suggestions please?

[jonboy8465]

Hi all first time of posting. I`ve got a spare 48 inch x 15 inch x 12 inch tank with a sand substrate and would love to keep a puffer or puffers. what would you all suggest as an interesting set up?

[edmlfc1]

Welcome to the puffer forum. You can find many different species of puffers that might fit your setup under the learn tap at the top of the page. Then click on pufferpedia.

[jonboy8465]

thanks for your reply, I have looked through the freshwater section and seen several I like especially the coloured Congo puffers. I was after some personal views from members who already keep puffers and have experience of the different varieties, what are easy ,what are difficult. I`ve been keeping tropicals for about 3 yrs and have about 25 tanks on the go at present. I keep seeing puffers in the lfs`s and would like to do a species tank. I only see figure 8`s, spotted and mbuna`s but would like to try and track down something different.

[edmlfc1]

From what I understand the colored congo's are difficult to find. Pufferpunk had a red one, she can tell you about her's. I think someone else on here has an orange one.

[marksrush]

A Congo puffer would definitely be cool, but they really don't need a tank that big. You would be tempted to put in other fish, which *might* work, but more likely you would eventually end up with no other fish and a very fat puffer.

As far as easy vs. difficult...most of the biggies on this site would probably tell you that, in general, puffers should only be taken on by experienced aquarists - and you seem to be one, so you'll probably be fine.

[pufferpuggirl]

Hi,
All of my tanks but one have a sandy substrate, I like it much better and I think the fish like it better too.
In my opinion, the easiest puffers to have would be the Dwarf and the South American. I have both of them together in the same tank and they have never fought, no biting or nipping, and no problems. You can even have other fish in the tank with them both. I used to have Tetras in with mine, but then moved them to another tank. So if you're looking for ease with little to no problems, I would suggest Dwarf and/or South American puffers.
I also keep Red-Eye puffers, 1 Figure 8 (all by himself, poor thing) and then the twins, Boris & Natascha, my Suvattii's.
Good luck with your puffer venture, please keep us informed as to what you finally settle on and how it goes once you have it going.
Don't forget that Puffers need to go into a FULLY cycled tank, they won't be able to cope if the tank isn't through it's cycling period.

Cheers!

[Pufferpunk]

My SAP always had bite marks on it from the dwarves.

[jonboy8465]

thank you all for your replies. how many dwarfs or saps would you recommend for a 4ft tank? what are the red eyes like to keep? I think I would prefer to keep a solitary puffer if the smaller ones can be aggressive in a crowd. any suggestions for one big ugly mother for this tank?

[Pufferpunk]

The "Humpback" puffer, T Palembangensis, is beautiful but ugly at the same time, with that hunched back. Requieres a little larger tank than some of the others, so might appreciate one your size.

[jonboy8465]

thanks pufferpunk. that looks a possibility and seems ok to look after.
http://www.seriouslyfish.com/profile.ph ... sis&id=868

[Pufferpunk]

Look in our Pufferpedia for profiles right here.

[Camaro95]

thank you all for your replies. how many dwarfs or saps would you recommend for a 4ft tank? what are the red eyes like to keep?

If you want my vote, get 3 or 4 dwarves. You would have an active tank with the possibility of tankmates. Just make sure you have an ample supply of baby snails or baby ghost shrimp. If you run out of them, you can always feed frozen food for a couple days until you can get some more. My local Petsmart always gives away free snails.

"You want snails or want to get rid of them?"
I would like them.
"Ok well we have these mystersy snails over here, $5 each"
No, no. Not those ones. The one's infesting your plants and your guppy tanks.
"Oh...ok?" Dirty look "Why do you need them"
My puffer eats them.
"Oh. Normally we have people asking how to get rid of them."
Have them call me!

Of course, like any other puffer tank you would need plenty of decor and caves and stuff. It would be really cool and easy to take care of.