The Puffer Forum

I haven't had any fish in a few years but am looking to get some figure 8 puffers. I wanted to see if I am missing anything and want some tips. I will be making a brackish tank with many places to hide. I was thinking 1 male and 1 female or 1 male and 2 females.
What I currently have purchased:
- 29 gallon tank + cover
- Heater
- Thermometer
- Sea salt
- Hydrometer
- 2 filters (1 undergravel filter, 1 wheel filter)
- CaribSea Florida crushed coral substrate (2-5.5mm)
- Bubble wall
- light
Some Questions I have:
- Would I need to cycle the tank?
- Do I need to purchase any special vitamins/droppers
- Will they eat dehydrated blood worms I rehydrate?
I have an extra 3 gallon tank:
- Should I use it to grow brine shrimp for food or for snails?
- I could grow snails in a bucket but brine shrimp may be too small for them right?
Do you have any other tips?
Thank you!

Welcome!
They canot be sexed, so forget that.
The tank should be cycled in the "fishless" manner. I'd cycle as FW & after it's been stable for 3-4 weeks with your puffers, you can start raising the salinity.
Good idea to breed your own snails.
UG filters are extremely old-school & a "wheel" filter will add salt-spray everywhere. Bubble-walls will do the same. I prefer Aquaclear filters. You can go for the largest one.
I suggest against crushed cotral. Use aragonite sand instead. Rinse, rinse, rinse!
I do like to soak their foods in Vita-Chem.

library/puffers-in-focus/fig8/