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Re: New Fahaka Owner - Advice Wanted

Posted: Tue May 15, 2012 3:51 pm
by kingfisherfleshy
Alright guys.

Im gearing up to try the fahaka thing again, this time as a personal pet - so he will have my constant observation and care...as opposed to the last time where the puffer was at my lab, and I was gone for 17 days in LA.

Just wondering what exact medication I should have on hands so that one this guy is in QT I can treat for internals immediately.

What foods do you recommend soaking in the medicine?

I havent fully decided if Im going the fahaka route, I have a 100g setup right now, trying to get a 120g set up as well for the next phase as well.

I have a couple other fish setups Im considering, but I have never done the large puffer thing and would really like to.

Thanks again

Re: New Fahaka Owner - Advice Wanted

Posted: Tue May 15, 2012 4:46 pm
by kingfisherfleshy
Couple other questions.

Do you think that water hyacinth could be grown on the surface?

How about having the tank be bare bottom? Im a fan of it - especially with how I would love to do frequent h2o changes with my new puffer if that is the route I decide to go. Please let me know, thanks again.

Re: New Fahaka Owner - Advice Wanted

Posted: Tue May 15, 2012 5:26 pm
by bertie 83
Bare bottom tanks are not puffer friendly. Please do not do this

Re: New Fahaka Owner - Advice Wanted

Posted: Tue May 15, 2012 7:38 pm
by kingfisherfleshy
I understand that with puffers that burry themselves, but do Fahakas?

Please answer my questions from the previous post as well.

Re: New Fahaka Owner - Advice Wanted

Posted: Tue May 15, 2012 8:25 pm
by Arny
kingfisherfleshy wrote:I understand that with puffers that burry themselves, but do Fahakas?
Yes fahakas love to bury themselves

Re: New Fahaka Owner - Advice Wanted

Posted: Tue May 15, 2012 11:56 pm
by PolishPuff
My Fahaka ( 6-7 inch ) still buries it self. Even in some spots in my tank where there is low sand.

Re: New Fahaka Owner - Advice Wanted

Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 1:27 am
by Pufferpunk
If you try for growing a pond plant, you'll still have to cover the tank or your puffer will jump out, so that means lowering the water level. Doable on a larger tank, I suppose...

I'd keep at least Jungle Parasite Clear & Melafix on hand.

Re: New Fahaka Owner - Advice Wanted

Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 2:49 am
by scpion
I have tried growing water hyacinth in my tank before. Not a good idea.. Its just not suitable for indoor.. Even under strong light. They just turn black. The bulbs and leaves will eventually go below surface and start to rot.. Not to mention they usually carry many bugs along with them due to the very dense roots. Even after thorough rinsing..

Re: New Fahaka Owner - Advice Wanted

Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 3:32 pm
by kingfisherfleshy
Maybe water lettuce then. Tank will be covered. Would play sand work? How deep?

Re: New Fahaka Owner - Advice Wanted

Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 3:35 pm
by kingfisherfleshy
Pufferpunk wrote:If you try for growing a pond plant, you'll still have to cover the tank or your puffer will jump out, so that means lowering the water level. Doable on a larger tank, I suppose...

I'd keep at least Jungle Parasite Clear & Melafix on hand.
Tell me exactly how I should go about using those medicines.

Re: New Fahaka Owner - Advice Wanted

Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 3:38 pm
by bertie 83
Jungle parasite should be added to the food, melafix aids the skin healing.

Re: New Fahaka Owner - Advice Wanted

Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 8:11 pm
by scpion
Water lettuce didn't work either... They rot even faster... But they did grow out baby runners. But somehow the baby ones stay small but branch out alot.. My tank is almost covered with the baby ones. Maybe that's just me...

Re: New Fahaka Owner - Advice Wanted

Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 2:44 pm
by kingfisherfleshy
Strange. I used to grow the "red root floaters" with a lot of sucess and was selling lots of them over on the planted tank forum.

We will see, I would like some floaters.

The tank Im getting now it looks like is 48"x30"x24" - 150g which should be okay for a fahaka I think.

Re: New Fahaka Owner - Advice Wanted

Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 4:53 pm
by bertie 83
Sounds good. Is it 30ins front to back or tall?

Re: New Fahaka Owner - Advice Wanted

Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 1:22 am
by kingfisherfleshy
Its 24" tall.

I like the added depth for them in this situation...I still realize however its cutting it close, but this tank should make the minimum I feel.

Got some snails the other day - just threw them in an old planted tank.

Still not sure if Im going to go the puffer route, but that was a step in the right direction. Hopefully I get the guys to breed soon.

Does anyone keep dither fish in with their puffers? Or anything? I feel as if a tank this large with only one fish might be a little lonely looking.