What puffer should I get :)?

[André. L]

Hello ya all, though this is my first thread I'm not new to this forum

As a student, it is a must that I bring my 30 gallon thank when I move out in not too long. In that occasion, I will give away the few fish that swim around here these says, in advantage of a freshwater puffer. I have wanted one for quite some time, but haven't been enough home to be able to take care of it...

As said, it's 30 gallons (about 110 litres), and the puffer will have it for himself when the time comes. There's a possibility that the tank have to be moved once or twice times per year, so I hope the puffer can handle this, though it will most likely stay in the same place for at least a year at a time.
When it's such a cool fish, you will of course start to love it no matter what species you end up with, still I'm wondering which one is the perfect one for me. I would like one with a descent size (since it will be the only fish in the tank), and it's a plus if it is tough enough to endure not having half its tank cleaned every week (in case I should forget it on a rainy day). I have kept a small red-eyed puffer before, in addition to quite a lot of "normal" fishes over the years, so I think I have the experience to keep this fish.

The species I would like the most is the following:
- Tetraodon miurus (though it may be harder to get one)
- Tetraodon bayeli
- Tetraodon suvatti
- Tetraodon abei
- Tetraodon palembangensis (slightly lower on the list)

Your opinion is appreciated, and I can't wait to get my baby home ^^

[Pufferpunk]

I think although ALL the puffers on your list are difficult species to find, the suvattii is probably the easiest. T6he palembang. will outgrow a 30g. If you have some fishkeeping experience under your belt, maybe you'd like to try one of the more commonly found species that are brackish, like the biocellatus or nigroviridis?

[André. L]

Yeah I know they're all hard to find, but I talked to my local dealer (where I also worked for a shorter period ^^), and he could order at least T. palembang, Suvatti and possibly baileyi, so that won't be a problem

Though the brackish puffers are more vivid and colorful, it's the shape and the weird nature that catches my interest with the listed puffers :p, so I'll think I'll go with freshwater. Are any of the listed ones less sensitive than others, or are they pretty much equally tough?

[Pufferpunk]

Sll pretty much the same... All may be difficult to get on dead foods (see the articles in our Library). Also may need to be treated for IPs.

The palemgang. grows the largest, requiring a 40g tank.

[André. L]

Allright, I guess palembang is out then, and I'll probably get the one I can get my hands on first, heheh. Thank you

[André. L]

A hairy puffer is now on his way to the fish store, I will pick him up in a couple weeks

I recently tested my water values, and the results was:

pH 7-7,3
Nitrate 10-15ppm
Nitrite ~0,03-0,05ppm
Temp. 23'C

Is this ok for the puffer, or should I try to lover the nitrite a little?

The tank is fully cycled...

[Flutter]

Yes, the nitrite needs to be lowered. A cycled tank has 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and shows nitrates.

[xrayjeeper83]

agreed with what flutter says.

Get those numberd down more, its not fully cycled yet

[Pufferpunk]

How exactly are you cycling that tank? Ammonia levels?

[André. L]

The aquarium is inhabited by 10 rainbowfish and some loaches, which has lived there for a couple years:). In other words, it's been cycled in the "natural way". So the plan is to sell them the day I get the puffer.

I've just cleaned the filter a little and changed about 30% of the water. I'll try changing this much water for some days now, and see if the nitrite goes away.
I don't currently have the equipment needed to measure the ammonia levels, will purchase this the next time I visit the store...

[xrayjeeper83]

Im going to guess that you are overstocked and thats why the levels are off

[André. L]

Not impossible, though it have appeared to me that the amount of fish have been balanced the last year. Except from the 10 rainbowfish, there are just 1 or 2 kuhlii loaches (I just moved the rest of the loaches to another tank). I changed from gravel to sand a week ago, so its also possible that a bit too many friendly bacterias dissapeared then, which may have been the cause.

[xrayjeeper83]

thats a possiblity also, but id wait till i got all those levels to where they should be before adding a puffer. They are very sensitive to water conditions.
Ammonia and nitrites should be 0 nitrates less then 10

[André. L]

Okay I got the ammonia test kit, and it showed 0. The nitrite value is still the same, I'll keep changing 30-50% for a couple days..

[Pufferpunk]

Are you still keeping that tank stocked?