New baby Porc Puff

[bigskies]

Ok - so I went to the fish store to buy some things for my GSPs and thats when our eyes met from across the room..... the most DARLING baby porc puff. I wanted to take him home right away but I had to do some research first. The profile says that one of these guys will need a 120 gal tank - which is quite different from a GSP only needing 30gal. Felip' is only 2" long (I tried not to name him yet but it just came to me - what can ya do?) How important is it to start him off in a 120 gal or can I temporarily start him off in a 20 gal for about 4-5 months? And whay would he need such a large aquarium? If I need the 120 gal to start then I'll have to defer to the next fish store customer and my heart will be broken

Here is a cell phone video i took of Felip' that I torture myself with:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tEKt5tezkYQ

[cobra1713]

well they grow quickly the first year so you could start in samaller tank but you would be upgrading quickly which in turn would cost you more money in the long run. so if you want you can start small and then just keep getting a larger aquarium as he grows but in my opinion i would just start with the size tank he is going to need that way there are no costs down the road to suprize you, plus planning on having money to upgrade when he needs it, you can never know what is going to happen financially so unless you know 100% you are going to have the money to upgrade when he needs it just start large.

they need the large tank cus they can grow to almost 18" and that 120 gallons would give you room for a couple tank mates if im not mistaken, its not like the freshwater were the minimum tank size is just for a single fish, that tank size sould allow for a few tankmates.

my suggestion would be look for a used tank and stand, cus in the long run a FOWLR (fish only with live rock) tank doesnt get that much more expensive going from say a 60 gallon to a 120 gallon, you dont need expensive lighting because you cant really grow corals with a porc puffer (unless you want to try but most ppl dont have sucess) so only expense difference would be a little bit more for the tank, maybe 30-50$ more for a larger skimmer, then twice as much live rock. but the live rock you could get slowly cus if all you have in the tank is the baby porc then you dont need the full 120 lbs of live rock.

[Nick]

You really can't start a porc in less than 30 gallons, certainly the 20 will only be good for a month or so at best even with a 2" fish.

[bigskies]

Thanks guys. I'm thinking it might be better to wait on the porc until I have the perfect setup for him. That makes me sad... he is just so darling.

[cobra1713]

that will be better for you and the fish, cus it would be a pain to have to keep upgrading and having to move him, it would be alot nicer just to be able to put him into a tank that could house him for his life. but i know the feeling of seeing that really cute fish in fish store and not having a tank for it! and it sucks lol

[Pufferpunk]

Be patient--they're ALL cute!

[bigskies]

Yea - you're right - they're all cute. It's just that I watched this one shy away from other people looking at him but he came right up to me and wiggled for me... I was touched.

All in time.

[julianchan]

If there is a 15+ year commitment to a little guy who smiles all the time, its worth waiting to give em a good home....I know the torture you go through...I go though it every time I step into my LFS. They had 1" Porcs there not too long ago, who all unfortunately died....and they just sold my favorite porc there. But I won't get one till I know I can give one a good home. What I keep telling myself, the time will come....and when it does, it will be all the more sweeter.

[bigskies]

yep - you're right. but did you see the video of this little guy?... its at the bottom of the first post in this string. such a little heart-breaker.

[julianchan]

oh, i saw it....and i almost bought him from my screen too.......but another one like that one will come along and tug at your heart strings too.....