JJ The Fahaka

[Neilsie]

Hi guys,

I keep a Fahaka Puffer called JJ and recently I had noticed the sand substrate is turning green obviously caused by algae any suggestions how I can solve this problem apart from cleaning the sand every so often??

Neil

[Boxermom]

There's really no way other than add more fast-growing plants. And I'd like to ask if you would please either use more descriptive subjects or keep them all in the same thread. It gets confusing to have multiple threads on the same fish unless they are different issues, but its hard to tell what its about if they all have the exact same title.

[Neilsie]

Ooooooooops I am so very sorry rather a little mishap on my behalf, lol

Neil the Brit

[Myaj]

Well, can you ID the algae type?

How long do you leave your tank lights on? Algae is a plant, and will use up the light if you let it.

[jayman]

I have a quick question I have no plants in my tank for my Fahaka and my friend who has one does not have any plants either. My question is should I invest in some sort of plants for my tank or is not not really necessary

[Myaj]

Its completely up to you.

Live plants are more natural and healthy (they use up nutrients and therefore keep the water more clean), but they are a bit more expense and work. The expense mainly comes from the lighting, but depending on what you are going to try to grow, you might not need special lighting.

Also, your fahaka might just destroy them. Some seem to be annoyed by plants and just bite them off at the stem. So maybe try some cheap and easy plants first, and see if he even lets them live.

They are nice though, as they give the fish more things to explore, make him feel more secure. And there might even be goodies hiding in there to eat ocassionally (snails, shrimp).

The one thing to remember with a fahaka though, you don't want to have to be putting your hand in there to prune every week. So if you get live plants, look for slow growers or plants that won't get out of hand.

[jayman]

Its completely up to you.

Live plants are more natural and healthy (they use up nutrients and therefore keep the water more clean), but they are a bit more expense and work. The expense mainly comes from the lighting, but depending on what you are going to try to grow, you might not need special lighting.

Also, your fahaka might just destroy them. Some seem to be annoyed by plants and just bite them off at the stem. So maybe try some cheap and easy plants first, and see if he even lets them live.

They are nice though, as they give the fish more things to explore, make him feel more secure. And there might even be goodies hiding in there to eat ocassionally (snails, shrimp).

The one thing to remember with a fahaka though, you don't want to have to be putting your hand in there to prune every week. So if you get live plants, look for slow growers or plants that won't get out of hand.

Because I am fairly new to the world of puffers, is the putting my hands in the tank dangerous to the water conditions or because it may just scare my puffer?

[Hilly]

Just make sure you're hands are clean and you should be fine putting them in the tank. Just keep an eye on the puffer when they're in there just in case it takes a shine to your fingers.

[Myaj]

Well, there's always a basic concern about any soaps or lotions on your hands getting into the water, and if you have any open wounds there are diseases that could be passed on to you (tuberculosis comes to mind as the worst) but its usually not a worry.

My biggest concern was that a footlong puffer with big teeth could easily take off a finger or two.

[manutius]

in reference to the algae you could try flaoting plants, where do you live Neilsie? Are you UK? I have some riccia I could send you

[Neilsie]

This is a message for manutius.

Hi there

I live in Ruislip, Middlesex what is in the UK I would appreciate it if you could send me some riccia. At the moment I have Amazon Sword in my puffer tank and its growing nicely, but unfortunately the puffer likes to bite a chunk out of the stem.

Thanks again

Neil

[manutius]

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