Puffer for 5' tank

[PolishPuff]

Hi Jeni,

Well, my expediting business hit a peak so I had to drivel a lot. I did 170,000 miles in about a year ( for a solo driver I think its OK ). Now i'm home for a week or two. I did went to new opened Ocean Design. Got some crayfish for my Fahaka.

[Hufferpuffer]

I'm pretty new to this game so want to gain more experience with fresh before going marine although slightly brackish is an option

[Hufferpuffer]

I have Corys and love catfish so it would be great to have a big one. As for rope fish, just think they're cool

[HGI]

Get a fahaka, that 125g rule is a mist, there's no way on earth to actually prove that rule is true, 100g will do fine and fahaka's are a good easy to keep fish. Just don't over feed, keep up on take maintenance and don't put to much deco in the tank so the fish has room to swim around.

[jus85411]

Get a fahaka, that 125g rule is a mist, there's no way on earth to actually prove that rule is true, 100g will do fine and fahaka's are a good easy to keep fish. Just don't over feed, keep up on take maintenance and don't put to much deco in the tank so the fish has room to swim around.

this is an estimate on the size of the fish, approximate bioload produced by it and NO tankmates. you could possibly get away with a 100, but the width of the tank is what worries most puffer enthusiasts. a fahaka will reach 18 inches, and in a 100 or even a 125 you only get 18 1/2 width. barely enough for the fish to turn around, and if he could turn around hes going to be uncomfortable. 120 gallons are suggested because they are 2 feet wide, giving plenty of space for turning around. a 4x2x2 is generally the most suggested tank size for this fish, but if you find a similar gallon tank with a 2 foot width, it would probably work as well, but you would be restricted to no tankmates, and more upkeep.

[Jay]

I currently have a Fahaka in a 120 Gal, 4’X2’X2’. I feel that it’s a good short term only tank. He is currently just over 7.5” and very active and once he reaches 10” will be place in a 180 or 210, it’s all about the footprint. I would not recommend keeping a Fahaka, long term, in your tank, and definitely not with tank mates.

[Pufferpunk]

This is really BAD advice, IMO! My fahaka is in a 125g & never grew to his full size. I wish I had a 180 for him.

[Jay]

Sorry PP if my advice was bad. I was just indicating what I was doing.

[Pufferpunk]

It says your fahaka is in a 120? Why not move him to the 150?

[Jay]

I purchased the 150 on cr--gs l--t and it is in the garage until I can trust it. The footprint difference between the two is only approx 1 foot.

[Pufferpunk]

But the dilution of undissolved metabolites is an extra 20%.

[Jay]

After I trust it I will be bringing it inside.

[Flutter]

Jay, your idea to move your fahaka into a larger tank is a good one. Sounds like you're taking good care of him in that regard.

The bad advice I saw was from HGI, not you.

OP, if I were in your situation I would go with several F8's. The low brackish water is easy and we can help you through it. I had a F8 and she was by far my favourite puffer. You will have the added costs of a refractometer and salt for water changes but those shouldn't be overly expensive. If you want to stick with FW then I would suggest many DPs (I would give them a good 5gal each though) or a group of irrubescos.

[Puffer King]

some spotted congos , would be good ....if you can track any down .......loads of character , interactive and easy to get to handfeed ...

[Pufferpunk]

There are NO spotted Congos available in the aquarium trade. Haven't been in 30 years.

Do shops even sell 100g tanks?