Happy Accidental F8 Owner

[PufferDek]

It seems I could speculate that maybe 50% of Figure 8 owners are accidental owners. Accidental being defined as being the victim of misnaming or misinformation, although I imagine that's at least a little bit of a cover up for the over-enthusiasm of coming across such a cool fish.

I am an accidental Figure 8 owner.

I kept freshwater tropical fish about 20 years ago, kept a pair of Gold Severums in a 3ft tank. They were awesome.

I wanted an aquarium for the kids bedroom but didn't want anything big. Came across the puffer in the closest LFS, thought he was the perfect wee guy for the job.

Learned more since buying him though (not from the LFS), and I will need to make some changes. He is in a 10 gallon tank, LFS said he would be good in that for around 2 years, but he is visibly growing already and I have the substrate wrong. I am looking to get him into a 30 gallon within 6 months (please advise, he is a little more than half an inch at this point).

Hoping to learn the best conditions to give him from the Puffer Forum so I can do it right, as well as where to get snails and how to raise them or shrimp to use for feeding.

With the exception of the LFS, the information about fish-keeping that is out there now is far superior to anything I came across 20 years back. The Puffer Forum is a fine example of that. I look forward to receiving the ripe fruit of all your hard earned knowledge, and hopefully contributing in return.

Despite the less than optimal start Percy Puffer is doing well, his colours are great, he is eating the frozen brine shrimp I am giving him no probs, and as I said, growing already.

Got the salinity up to .003 now. Will have it at .005 by next week. Temperature is 80. Nitrate/Nitrate levels are zero to minimal (bottom colouring on my test strips). PH around 7.5. KH seems to be about 8.

I look forward to meeting everybody. Thank you for the opportunity to join you all.

Deke.

[sgtmyers88]

Welcome to the forum. Congrats on your new puffer. Please check out these links for some helpful information.

library/puffer-care/inside-the-mind-of-a-puffer/
library/puffers-in-focus/fig8/
library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
library/puffer-care/alone-but-not-lonel ... fers-solo/
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=32416

[PufferDek]

Cheers Sarge. I had read a couple of those previously but not them all. Have now.

[Flutter]

Yay, another Canadian! Welcome

[PufferDek]

Yay, another Canadian! Welcome

Sorry to disappoint Flutter. I am a Scotsman, but live in Montreal. Hopefully thats not too disappointing!

[bertie 83]

Welcome to the forum. You should be good for about 6 months if he is only 1/2 inch now. It's never an accident that we become puffer owners, they choose us lol.

[RTR]

I am a big fan of F-8s, but I am not a big fan of delaying tank upgrades to permanent tank size. IME, the sooner the upgrade to their permanent size tank, the better off the puffer will be. A 15 is adequate, but a 20-long is better for the increased swimming area for this highly active fish. the substrate should be aragonite to help support a moderately high KH (carbonate hardness) to ensure that the tank stays somewhat alkaline. High KH seems to be as much of a requirement for these fish as is the rather low specific gravity(1003 - 1.005) preferred by these fish. The substrate need not be deep, 1/2 to 1 inch is plenty. small additions of additional substrate may be needed every 3-5 years as it dissolves slowly while supporting the KH. I would also avoid airstones of air-driven filters, as these cause salt creep which is a mess and an upkeep issue even in low density BW. These tend to be very hardy and long-lived fish, averaging at or above 15 years in my tanks.

The forum sites references given earlier in this thread should help you a lot. Anything which is unclear we will all be glad to clarify for you.

[PufferDek]

I am a big fan of F-8s, but I am not a big fan of delaying tank upgrades to permanent tank size. IME, the sooner the upgrade to their permanent size tank, the better off the puffer will be. A 15 is adequate, but a 20-long is better for the increased swimming area for this highly active fish. the substrate should be aragonite to help support a moderately high KH (carbonate hardness) to ensure that the tank stays somewhat alkaline. High KH seems to be as much of a requirement for these fish as is the rather low specific gravity(1003 - 1.005) preferred by these fish. The substrate need not be deep, 1/2 to 1 inch is plenty. small additions of additional substrate may be needed every 3-5 years as it dissolves slowly while supporting the KH. I would also avoid airstones of air-driven filters, as these cause salt creep which is a mess and an upkeep issue even in low density BW. These tend to be very hardy and long-lived fish, averaging at or above 15 years in my tanks.

