Hello! Questions about SAPS

[Wills]

Hi! New to this board but been keeping fish for about 5 years now, with a small break in there somewhere.

One of my dream set ups is a 30 gallon tank for puffers ideally I want to keep a trio (maybe more?) or South American Puffers - though I would consider perhaps some of the brackish species but would rather go for SAPs.

Ive done a lot of reading about these for a long time and know all about their need for over filtration and also their need for snails and shellfish for their teeth as well as the teeth trimming all of which I know I would and can do

I would like to keep a few species with them and I have heard of people doing this with some success but never heard of specific species that have worked any ideas or suggestions for tank mates? I like to keep my fish in some what of a biotope so South and Central American fish please

I have heard of some people keeping Red Eye Red Tailed Dwarf Puffers with good success what do you think to this? I had a group of these a while ago but moved them on due to the tank being small for them but managed to find a great home for them with a true Puffer fan But I would love to try these again.

Thanks any tips, advice are greatly appreciated

Wills

[J-P]

welcome to the forum!!!

ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/C_Asell ... b521a7623a

I wouldn't"t go SAPs in a 30. They are schooling fish and like to be kept in groups.

That make the 30 far too small for these manic little guys.

[Wills]

Oh? But most sites list their tank size around 15/20g including the link you provided. I mean I know the saying minimum requirements, minimum return but is a 30g really to small for these fish?

Do you think there are any other species that would be an alternative? I want something relatively active rather than lurker ones obviously no monsters etc and Im not going to do Dwarf Puffers as following the guide of 5g per puff makes 6 small fish in a 3 foot tank....

Thanks for the reply
Wills

[J-P]

Well because the SAPS have to be kept in a group of 3+ that makes the tank too small.

DPs are another species that will do well but with lots of plants so they can each stake out their "territory. Given their small size they may be a tad difficult to find at times.

Depending on what you can get:
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/
is a good place to start. Or see what you can get and research it here first.

[Wills]

hmmm thanks for trying to help, like I say dwarf puffers are a no no, I have a nano fresh water tank at the moment with tiny fish and small fish that hide away just do nothing for me.

I will have a rethink and a remeasure and see what to do. What size tank would you see as suitable for 5 or so of these?

Wills

[J-P]

I'd go 60 gal long. The longer the better. I have 3 in a 55 at the moment and they enjoy it for the most part. I could fit a 4th in there but not a 5th.

[Pufferpunk]

tank size around 15/20g including the link you provided.

That's per puffer--really, it's 15g for the 1st one & 10g for each more added. A 55g would be perfect for 3-4 SAPs.

[Wills]

Ah okay thanks very much I understand now

Okay so I measured up and a 125 really is all I can fit so it looks like I will have to put the SAPs back on the wish list.

I'll have an other look through the pufferpedia though must have read it over and over by now haha! Its got to be the best puffer resource on the net.

While Im doing that if you could answer this question - If you had a 30 gallon tank what kind (s) of puffer would you keep in there and how many?

thanks again for replies

Wills

[Pufferpunk]

I have a 125g on a metal stand & have lots of room for other tanks underneath.

[danielh144]

Hi Wills,

You were mentioned a 30 gallon, as i'm a young brit gallons are too old school so i'm going to talk in litres! Assuming your tank is the smaller american gallon you've got 113 litres to play with! (Else with imperial gallons you've got a whacking 136 litres!)

If thats the case (113L) I wouldn't see any problem with 2 SAP's, 3 might be a push, i'd go for a canister filter that will do twice the capacity of the tank and do water changes once a week! + make sure the tank has lots of plants wood and nooks and crannies for them to hide in! But an open space for them to buzz about!

I have 3 in a 150 litre any they are happy little guy's, very personable i.e follow me about, each has different personalities and are one of the most interesting little fish i've owned!

Whilst it is true SAP's do prefer company from my experience they mainly group together at night (Mine like to sleep together on a mossy coconut) during they day its every puffer for its self! Individuals are ok but tend to surf the glass more!

In terms of other tank mates you are limited to the temperament of your puffer, some will share and others won't, so its a game of hit and miss and being prepared to remove a fish they don't like!

You wanted to keep an South American biotope then you could try a Bristlenose Pleco, they're retiring, quite hardy and territorial, so won't let the SAP's get their own way + help to keep the algae down!

I would also try to keep the SAP''s (or any fish for that matter) with shrimp, if they eat them fine its good for the dentistry, if they don't then shimp are excellent at cleaning up and are good barometers of water quality!

If you wanted to drop the South american biotope you could mix SAP with dwarf puffers (i'd try to get females), if you heavily plant the tank and are tactical with feeding as the SAP's will out compete the dwarfs for food there shouldn't be a problem.

Hope all this helped! Good luck with what ever you choose.

Dan

[RTR]

Gallons may be old school, but that is the way tanks are sold and sized in this country. This site is international, but it uses the English language in the USA version, and gives tank sizes in US gallons.

Under all poster's identity is their country of residence, so you can tell what system they are likely to use.

HTH

[danielh144]

thats why I was talking in litres!!! Tanks in this country are sold using both scales!

[Mac Myers]

I'd go 60 gal long. The longer the better. I have 3 in a 55 at the moment and they enjoy it for the most part. I could fit a 4th in there but not a 5th.

Glad to hear that as I have 3 SAP's coming tomorrow for a well established 55 Gallon.