fahakas tail

[sw10mm]

I've only seen my fahaka fan his tail once most of the time its closed and kinda pulled to one side or another he's been in his 200 gallon for over a month n half is he just shy does eat daily a 30% wc every 4 days water prams are good only thing I can think of is he is in the basement with not a lot of traffic

[purplecandle]

RTR explained this one time..something about how they use there tails for movement. I "think" he said something about the tail fanning when stopped or turning, meaning most of time the isn't fanned. Don't quote me, I can't remember exactly what he said!

[defool89]

My fahaka fans it sometimes when he looks like hes streching...i dont see the use of it in captivity much. Maybe in the wild using it to glide fast in the water down river currents, maybe used for a quick burst of speed, or fast turn, or an emergency 180° turn

Its real neat when its out full sail though

[Pufferpunk]

I think Filbert does it to show off & get my attention for food. Can you post a FTS?

[RTR]

The largish puffers in FW don't get much chance to use their caudal fins in captivity unless they are in massive tanks with some strong currents - a 200 gallon tank is large but far from massive. Renber that puffers are not ordinary fish, their swimming techniques are quite unlike other fish, as they have no ribs. Signaling to their keepers - as PP mentioned - is about it, or just stretching.

[Fahaka Fakka]

The largish puffers in FW don't get much chance to use their caudal fins in captivity unless they are in massive tanks with some strong currents - a 200 gallon tank is large but far from massive. Renber that puffers are not ordinary fish, their swimming techniques are quite unlike other fish, as they have no ribs. Signaling to their keepers - as PP mentioned - is about it, or just stretching.

I don´t understand what you mean by Fahakas not using the their caudal fins. Mine is using the caudal fin all the time when turning and swimming around the tank, and it´s probably the most noticeable about his appearance. Pics attached.

[Master of Puffers]

<drools> loverly fahaka<drools>

[Arny]

The largish puffers in FW don't get much chance to use their caudal fins in captivity unless they are in massive tanks with some strong currents - a 200 gallon tank is large but far from massive. Renber that puffers are not ordinary fish, their swimming techniques are quite unlike other fish, as they have no ribs. Signaling to their keepers - as PP mentioned - is about it, or just stretching.

I don´t understand what you mean by Fahakas not using the their caudal fins. Mine is using the caudal fin all the time when turning and swimming around the tank, and it´s probably the most noticeable about his appearance. Pics attached.

Wow what a nice looking fahaka youve got there

[RTR]

Most fish use body and caudal fin for linear propulsion. Puffers cannot, as they lack ribs which anchor the required swimming muscles. Their caudal fins are primarily for turning. This why puffers as a family are classified as slow swimmers. It is also a part of why puffers need such lage tanks compared to to other fish. They can "helicopter' far better than more conventionally muscled and boned fish. Puffers are more blimps than airplanes.

HTH

[G S P Freak]

^+1, puffer tails are more of a rudder then a means of propulsion. I only see my f8 and dp use their tails when they are attempting to stabalize themselves in a current or investigating objects on the bottom.

[Arny]

Ive spooked my puffer before and he used his tail fin to jet round the tank really fast

[Fahaka Fakka]

Meanwhile I think large freshwater puffers can be classified as slow moving swimmers and not using their caudal fin to the same extent as other species, I still think the caudal fin of my Fahaka is absolutely essential for faster movement. I think it also depend on the environment. If you clip the wings of your parrot too early, the parrot will not develop its brain optimally to learn skills such as balancing and talking as effectively.

For instance, my Fahaka had to get used to strong currents early on and at first he was sort of swirling around the tank and I was wondering whether I was making his life a living hell. Then, he started to cope with it, and that is probably why I see his caudal fin in operation most of the time. He is constantly wiggling or steering the tail unless he is "crawling" just above the sand level. When he sees a live crayfish or shrimp, his tail turns into a u-shape from which he releases rapid speed to hunt down his prey. It looks very much like a hunting dog spotting a bird and maintaining no movement until it shoots like a rocket.
I have also tried to introduce fast moving minnows in the tank, but he kills them one by one in a few days time so Fahakas can also swim very fast if they care to do so.

[RTR]

All puffers need to have varied current in different areas of their tanks. High current - especially along one of the longest glasses - are ideal for exercise. Much of the tank may be at lower current flow, and some areas (for sleeping and/or napping) may be low current but still not stagnant. Those varied currents are need from day one. Lack of proper current variation is as common or commoner than undersized tanks for fish. But no standard tank is sufficiently large to provide the larger puffers with sufficient swimming space to emulate nature. Ouffers lack the bone and muscle for sustained speed swimming. That is part of their genetic heritage which makes them puffers.

No private tank- kept fish can ever exhibit "normal" main-channel or strong-current swimming for any sustained period. No one I have ever known or read about has an "endless" fish tank. we fake it with localized currents for exercise. But I would love to have an endless pool for myself.

[Pufferpunk]

FahakaFahaka, If you haven't entered your 3rd pic into our POTM club, you better!