The forum sites references given earlier in this thread should help you a lot. Anything which is unclear we will all be glad to clarify for you.

Hi RTR,

Thank you for taking the time to write that out. I have read many of your posts regarding your studies with puffers. It is on of the reasons I am more knowledgeable now and determined to create the appropriate conditions for a long puffer life.

I am planning an aquarium hunt this weekend. I am also now fully aware of the type of substrate necessary and have found a salt water LFS fairly nearby for that kind of thing (although I still got blank looks with talk of brackish water).

The aquarium I have now is a Marineland kit. It came with the Biowheel filter which I am guessing you wouldn't recommend? I was planning on using the equivalent size on the permanent tank.

[PufferDek]

Welcome to the forum. You should be good for about 6 months if he is only 1/2 inch now. It's never an accident that we become puffer owners, they choose us lol.

Thanks Bertie.

I think RTR is right, better to get the permanent set up done, but its nice to know I have some time to make sure I am doing it right.

[sgtmyers88]

The aquarium I have now is a Marineland kit. It came with the Biowheel filter which I am guessing you wouldn't recommend? I was planning on using the equivalent size on the permanent tank.

I think you can get away with using one (maybe stripped down just for the current) since you are doing a light brackish setup, but others often refer to supplementing a powerhead with an Aquaclear system.
(I would go ahead and go this route since it is a part of the kit.)

[PufferDek]

The aquarium I have now is a Marineland kit. It came with the Biowheel filter which I am guessing you wouldn't recommend? I was planning on using the equivalent size on the permanent tank.

I think you can get away with using one (maybe stripped down just for the current) since you are doing a light brackish setup, but others often refer to supplementing a powerhead with an Aquaclear system.
(I would go ahead and go this route since it is a part of the kit.)

I am not necessarily going to buy the kit again. The aquariums in these packages tend to be a bit square. I may as well spend a little time trying to find one with more length (thats what she said). Might even consider

I am very open to alternative filtering arrangements but will be tied to types that have inserts or pieces I can get locally. That pretty much means common brands really. Having said that, I am skimming through Amazon and I am quite surprised by the fishkeeping products they have.

[RTR]

I run a lot of tanks - I have backups and spares for everything that I use. I still operate all the canisters I bought before we built this house ~ 28 years ago. Good sponges last a decade or two, moderate sponges a decade. I use no, repeat no, disposable filter media. Dupla bioballs are forever. Canister O-rings last a few years, tubing ~10 years. Keeping spares of everything is not too bad when you have and run multiples of the same units. Midnight emergencies do happen, but when you have redundant filtration and other pumps and accessories always on hand, a midnight emergency is easily corrected. Select decent brands and don't hesitate to stock spares - it is cheaper long term and far less stressful.

Biowheels are not the best choice due to "salt creep" from the wheel and extra evaporation from the tank. I like active puffers fully covered in any water condition, but especially BW and SW. I have lost puffers from jumping out.

[Flutter]

I love canister filters and 20gal long tanks! F8s are awesome too!

I'm not that disappointed Dek only because I've been to Scotland and absolutely LOVE the country!

[PufferDek]

I run a lot of tanks - I have backups and spares for everything that I use. I still operate all the canisters I bought before we built this house ~ 28 years ago. Good sponges last a decade or two, moderate sponges a decade. I use no, repeat no, disposable filter media. Dupla bioballs are forever. Canister O-rings last a few years, tubing ~10 years. Keeping spares of everything is not too bad when you have and run multiples of the same units. Midnight emergencies do happen, but when you have redundant filtration and other pumps and accessories always on hand, a midnight emergency is easily corrected. Select decent brands and don't hesitate to stock spares - it is cheaper long term and far less stressful.

Biowheels are not the best choice due to "salt creep" from the wheel and extra evaporation from the tank. I like active puffers fully covered in any water condition, but especially BW and SW. I have lost puffers from jumping out.

Yeah, I am with you guys on the canisters, will take a good look at them today.

The Biowheel has a two piece cover that can come off while in operation. Not really a chore to clean the salt but I guess it could become tedious. It doesn't take everything out the tank that I need it to though. Why is the Aquaclear system better?

[PufferDek]

I love canister filters and 20gal long tanks! F8s are awesome too!

I'm not that disappointed Dek only because I've been to Scotland and absolutely LOVE the country!

Glad you had a great time in the homeland. I am from Edinburgh, the city centre is stunning, but I have to say Montreal is a way cooler city. Are you nearby?