2 Figure 8's in one tank?

[kaylor]

I've recentally had trouble with my Figure 8 Puff in my 30 gal. community tank. For a while he just bothered my big Goby...but now he's nipped the fins off most of my Mollies and my Flagfish. I can't stand it anymore.

While he may look cute...he's a bad little trouble maker. So to remedy this I've decided to give him his own tank. But one fish in a tank seems like a waste to me...so I'd like to put 2 in there.

Everyone seems to say something different on a minimum tank size per puffer. Some say 8-10 gal...others 15-20 gal so I don't know which it is. But my thought was this. I can fit a standard All-Glass 15 gallon perfectly on top of the bookself in my office (its a heavy-duty shelf...not Wal-Mart quality). Would that be big enough to house 2 Figure 8's? I've had my guy a year and he's barely 3 inches; doubt he'll grow anymore. Obviously my Puff doesn't like living with other species but I have some friends that have sucessfully kept 2 figure 8's in a 30 gallon tank...seems overkill for 2-3 inch fish.

Any opinions?

[riggers]

Unfortunately 15 gallons is the minimum for just one F8. To house two you need a minimum of 25 gallons. The rule is 15 gallons for one and then 10 gallons extra for every extra F8. 3 inches is their maximum size but you still need 25 gals for two. It may seem overkill but it stops any aggression.

[kaylor]

Hmmm so you are saying 25 gallons for 2. All I have room for is the 15 gallon...so I guess its just the one. I might still try having two in the tank. Just put a large piece of drifwood and some taller plants in middle to create a little tank seperation. Perhaps that will ease any territorial agression.

Has anyone had any luck keeping 2 together in tank less than 25 gallons? Puffer have all sorts of personalities. Mine doesn't do well in a community tank...but I've heard others do just fine with other fish.

Whats the worst case scenario if they don't get along? An occasional nipped fin or will one actually kill the other if it doesn't work out.

[CoreyK]

Get a larger bookshelf

My Figure 8's get along very well (they're usually together), but I've never kept them in any less than 36 gallons with lots of decor, so they've never been forced to constantly be in close proximity.
Personally I wouldn't keep 2 Figure 8's in anything less than a 20g long with lots of decor, or even one for that matter. They're a very active fish and mine certainly use their whole 45 gallon tank.

[riggers]

Yeah unfortunately if you want to have 2 you will need a bigger tank, that's just how it works. You will not regret it, to see your little puffers buzzing around happily. Even if they did only nip each others fins, you would get no enjoyment out of watching them, knowing that they are not happy. Is there nowhere else you could put a larger tank? If not, having just one is no bad thing. Having just one means it will bond closer to you.

[Idontknow]

I've got two figure 8's in a 26 gallon with a black molly. They all get along great, but they are all still under an inch. I'm hoping this will last. As far as tank size goes, I am sure I will need to upgrade sometime in the near future because the F8s can grow up to 6 inches and the molly can grow to about 4.

[kaylor]

Wait until they reach adulthood...your Molly could be in trouble like mine having their fins ripped apart; depending on their personalities. And I've never seen a 6 inch Figure 8 (you thinking GSP?)...4 inches is the biggest I've seen, but most don't grow bigger than 3.

So I was able to find another spot for the puffer tank downstairs in my home theater. Just had to move my mini beer fridge into the foyer and now I have the perfect spot. Nothing bigger than a 20 Gal long or a 30 gallon tall will fit. Some say long is better for puffers, in my experience it doesnt seem to matter to the fish.

I tried to research if the tank is in danger of breaking due to the sound and subwoofer. Not much out on the web. I don't have one of those cheapy $150 surround sound packages...its pretty powerful Polk Audio stuff. Should I be concerned about putting the tank there? I would think not. If it was a problem I'm sure we'd all know about...can't hurt to ask.

[coldmachineUK]

Well, if you play loud music in the vicinity of the tank then you may disturb the fish, yes: sound waves are compressed through water so they are actually amplified more than through the air. You may have permanently skittish fish if you listen to a lot of music etc. in that room where they are. Never tried it myself, so I don't know if this is an over-cautious recommendation but still...better to be safe than sorry.

If I were you I would go with the one F8 in the 15G tank you originally had planned. One F8 is as rewarding a pet as two and other posts are correct in establishing that you'd need 25G at least for two F8s. I keep two, in a 53G. It's been worthwhile. They are active fish with big personalities!

Here are two articles you may find helpful, from this site:
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Brackish/T_Biocellatus/
library/puffers-in-focus/fig8/

[Idontknow]

Wait until they reach adulthood...your Molly could be in trouble like mine having their fins ripped apart; depending on their personalities. And I've never seen a 6 inch Figure 8 (you thinking GSP?)...4 inches is the biggest I've seen, but most don't grow bigger than 3.

Yeah, I'm crossing my fingers that they'll get along into adulthood. Right now, I often wonder if my molly is thinking she is a F8 because she is always following them around and right in the middle of them when it's feeding time. She doesn't show any fear, so my biggest fear is one day one of the F8s will get irritated and bite her. Having said that, my other mollys are pretty much bullies. I had to take a silver molly out of my GSP tank because she was always chasing the GSP. My blue damsels which are reputed to be mean fish quake in fear whenever my black molly comes around.

Maximum size for F8 is 3 inches...that's good to know. I read on another website maximum size 6 inches, but it actually said 6 cm, which is roughly 2.5 inches. My mistake.

I hope you are able to get what you really want.

[Nick]

I have run two 15" speakers and really high volume in a room with an aquarium without any issues. These things shake the house, I'd be more afraid of the tank shaking off the stand than the sound causing tank failure.

[MatthewLaw]

I have one F8 in my 15g tank and Hypnotic greets me every time i sit down!! A great puffer.

The driftwood idea may not work since F8s should be kept in brackish water. From what I have read, aparently driftwood does not do well in brackish tanks.

[kaylor]

I appreciate all the responses.

I guess I'll make a decesion shortly. Either get a 26 or 30 gallon in the home theater for 2 little puffs or just keep my current guy in the 15 gal on my bookshelf. Either way it should work out.

I should be able to add a few more brackish fish to the 30 gallon once this happens. Any suggestions?

Without the Figure 8 I have 3 silver sailfin mollies, 2 Knight Gobies and 2 Orange Chromides. I don't plan on getting a bigger tank, so what are some possibilities? My thoughts were to add one of the following; 2-3 male Florida Flag Fish, a school of Glass Fish (not painted of course), or a few fancy guppies. I was also wondering if Austrailian Rainbow fish or Kribs are truly suited for a brackish tank...are there any crayfish or crabs that do well in brackish and wouldn't conflict with the Gobies?

[taureandragon76]

i keep my 2 F8's in a 60g diamond tank and they totally love all that room in there:D They are with one Dragon Goby, 2 BBG's and 1 Archer. I will add 2 knight goby's and that will be it.