couple theoretical questions

[side19]

ok i was thinking about this last night and have a few questions to ask.

1) ok, f8's and SAPs get to be about the same size, yet it says that SAPs need a much larger tank. if its the same size puffer, and is pretty much just as messy, why would the SAP need a larger tank than the f8?

2) SAPs are supposed to be one of the most docile puffers for freshwater, therefore, couldn't they be kept just fine with DP's (assuming the claims i've read about irrubescos being kept with DPs are accurate) given enough space and plenty of hiding places?

3) if f8's are caught in freshwater in the wild, why do they do better in brackish water in captivity.

just a few things i've though about the past day or two, just wondering all of these out of curiosity. thanks

[nickit863]

1) SAPs need more room becase there more active for the most part.
2) I have heard great success stories with thos 2 being together (just break lines of sight)
3) Because they will eventually make their way to a brackish environment throughout their lives.

hope all was helpful....

[side19]

ok thanks. like i said it was just some stuff i was wondering. again thanks for those quick answers.

[nickit863]

anytime...

[Agnate]

All my comments are in addition to what nickit863 said.

1) SAPs are a shoaling fish (unlike other puffers), so they tend to be kept in groups. I believe they have a tank volume rule similar to F8s (F8s is 15 gallons for the first, and 10 gallons for each additional F8), so you can potentially keep more SAPs than F8s in a similarly large tank (due to the shoaling of SAPs). I think SAPs also come from moderately-flowing rivers, so longer/larger tanks are preferred.

2) You can theoretically keep many different puffers together, but it rarely works out well because of the small sizes of our aquariums when compared to lakes/rivers/oceans. DPs and SAPs are probably two you could keep together with a large tank, heavy planting, lots of caves/rocks, and lots of snails/shrimp for the puffers to play with. We usually discourage mixing puffers together among beginner and intermediate hobbyists because it's hard to gauge whether or not things will work out. I still only consider myself an intermediate hobbyist, so I don't usually try to mix puffers (with the exception of my marine tank).