M. suvattii or M. palembangensis for a newbie to puffers?

[emartin]

Hi I am a newbie to Puffers but not to keeping fish (I breed African Cichlids). I am looking to keep a Puffer in a 40g-Br tank. Can one of either of those species fit in that tank and which species do you think I should get? The M. palembangensis is currently available locally at the size of 5" but I emailed the seller if he ever gets smaller ones in. M. suvattii isn't available locally but I think I can get my LFS to get them in (I rarely buy fish from them since they buy craploads of hormoned African Cichlids from Asia, but in the case of getting a puffer apparently Asia is the best source).

What should be the tank decor? I was thinking of having it with a sand gravel (I have leftover 3m Colorquartz that I used in my other tanks that I'd likely use), some large rocks, and maybe either fake plants or a rock cave or pvc pipe for use as a cave. For filtration I was thinking of either two AC-50s, one AC-70, or one AC-100.

Thanks,
~Ed

[Homer]

Your tank could definitely house either one of the two species you have listed comfortable, since the Suvatti requires min. 30G, and 40G for a Palembang... so tank size shouldn't be an issue, just a question of which one you prefer more???

As for tank decor, lots of caves / hiding places with big leaf plants on drift wood and sand is definitely a good idea as well since they do sometimes like to burry themselves...

Lastly when it comes to filtration, most would argue the more the better since puffers are very messy eaters, and do tend to leave a fair bit of waste after a big meal

[marksrush]

Welcome to the forum!

When you wrote "40g-Br", did you mean you want to set up a 40g brackish tank?

[emartin]

Welcome to the forum!

When you wrote "40g-Br", did you mean you want to set up a 40g brackish tank?

No I meant the 40gal breeder size tank versus a 40gal-Long. The difference is the 40g-br is 3ft long but 18" wide and the standard 40g is 4ft long and 13" wide.

[Bogwoodbruce]

Ive not kept ever species but have worked with them both and still currently work with suvatti. I personally prefer suvatti based on the fact that you can have a group of them. But if you want a single id go with a palembang

[marksrush]

Welcome to the forum!

When you wrote "40g-Br", did you mean you want to set up a 40g brackish tank?

No I meant the 40gal breeder size tank versus a 40gal-Long. The difference is the 40g-br is 3ft long but 18" wide and the standard 40g is 4ft long and 13" wide.

Yes, of course that would be it, a breeder tank. I kept having the feeling that I knew what it meant. Thanks.

[onelove]

"buy craploads of hormoned African Cichlids from Asia"

What fish are you referring to? Flowerhorns? If so, I don't think they're Africans cichlids, but rather a mix of South American Cichlid species..

[emartin]

"buy craploads of hormoned African Cichlids from Asia"

What fish are you referring to? Flowerhorns? If so, I don't think they're Africans cichlids, but rather a mix of South American Cichlid species..

Loads of Malawi Haplochromines and Peacock cichlids...they get them in at like 2-3" and they're all fully colored and fluorescent...after a few weeks the effects of the hormones wear off and they turn into sterile, brown fish and never get any color again.

[Bogwoodbruce]

"buy craploads of hormoned African Cichlids from Asia"

What fish are you referring to? Flowerhorns? If so, I don't think they're Africans cichlids, but rather a mix of South American Cichlid species..

Loads of Malawi Haplochromines and Peacock cichlids...they get them in at like 2-3" and they're all fully colored and fluorescent...after a few weeks the effects of the hormones wear off and they turn into sterile, brown fish and never get any color again.

Dont forget the fact that they are all hybridised crap, which they send out as 'assorted or mixed malawis' 20 yrs ago they used to be good quality and had good breeding stock but a lot of it is bred out.

Although singapore do send out some nice fish though, such as rays and L#s

[onelove]

Speaking of Hybrids, FLowerhorns come to mind. I remember when the fad came in & everyone was selling these "cichlids" with huge heads & bright colors for hundreds even thousands at times. It amazes me how some pay more money for the more deformed. Some of my friends have them & the pattern I noticed was that they tend to grow FAST & then the diseases catch on.