Figure Eight Puffers

londonloco · Post by **londonloco** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 3:26 pm

At my LFS today, and he had the cutest, most adorable, healthy looking figure 8's. Three of them. I feel in love. One was so attentive to me he actually made me feel he "wanted" me to take him home. Being a good girl, and not wanting to "impulse" buy, together with the fact this would be for my daughters tank

I walked out :29: If I can get her to go for them, and I think all I have to do is bring her to them...I need help.

They are in freshwater in LFS. I have that 30 gallon cube FS tank set up waiting on these Irrubuscos I can't find. I would like everyone's opinions. How many can I have? (please tell me 2, I do 20%-50% weekly water changes on my tanks). They eat snails? Blood worms? Freshwater mysis? What plants can I keep in brackish water...I've noticed some online plant sites actually have brackish water plant packs, do they work, or are they a rip? I use Instant Ocean salt, how much to bring the tank up SLOWLY to the target specific gravity of 1.005 to 1.008? Over what period of time? I read the article here, I would like to get everyones's personal experience/expertise also.... Ok, you all get the pic. I can't wait for her to get home from school!

Raphael · Post by **Raphael** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 3:44 pm

You could fit 2 F8s in that 30 gallon. You should perform 50% weekly water changes. F8s will eat bloodworms, cockels and mussels. I believe that the only true brackish plant is Java Fern. You should aim for 1.005 and raise no more than .002 per week. There is no harm in doing .001 per week.

londonloco · Post by **londonloco** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 3:48 pm

Raphael, if you were here, I would kiss you. I almost ran out and picked her up from school, but didn't........

TheSmJ · Post by **TheSmJ** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 3:56 pm

I would think 3 F8s would get along in a 30G tank. They generally require 10G/fish when full grown.

londonloco · Post by **londonloco** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 3:58 pm

Now, this is a 30 gallon cube, so it's about 21inches by 21 inches....still 3 ok?

Peregrine · Post by **Peregrine** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 4:03 pm

Add snails and krill to the menu that Raphael listed as well...little better crunch value..

I would stick with 2--even that is pushing it in a cube--longer is better
but with over filtration, 50% weekly water changes, and good feeding practices..should be OK

I have 2 in a 33 Hex..and even though it is heavily decorated, and has a strong circular current..they sometime slip into the pacing game..

Raphael--you give your guys mussels?..do you cut the mussel up..or pop one in whole(open)...just curious..I mean a mussel is relatively big to a F8
Mine might like that...just don't want to over feed

Jager · Post by **Jager** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 4:04 pm

umm probably 2 then three would be a tad much for that. you may want to even look at a single f8 for that 21 inches is a ten gallon long side.

whats the depth of tank?

londonloco · Post by **londonloco** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 4:07 pm

HEY GUYS, it's a cube..about 21x21x21...lol.....I'm going with two. He has two in one tank, and a third in another tank. I'm sure he moved the one because they were not getting along.;;;;

lisalisa · Post by **lisalisa** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 4:09 pm

I do belive that would hold ~40 gallons then. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong here.

Jager · Post by **Jager** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 4:15 pm

well saying its a cube and having it be a true cube tank can be two different things. hence the asking. if its a 30 gallon then its a little over 15 inches high. if it is a 40 gallon then you could do 2 for their life. i think youd have a good tank.

Peregrine · Post by **Peregrine** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 4:20 pm

Dumb math question...are the gal conversions set up on internal or external measurements?

Would a 21" (external measurement) cube not hold a little over 30 gal
given loss of volume to glass width, overlap, and fill level?

Raphael · Post by **Raphael** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 4:22 pm

I put the mussel on the end of a clothes peg and dip it at the surface of the water where they bite small chunks out of it.

Jager · Post by **Jager** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 4:30 pm

nope its set to external mesaurments as far as ive been treating it. cause a ten gallon tank at 10x12x21 is 10.90 gallons

Raphael · Post by **Raphael** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 4:33 pm

TheSmJ wrote:I would think 3 F8s would get along in a 30G tank. They generally require 10G/fish when full grown.

F8s prefer 15 gallons each. It is not recommended to keep then in 10 gallons although you could maybe keep 2 in a 25 gallon. BTW, Londonloco good luck.

Phaedrus · Post by **Phaedrus** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 6:28 pm

Don't count on having a lot of live plants unless you keep it very low brackish. ~1.004-1.005 ish. Stick to easy to grow, hardy plants. http://www.tropica.com You can get a list of plants that will supposedly tollerate mild brackish conditions from that website if you go into advanced search.

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