Fahaka Puffers

[puffaman]

How does this 150 gallon tank sound for a fahaka?? It is 50in x 26in x 59in tall (with the base), the tank itself is probably at least 24in tall.
Also I've seen some videos and pictures (above) of fahakas with some clean up mates, I know they are aggressive, but if willing to try what is the best way of doing this? Putting him in a large tank with a large Pleco or some bottom feeders already in the tank while he is still small (3 - 4 inches)?

[qtrhorse89]

Sounds like an excellent sized tank for a Fahaka set up to me. Tank mates vary. It will all depend on your puffer. My fellow lives with a syno decora cat and other than the occasional nipped fin leaves him alone. I just make sure to keep a close eye on everybody. Just remember that Fahakas are very unpredictable and just because it doens't kill something one day doesn't mean it won't help you make some room in the tank the next. It's really all calculated risk on the owners part. Also, they tend to get more aggresive as they get older. So he may accept mates when he's younger and be totatlly intolerant once he ages.

[L!$A]

I knew someone who did have a fahaka in a 180gallon with tank mates.
But those tank mates, did get bitten.

He had:
Clown Knife
Tiger Datnoid
Gourami
2 Giant Spotted Snakeheads


The only fish the fahaka really picked on was the clown knife.. all the other fish were much larger. (Excluding the gourami)
I definately would not suggest any other tankmates... the fahaka just seems to be so much happier when all he has to worry about is himself. Just my two cents!

[Pufferpunk]

I could see the CK bering eadsy to teke bites out of...

My fahaka started out at 1" in a 15g, moved up--20L, 40, 55, 125.

[Pufferpunk]

I could see the CK being easy to take bites out of...

My fahaka started out at 1" in a 15g, moved up--20L, 40, 55, 125.

[pufferfreak]

My 2.5 inch guy was put straight into his 120gallon. Of course now he's breaking 3.5 inches. It's not so bad, the tank looks empty with just him and my 7inch decorus cat in there but I just have to keep reminding myself that soon that tank will be full lol.

I have to agree with LilGreen though I think as they get larger the difficulty in moving them is going to increase exponentially. I know I plan on moving next summer and my plan is to move my fahaka and whatever tank mates he's deemed worthy of living into a 150 gallon tank as his final home. So that's just one move and even then I am not looking forward to it. It's nearly a year away and i've already sat and thought about how i'm going to go about moving a nearly 12 inch puffer.

In general though my fahaka loves his rock overhang and spends most of his time under it. I have sand but have never seen him bury in it although I have seen him blow it around looking for food. He's a charming little fellow and by far my favorite fish.

If i were you i would get a huge school (10-15) of white clouds and just have them in your tank for a nice visual effect. Relatively inexpensive.

[taureandragon76]

That is what I do, quarantine them first though. At least with these if they get eaten who cares, the puff gets a snack and the clouds are cheap. White Clouds also look rather nice when the grow with the green in their finnage.

[DarkStorm]

females get bigger quicker from what I seen I had 3 at one time and the one I kept grew 2x as fast. in 1 month she was 4 inches, while the males were more aggresive to all the other fish Pufferpunk convinced me "finally" to get rid of the males.
I didnt however take any of the cichlids out nor catfish and there still left alone "for now". good luck with your decision. I will say ive had alot of fish and so far the fahaka is the most rewarding I love mine dearly.

[kilofey]

heres the + and - that i have experienced.... it may help you decide

(-) messy as all hell... you have to clean up afer them more frequently than other puffers (more fish more mess)
(+) they really are like a dog. mine even lets me pet the top of his head. he will come to the top of the tank.... i feed him with a pair of tweezers and he takes it right from me... after that, he comes back to the top and points his body down a little and lets me touch the top of his head
(+) i honestly look forward to comming home to him every day... hes the first thing i see when i walk in the door.... greets me even before my cats do... seriously. hes right at the front of the tank
(-) they are EXTREMELY easy to become quickly attached to. my fahaka recently got sick (stupid improper tank switching procedures on my part grrr).... when he got sick, i lost sleep, i checked on him every 15 minutes or so, night and day, i even cried. anyway, he did pull through and i was extatic!!!!
(-/+) at first, your tank may look bare having a 150 gal for just one baby fahaka.... but eventually... your tank will have a spectacular fish in it... hard to miss in any tank.... it sure does make for some bragging rights i know mine does!!!!! also, starting out with a very large tank for a tiny baby will benefit him in the longrun. he will grow much bigger if given the space to start out with.... mine i think has been stunted in his growth.... his former owners had him in a 30gal tall.... so not much horizontal swimming space... or space at all for a 7" fish!!!! hes now 8" but i dont think he will get much bigger due to his small starter tank
***** if you decide to get one.... word of advice, be careful with sand! my fahaka broke 3 filters in 1 month until i smartened up and got gravel!... since they love to burrow, sand gets fluffed up and sucked into the filter. and it will break it almost every time. since i switched to gravel though, never had any issues. overall, they are totally awesome... if you do want sand, look for the heaviest kind you can find and get a mesh filter bag... it goes on the outside of the filter intake and only costs about $1.... also, you will definately want to get a mesh strainer.... they come from any kitchen store or even at walmart for like $5.... fahaka poop is BIG sometimes you will even find whole claws in it... siphons can only pick up light debris...thats when the fine mesh strainer comes in handy... lets you sift out the poop and sand falls through the holes so you only have to siphon out the little stuff... it only takes 2 or 3 extra minutes and keeps your tank much nicer looking

good luck