SAPs - 6 in a 125L tank?

[wayne_rowley]

Hi there,

A quick question about SAPs - the puffer library recommends approximately 15G per fish, yet the article in the puffer library on the SAP states "a pack of half a dozen specimens would look great in a 125-180 litre/33-44 gallon tank".

That is a much higher stocking level!

Only asking as I have a 120L planted tank cycling and would like to keep some puffers and 3-4 SAPs would be very cool!

Thanks,
Wayne

[Christemo]

Give them 15 gallons each. They produce a lot of waste, and it's always better to go on the larger side.

[wayne_rowley]

Give them 15 gallons each. They produce a lot of waste, and it's always better to go on the larger side.

Hi there,

Thanks for the reply. It is frustrating as I would love to give them 15 gallons each, but that would limit me to only 2 SAPs, and I know from various articles that they really need to be in a group of at least 3 to be happy which means that really the minumum tank size for keeping SAPs is 44 gallons?

Given that Neale Monk's article on SAPs is more recent, and suggests a much higher stocking ratio, than the info in the PufferPedia I was wondering how up-to-date this information is.

Wayne

[Christemo]

Give them 15 gallons each. They produce a lot of waste, and it's always better to go on the larger side.

Hi there,

Thanks for the reply. It is frustrating as I would love to give them 15 gallons each, but that would limit me to only 2 SAPs, and I know from various articles that they really need to be in a group of at least 3 to be happy which means that really the minumum tank size for keeping SAPs is 44 gallons?

Given that Neale Monk's article on SAPs is more recent, and suggests a much higher stocking ratio, than the info in the PufferPedia I was wondering how up-to-date this information is.

Wayne

You can always keep one. Will they like it very much? Nah. Two would be fine together.
The up to date information really doesn't do much. It's not like there are headlines that say "BREAKING NEWS: SAPS can now be kept in smaller tanks". It goes by experience, and our experience here is to keep one SAP in a 15 gallon tank.

[Nick]

I think the idea with SAPs is that since they do better in groups, it's not as much of a big deal to overstock them in larger tank, IF you keep on top of water conditions - however, they like to move a LOT, so even a 15 gallon is kind of small for one.

[wayne_rowley]

Okay - thanks!

[wayne_rowley]

Thanks for the replies. I think on reflection I am going to go back to my original plan of dwarf puffers. I would want to do SAPs justice and I think my tank is just too small.

So dwarf puffers (around 6), otos and shrimp it is!!

Now if the tank will hurry up and finish cycling...

Wayne