F8 Puffers, interesting set-up

[Gooburz]

So i am new to this forum and I have had puffer fish for over a year now. Currently I am running a tall 15 gallon tank with 4 F8 Puffers and they have lived in that tank for a year, in 2 months they will be moving into a new home in a 40 Gallon aquarium home. Now I have read just about everything about these guys and have seen TONS of conflicting info about them and tank size to fish ratio and filtration and water changes blah blah blah.

You may say the tank is too small and they are not happy but the fact remains they have lived in the 15 gallon tank (57 Liters) for just over a year now and couldn't be happier, they have plenty of hiding places and never nip or bother each other.

As far as what the tank is running. Current filter from day 1 is a Marineland Penguin 200, Aqueon Circulation pump 500, of course a heater and air pump. The biggest thing you need with these fish is the Circulation pump and a good filter designed to filter at minimum double your tank and having a bio wheel helps as well. I swear by the product Prime to detox your nitrite and nitrate. I do water changes every other week about 25-30% along with test chemicals every 3rd day.

So there you have it F8's can do just fine with multiple ones in a 15 Gallon/57 Liter tank. Soon they will be moved to the 40 Gallon tank. and I swear their favorite game is to swim up to the Circulation pump and go for a ride and then do it over again. I've watched them for hours taking turns swimming up to it then going for a ride only to do it all over again. VERY fun fish to watch and they love to put on a show when i'm watching.

[J-P]

what are your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels?

[bertie 83]

40g is too small for 4 f8, 15 g is ridiculous. Why not house your fish properly so you can enjoy them more?

[sgtmyers88]

Yes there is A LOT of misinformation out there but this place is the best place to go for the longevity of your puffers. You can easily get them to live 10-15 years if taken care of properly. It is good you that have extra sources of filtration as it is a MUST with puffers! But unless your F8's are under 1-2 inches they do need MUCH more swimming space than what is being provided, especially as they mature, even for a 40 gallon. Any chance you can get a 55-75 gallon tank instead? I see them selling all the time on Craigslist for $100-$200 bucks for everything you need.

Check this out: viewtopic.php?f=68&t=28692

[Nuclear_Glitter]

How big are they now, and how big were they when you got them?

[J-P]

and read:
viewtopic.php?f=38&t=28645

[Pufferpunk]

You can easily get them to live 10-15 years if taken care of properly.

More like, 15-20. 1 year out a possible 20, is nothing.

Better info: viewtopic.php?f=68&t=28692

[Gooburz]

well the good news is I have found a 55 Gal that someone does not want all i have to do is buy a new lamp for the tank. sucks i can't set it up now but i'm moving in a month so no need setting it up right now i will set it up at the new place. as far as my F8's I thought they were DP's when i first got them but now they are about 1.5 inches. Like i said they have been super happy and never been unhealthy, but i will feel better putting them into the bigger tank.

Maybe i'm lucky and my puffers have been happy and healthy in what is considered to people as a smaller tank, but they will be moving soon and pics to come once they are housed in a new place.

Now question is do i go with a sand bottom or should i stick with the fine coral? i've seen people say sand is must or the way to go but figured i'd ask now before setting up the new home.

[RTR]

Unless your definition of "happy"includes the chance of a long life, I have to disagree with you.

You have not responded to questions about the tank water:

Specific gravity?

pH?

Ammonia?

Nitrite?

Nitrate?

[GSPicthus]

I believe sand is a necessity for the species of puffers that bury them selves like congos. F8's and GSP's dont bury them selves so your fine with either sand or coral whatever your preference. I currently have a GSP in a 75 gallon with a gravel bottom (relax I will be changing it soon). I haven't had time to change out the substrate but when I do I plan on doing a mixture of live sand and crushed coral.

Yes 15 gallon is two small for adults f8's but there is nothing wrong with having a starter tanks or grow out tanks. Which it sounds exactly like this person is doing because they already stated they are moving up to a 40 gallon. Since f8's don't get bigger than 3" I don't see why a 40 is to small for a while especially if there is no bulling going on.

All I have to say is nothing is learned from Tank Size Elitists. I haven't been on this forum long but man am I seeing a lot of it here. Some people make the mistake of buying before doing their research but they have the fish now and we need to help them. Not everyone can run right out and buy a 125 gallon tomorrow. Lets try to be help full and encourage noobies not bash them for mistakes.

My GSP is in a 75 gallon I best go get a bigger tank before I am told its to small .

[Gooburz]

My apologies for the tank conditions. I posed and forgot to mention that, and yes the 15 Gallon tank was a starter tank for them and now since they are growing up they will be moved to a larger tank. I'll be picking up the 55 Gallon tank at some point today or tomorrow and since the 4 of them have lived together for a year with no fin nipping or bullying and the water conditions have been kept dam near perfect i don't see the complaints or problem. And in 1 month they will be in their 55 Gal aquarium which will be running a Penguin 350 and the 200 that i'm using now so it will be OVER filtered along with the Circulation 500 (might get a 2nd one of those). I can't see a reason to go larger than a 55Gal for 4 F8 puffers considering they are only going to get about 3-3.5 inches.

Only fear i have is when i move them to the other tank, i've seen people post about how the puffers get depressed or don't take change well but we'll see. And thank you for the info GSPicthus, i do agree with you that you see a lot of people who are "Tank Elitists". I mean who cares as long as the fish are doing well in a well taken care of tank and the fish are happy? Never understood that....

SP: 1.006
pH: 7.7
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite and Nitrate: stay around .10 or lower

[J-P]

.1 for Nitrate is really really good. Almost too good. Are you certain it is not 10? Even at 10 that is awesome considering the water change volume and the stocking levels.

Nitrite shouldn't be readable with a test kit. Something is off somewhere.

[Gooburz]

.1 for Nitrate is really really good. Almost too good. Are you certain it is not 10? Even at 10 that is awesome considering the water change volume and the stocking levels.

Nitrite shouldn't be readable with a test kit. Something is off somewhere.

oops my bad yes 10 not .1. thats my bad.

and i still am fairly new to aquariums in general, i've gotten most of my info from my father who runs a full salt 150 gal and i've always wanted 1 and once i read about puffers i had to have them. So ANY info is good as long as its not people trying to knock what others have as a set up. suggestions are always welcome. And as far as how the puffers look their bellies are nice and white their yellow markings have always been a good shade of yellow however 2 of them have a lighter brown/black and the other 2 have always been a dark black (plus yellow stripes) i'm guessing that is normal because the ones i've seen in the stores are the same.

[bertie 83]

You should not be showing any nitrite

[RTR]

Tank Size Elitists have healthy, long lived, full sized fish. They also have pristine water conditions and never have stunted fish. They are reseponsible for most of the advances in the captive husbandry of fish and other aquatics. Generally they are knowledgeable about the husbandry of captive organisms in semi-closed systems. They also tend to return more fish to hobby than even they have killed while learning how to operate sustainable captive organisms.

Ephemeral hobbyists do not stay in hobby for long. They show poor to no understanding of captive bio-systems and consider a two-to-three year old fish long-lived. They contribute nothing of significance to the hobby, but they are not around for very long so their effects and influence are transitory.

Every hobbyist gets to choose which path they will follow. The ephemerals' tanks end up in yard sales or sale lists and provide bargains for others who are learning the hobby. The Tank Size Elitists offer advice to those interested in learning how to keep captive aquatic organisms.

Pure personal choice.