Dynamic Environments Help Fish

A place to discuss general puffer care or news.
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Pufferpunk
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My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
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2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
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Re: Dynamic Environments Help Fish

Post by Pufferpunk »

I know I have a pic of her tank somewhere...
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
seuadr
Puffer Fry
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Location: Eaton Rapids, Michigan, USA

Re: Dynamic Environments Help Fish

Post by seuadr »

i guess i'm lucky - i've got a pea puffer, so i can plant the crap out of my tank! :D

of course, right now i am losing a battle with hair algae, so it's not the happiest looking tank. just pulled a bunch of stuff today and replaced it with cuttings from my other tank. I had an amano shrimp that was doing a good job of keeping it in check, but after nearly a year in the tank he has passed into the great beyond. i think i accidentally smooshed him when i was re-arranging some driftwood. i'm not sure if puff tolerated him because he was bigger and/or there first or not, so i'm on the fence about getting another - might try a couple grass shrimp and see if they survive.
Cinder
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Re: Dynamic Environments Help Fish

Post by Cinder »

Is there anything other than artificial plants and caves that we can do for our puffers? I worry about Hobart (GSP) being bored. (I put up a background as suggested, but is there anything else I can do?)
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bertie 83
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Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis
Location (country): Brighton, England
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Re: Dynamic Environments Help Fish

Post by bertie 83 »

Stand back and look at the tank, if it looks bare it will feel bare for a puffer. Fake plants, caves and other rock work creates a visually complex environment for the puffer to explore.
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
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Pufferpunk
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Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Dynamic Environments Help Fish

Post by Pufferpunk »

My 55g GSP tank (ALL fake ;) )

Image
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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G S P Freak
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Re: Dynamic Environments Help Fish

Post by G S P Freak »

Rocks and plastic plants work wonders!
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bertie 83
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My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
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Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis
Location (country): Brighton, England
Location: brighton , england

Re: Dynamic Environments Help Fish

Post by bertie 83 »

These pics are just impressive!
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
Cinder
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Re: Dynamic Environments Help Fish

Post by Cinder »

Pufferpunk wrote:My 55g GSP tank (ALL fake ;) )

Image
THAT is gorgeous!!! That is what I am hoping to do with Hobart's tank, but finding good, realistic coral is so hard!
I love your silk plants, by the way............... I need to work a bit more overtime so I can upgrade. :)
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Pufferpunk
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Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Dynamic Environments Help Fish

Post by Pufferpunk »

Beware--I had to take everything out & bleach it monthly. Live rock & a good skimmer, goes a loooooong way for filtration!
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Cinder
Puffer Fry
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Location (country): Ohio, USA

Re: Dynamic Environments Help Fish

Post by Cinder »

Pufferpunk wrote:Beware--I had to take everything out & bleach it monthly. Live rock & a good skimmer, goes a loooooong way for filtration!
Do you have two GSP's in there?
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JRC3
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Re: Dynamic Environments Help Fish

Post by JRC3 »

My puffs love their tanks...But recently I had my 3 tube light die on my 75g community so I took the light of my 55g F8 tank and put it there. I then put two smaller strip lights on his tank and he lost a bit of activity and interest in food(snails). The other day I decided to catch some pale cherry shrimp and drop them in his tank. He was in hog heaven hunting them down.

Tonight I droped some crushed snails in and he was back to enjoying them. I dropped another 5 cherry shrimp in again and he was all over them.


Decor stimulation is key and occasional live food makes it even better.
There are many knowledgeable fish keepers on this forum willing to help and give great advice...The advice is free; What you choose to do with it gives it value.
RTR
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Re: Dynamic Environments Help Fish

Post by RTR »

There is plenty of excellent advise in this thread. There is a lot of planning and some upkeep effort in a show tank such as Pufferpunk, bertie, and JRc3 discuss, but no tank is ever labor-free. In the long run, for me live plants are easier but there is a learning curve there as well.

Some minor rearrangement periodically helps stimulate the fish's activity as well. For the SW fish - including the GSPs, FOWLR +skimmer + marcoalfae refugium is likely optimum and money and time-saving in the long run...
Where's the fish? - Neptune
Headstrng
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Re: Dynamic Environments Help Fish

Post by Headstrng »

Is there a thread somewhere that people have posted their tank setup? That's be ideal to see how puffer-focued owners are decorating their tanks.

PP - That pic you posted looks awesome.
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bertie 83
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Posts: 5298
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis
Location (country): Brighton, England
Location: brighton , england

Re: Dynamic Environments Help Fish

Post by bertie 83 »

Im sure there's a "show off your tank" thread somewhere
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Dynamic Environments Help Fish

Post by Pufferpunk »

Cinder wrote:
Pufferpunk wrote:Beware--I had to take everything out & bleach it monthly. Live rock & a good skimmer, goes a loooooong way for filtration!
Do you have two GSP's in there?
Yes, but eventually had to rehome--not enough swimming room for 2 adults.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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