bristlenose or two would do nicely. Otos would be too small - your puffers wouldn't be able to resist a snack.

Possibly some cories for the bottom would be good. Make sure you don't go for anything with fancy-looking fins or they'll catch the puffers eyes. I quite happily have cories in with my dwarfs and they do a great job of sifting throught the sand and eating leftover food.

 

[enchanted]

Now I'm in debate on whether I want 1 or 2 puffers and which kind of cory.

I really want 2, but if I make a mess of this I don't want 2 dead puffers.

 

[enchanted]

Pictures are here. I haven't bought the plecos yet nor any corys....

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?act=ST&f=22&t=62113

 

[LadyMinion]

Now I'm in debate on whether I want 1 or 2 puffers and which kind of cory.

I really want 2, but if I make a mess of this I don't want 2 dead puffers.

I don't see why two would be a problem in that tank provided you have plenty of plants/rocks/hiding places. As for the cories that's really up to you. Try to avoid tiny ones though.

 

[enchanted]

It was the decision of whether I wanted to risk maltreating 2 as I have never had puffers. I went ahead with 2 though.

As for the corys, I'm looking at getting 4 more Peppers and moving my Pepper corys (which are fairly large) over.

What baffles me is I didn't remove the danios yet because I don't have the 29 setup for them yet.

The puffers don't seem to care.

They actually seem pretty content just swimming around the tank, going everywhere, and places they shouldn't like the sealed trickle box.

Edit: for spelling.