F8 or cochininensis

[Redspotter]

Hey everybody
Since a few weeks I have my puffertank running, only the puffer is missing.
At first I wanted to get a tetraodon cochinchinesis, but I've been looking around for this fish but absolutely nobody seems te have it or is willing to order it. So I was looking what other puffer I would like.
Fresh water has my preference but I find the other fw puffers not that interesting, small or the need of trimming teeth (I just don't see me trimming teeth) So I was looking for brackish puffers and the F8 is the only one who doesn't require salt water when fully grown.
So I have some questions about them
- How big is a f8 getting some say 6cm others say 8cm.
- How often do you feed them, when they are young and when they are fully grown
- I have a 125liter tank. I was thinking of putting 2 in with some bumblebees
- Could somebody tell me something about the character of the F8.
- Any tips with plants, or plastics are the only solution

Many thanks

[CoreyK]

- Mature fig. 8's will range from ~ 6-8cm.

- I feed mine daily and skip one day per week. This is probably the general consensus, at least when they are young. Some prefer to feed them every other day, or even every several days, particularly when they're mature. It is personal preference really.

- 2 F8's and a few BBG's would probably be fine in a tank that size, provided proper filtration.

- There are live plants that will live in brackish water, but they will generally need to be carefully acclimated over time to brackish. Java fern and java moss are some of the more common ones. Most people just go with fake plants.

- Figure 8's have personalities like their bigger cousins - they are very personable, curious and amusing. They can be skittish at times (easily startled), but for the most part they are relatively fearless, more interested in everything than afraid of it. Mine spend most of their time staring at me and begging for food when I am in the room, and exploring their tank when I'm not (presumably; they always come out from the rockwork when I enter the room).
They are far and away the most personable and rewarding fish I've had the pleasure of keeping.

[Myaj]

Oh I love Frank.. I never set up a brackish tank before but after keeping him for a few months I'm more than willing to set one up for several Figure 8's.

One, they are beautiful fish, and a nice size. Two, very active. Mixing up the water is a little bit of added work, but really not much at all.

For plants, there's a good sticky post, I think in the Brackish Fish forum. About 3 pages of discussion about keeping plants in brackish water. Franks tank really only has java moss in it right now, but I've been eyeing up a few other species to see what I could try in there.

[Redspotter]

Thanks for the quick replay.
It makes me a bit more enthousiastic about the figure 8. Today I've read a lot about them and I think I will make the switch. My tank was cycling to get ready for the fang but Í will transform it to get ready for two figure 8's
I will try to work with some live plants, I'm hoping by decreasing the saltinety slowly that they will survive.
I was thinking of putting also some bumblebees in there, 1 male two females, I think?? They won't be eaten by the puffers I hope?

[crazedpuffer]

I don't think it's possible to sex bumble bees. Your puffs should be fine with them though.

[Myaj]

I'm not sure about sexing the bumblebees either.. but I do know they'll need lots of rockwork/caves for territories and to hide from the puffers in case you get a nippy one.

[my name is mike]

as long as you get 5 BBGs or so, there is a good chance youll have some males and some females (but like they have said, hiding places are a must) - their squabbles are hilarious, but potentially harmful -- never seen them spawn though

if your tank is currently fresh, id go for live plants now, and acclimate them as you acclimate your puffs --- your puffs will probably be kept in fresh water, so that makes it all the easier and then just raise the SG slowly over a month or so until you are at 1.005 --

if you go with live plants, make sure to "over plant" -- that way if some die off (which they might) - you will still be left with enough plants

best of luck

[Pufferpunk]

I'm pretty sure your store will be keeping their F8s in FW, so you won't have to make any changes to the tank for them.

Check with them to be sure & compare their SG with your own hydrometer if they do say it's BW.

[Redspotter]

Some shops I've seen them in have told me that it was a freshwater puffer, I know better but they just keep telling everybody they just fine in FW. So my plan is to slowly raise the SG when the puffers come.
I'm just going to redecorated the tank because now there is some driftwood in it, that will be replaced with rocks.
Question about putting rocks in the tank do you place them directly on the glass bottom, or put something in between?