Newbie and Tank size vs Puffer

Dwarf, Red Eye, South American & more. Freshwater puffer talk in here.
Post Reply
DAgua
Puffer Fry
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2010 9:25 pm
Location (country): USA-Oregon

Newbie and Tank size vs Puffer

Post by DAgua »

Hello all I am new to this forum and let me say thank you right away, I have been reading and visiting LFS and reading more. :shock:
all of the Local Fish Stores want to sell me a fish, any fish I want LOL :?

I have a 45 hex with Dwarf Cichs and planted, I have a 100+ gal corner tank that is currently saltwater... I did it and know I can, it is just so much work for me and when I am gone my fish sitter. So I am going back to FW-
I do not have the same size restrictions as a normal tank so I have been looking at what puffer would be best for this tank and me. Tahaka, Mba or Cross river Puffer?

also my tank is a plexiglass is that good for a big puffer?
5 gal Snail tank
17 gal dwarf puffer tank (new baby Fahaka)
45 gal hex unused
55 gal dwarf cichlids
90 gal unused
110 gal Fahaka Puffer
240 gal getting ready to put it up
User avatar
trekenk
Fahaka Puffer
Posts: 674
Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2005 2:53 am
Location: Ontario Canada

Re: Newbie and Tank size vs Puffer

Post by trekenk »

Here is a link to our library on freshwater puffers.
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/?g2_GAL ... b221d9cea3

Mbu is defiantly out you need 800 - 1000 gallons for those guys Fahaka minimum 125 gallon so cross that one of also. Not sure about the Cross River I believe their requirements are the same as the Fahaka if you can even find one available for sale. If you do I believe they go for about $500.00- $700.00.

Welcome to The Puffer Forum.
User avatar
xrayjeeper83
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 4167
Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 9:31 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: Fahaka named Bloat
Abei named Huey
GSP named Bacon
Location (country): USA
Location: Orange Park, FL

Re: Newbie and Tank size vs Puffer

Post by xrayjeeper83 »

120G is better then a 125 for a Fahaka due to the footprint
RTR wrote:Fahakas do not have tank mates, they may have swimming food reserves.
User avatar
Flutter
Former Staff Member
Posts: 2938
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2009 5:43 pm
Location (country): Canada

Re: Newbie and Tank size vs Puffer

Post by Flutter »

Or larger if you can as PP thinks her Fahaka is stunted in his 125gal with (I'm assuming) 50% weekly changes.
It is absurd to talk of one animal being higher than another. We consider those, when the cerebral structure/intellectual faculties most developed, as highest. A bee doubtless would when the instincts were.
Charles Darwin
DAgua
Puffer Fry
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2010 9:25 pm
Location (country): USA-Oregon

Re: Newbie and Tank size vs Puffer

Post by DAgua »

thank you all,

I do understand the tank size for Fahaka- and the footprint of the tank

however every thing I read the size tank is due to the turning room for the Puffer- so does that change if the foot print of your tank allows the Puffer plenty of room to turn and swim?

My tank is a very large triangle 110 gal.

what puffer do you guys recommend? I am thinking only 1 fish in the tank

also when people are talking about high maint. can any body put that into perspective for me- I have a 50 gal hex tank live plants with Dwarf cichlids and a Rena xp2 this is a no maint tank to me- water changes and checking the levels of ph, nitrates ect ect... :D

then I have a 12 gal. Nano Saltwater Tank - water changes every week, water evap. almost daily, chemistry levels checks ect ect ect..... little higher :)

then the 110 gal. Saltwater - with fish, coral, and shrimp very high maint. :shock:

I have always wanted a puffer - however I want to make sure I choose the right fish for me and my life style so that my fish is very happy LOL I like to spoil them
as my saltwater fish get fed daily or every other day 5 different types of food. (this can be very time consuming since you have to take care not to over feed) :lol:

I would like a fairly larger Puffer- what should I look at? please help a fish lover out
thx
5 gal Snail tank
17 gal dwarf puffer tank (new baby Fahaka)
45 gal hex unused
55 gal dwarf cichlids
90 gal unused
110 gal Fahaka Puffer
240 gal getting ready to put it up
User avatar
J-P
Former Staff Member
Posts: 5626
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:21 am
Gender: Male
Location (country): Japan
Location: Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan

Re: Newbie and Tank size vs Puffer

Post by J-P »

corals are high maintenance AFAIK ... would be you open to keeping the SW set up but going FOWLR?

That would open more doors to you.
if you follow me, you avoid stepping in the crap that I just did...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZR55G ... pqlgec1A2Q
User avatar
Ohyouknow
Fahaka Puffer
Posts: 756
Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 2:26 pm
My Puffers: Vicious (T. Lineatus - Fahaka)
Location (country): Indiana, USA.
Contact:

Re: Newbie and Tank size vs Puffer

Post by Ohyouknow »

If the SW is too high maintanance for your fish-sitter, you could go freshwater... However, what are the dimensions of your tank? It's great that your tank could offer a wide turning radius for a large fish, however, that may be all it's doing all the time if it does not have a length to swim - which is why the 'footprint' is a concern.

If the larger puffs are out of the question, maybe you can get two of the medium puffs? Not sure which FW puffs would be tolerant - but perhaps given enough space in a large tank it's possible?

Or you could do like, 32 dwarf puffs... (kidding)
Image
Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.
RTR
Mentor
Posts: 6155
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 4:39 pm
Gender: Male
Location (country): East Coast, USA

Re: Newbie and Tank size vs Puffer

Post by RTR »

Your approximately triangular tank would allow the fish to turn only in the center of the tank - not a good thing, That tank is totally unsuitable for a large puffer. Mid-sized puffers would do much better.
Where's the fish? - Neptune
DAgua
Puffer Fry
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2010 9:25 pm
Location (country): USA-Oregon

Re: Newbie and Tank size vs Puffer

Post by DAgua »

Can somebody tell me what are some nice mid size puffers- active, larger size again I would like to only have 1 or 2 fish (larger) in this tank
5 gal Snail tank
17 gal dwarf puffer tank (new baby Fahaka)
45 gal hex unused
55 gal dwarf cichlids
90 gal unused
110 gal Fahaka Puffer
240 gal getting ready to put it up
RTR
Mentor
Posts: 6155
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 4:39 pm
Gender: Male
Location (country): East Coast, USA

Re: Newbie and Tank size vs Puffer

Post by RTR »

GSPs and Ceylons are both mid-sized to me, both are active high-personality fish and interactive with their owners. Either would do for a pair in your ~triangular tank, but getting small fish to start, preferably purchased together from the same tank, would be the safest bet for long-term coexistence.

Both however are BW to SW (better in SW). Non-trivial upkeep is required with any puffers.
Where's the fish? - Neptune
Post Reply