tank size

[kif]

So I know that i will need a large tank for my Fahaka. Right now I really can't get something as big as he/she needs. However my tank dimentions are 24" from substrate to ceiling, 18" from front to back, and 20" from side to side. I belive this is around 40 gallons. I have had this little guy for about a year now and it's gone from less than three inches to five in that time. I know that once these puffers get to be 8" their growth slows. Can i let him get to that 8" mark before getting a bigger tank?

[Nick]

I think it's about 35, if I'm guessing right. I suspect he already needs a bigger tank, in the range of 60 gallons or more, to grow as fast as possible, but he could probably be allowed to reach 6 inches in that tank if you do very very high volume water changes every week.

[kif]

so it isn't a matter of stunting the fish as much as it is watching water quality.

[Nick]

They're one and the same - water quality is what stunts a fish, at least, a good part of the issue. A fish's body is only biologically aware of being in too small a container because of waste concentrations. As a fish grows, however, more water changes become incapable of keeping stunting factors low enough, and a larger tank is needed.

[Pufferpunk]

http://www.drhelm.com/aquarium/areajava.html
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4030