The Puffer Forum

Update: I've spent a lot of time considering and based on my financial situation + a few other factors, I've decided to wait on my F8 until I can either find one locally or feel it's a better time to spend the money to get one shipped. Thank you so much to everyone who read or posted on the forum, a...

Never ship a puffer for more time than overnight! Honestly, (and I'm a bit biased) it would be safer if you drove for a couple of hours with extra water than to ship when you feel uneasy! That's what my instinct said as well, and the reason why buying online makes me so nervous. Honestly I'm beginn...

Honestly I haven't before, but I know how. The only part that trips up this plan is that I don't have the supplies to do so. After all is bought and after shipping, idk if you'd think the cost is worth it. I'd have to get some Kordon breather bags, styrofoam, and a heatpack. Depending on how much t...

My lfs has f8's in stock all the time, I wouldn't mind buying one and overnighting if you get that desperate. Lfs I know is great, fish always healthy, she even keeps them in proper brackish. I'm in Indiana btw. Honestly I think I am starting to get that desperate sadly. I've been wanting an F8 for...

As the topic states, I am searching for an F8 puffer to add to my pet family. I have a 20 gallon precycled tank that is about to be switched over to brackish with aragonite sand this week. I've been planning this set up for a few months now and am finally ready to take on a little one now that I'm d...

Just as an update, the puffer unfortunately passed away this morning. I'm still not 100% sure of the cause but I'll keep an eye on the rest, who all seem to be doing fine.

Hey Y'all :( I went to feed my puffer colony and found one of my girls laying on the bottom pretty listlessly, breathing heavily. She is still brightly colored and visibly looks fine, but isn't very responsive and seems to be gasping. All of my other puffers seem to be doing fine so I can't imagine ...

Well, 3 DPs in a 20g with lots of broken lines of sight, may be OK. I hope so... I'm not sure I have much choice but to cross my fingers and hope. My LFS is TERRIBLE and won't take special orders back =/ I'll do my best with these guys. If aggression starts to be a problem maybe I'll see if I can f...

Lots of decor & plants in there? Its still a work in progress (what tank isn't? ;D) but I do have tons so far. There are at least 5 plants that touch the surface, tons of hidey caves in form of terra cotta pots, a piece of driftwood, a bell, and a small fake stump cave. Plus a ton of undergrowt...

I specified what I wanted but it's hard to know if they actually listened :\ I don't have the space for another tank so I'm in a pickle on that situation. They're still hanging in a pack but I know that changes with time.

My puffers are here and floating in the tank getting ready to be released. Separate but rather important question: I have 1 puffer with clear wrinkles around his eyes and he's obviously male. However, I have another puffer who is around the same size and coloration, but it's much harder to see any w...

I just went back and re-read this. My best guess is the bacteria died off without an ammonia source...or were you adding some kind of ammonia/fish food/etc to keep the cycle going? The bacteria need to eat and will increase/decrease relative to the amount of food e.g. fish waste within reason. Obvi...

Why makes u thing your tank stopped processing ammonia? Were u using dechlorinator during the water change?cos that shouldn't happen at all. If u read ammonia shortly after water change, that may be from the water source. Mine is city tap and they put in ammonia intentionally. I use Prime dechlorin...

I used SafeStart several times when starting up tanks back when I didn't have other tanks to steal filter media from (instant cycle :) ) so I'll vouch for it being a decent product. Follow PufferPunk's instructions - shake the bottle well and pour it in just before the puffers. Also make sure you d...

Thank you for the advice. Is Safestart okay to use then? I've heard a lot of talk about it causing crashes later down the line and that would be devastating to my puffers obviously. I'm already planning on doing ammonia and nitrite tests two times a day for the few few weeks that I've got the little...