Hello! Color & Substrate Qs

[Elaori]

Hiya

I do not have any puffs yet, but was looking into either lorteti or salivator.

I was wondering what color substrate would be best to bring out the best coloration in them? Or does it matter?

Thank you!

[Pufferpunk]

It shouldn't matter, what ever floats your boat! Are these species available to you in your area?
What size tank do you have? Don't forget to fishless cycle it 1st!
Have you kept puffers before? We have good info on these puffers in our Pufferpedia, under the Learn tab.

[Elaori]

It shouldn't matter, what ever floats your boat! Are these species available to you in your area?
What size tank do you have? Don't forget to fishless cycle it 1st!
Have you kept puffers before? We have good info on these puffers in our Pufferpedia, under the Learn tab.

Thanks for the welcome!
I believe they (Salivator) are available, if my LFS wholesaler website is anything to go by (which it usually is..just may take longer than I like).

The tank will definitely be cycled fishless. I have not kept puffers before, though think I have most of the basics down.
I imagine I should look more into messing with their teeth though, is this something that can/will become necessary for this specie?

Is there a rough estimate of amount of snails to feed per day?

I have found mixed answers on tank size requirement. I wanted to put it into my empty 10g, but your site says 20g. Can you explain why this is so, especially with their small size?
I imagine it's to do with activity levels but would still like to hear the answer. I can upgrade later if need be. I'm only wanting 1, if that changes anything.

We have a 129, 55, 2 20s, and the 10, so getting tanks is not an issue, though I know it's best not to get a fish unless you have a tank that can house it for life.

[Pufferpunk]

Personally, I think a 10g should be OK for a singleton.

What other fish are you keeping in those larger tanks? I'm also a big fan of cichlids.

[Elaori]

Personally, I think a 10g should be OK for a singleton.

What other fish are you keeping in those larger tanks? I'm also a big fan of cichlids.

Well that's a relief! I can't wait to get my new buddy then. Any plants in particular puffers like? I imagine broadleaved ones to rest on.
I was thinking anubias nana, pygmy chainswords, vesuvius..not sure what else.

My 55g has 1 Golden gourami, 15 rummynose tetras, 7 albino cories, 7 khuli loaches, 1 albino longfin bn plec and 2 angelfish. The angels will be going into the 129 when it's ready, havn't even got sand in that yet (hopefully will today!)

20g Long has 1 betta, and a lone habrosus cory. I started off with 15 and they slowly dwindled down..checked water multiple times, everything is fine (0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, can't remember exact nitrate but not high)
Hoping to add 6 sterbai cories and hopefully they do better.

20g Flatback Hex with 9 pseudomugil gertrudae/spotted blue-eyes, 9 neon tetras, 2 peacock gudgeons (1M:1F)

The 10g is currently a QT tank to a longfin lemon drop bn plec, which will either be added to the 55g or the hex next week.
Also have a 5g, which belongs to my fiance. I made him get it though and I take care of it, he just got to choose the fish which are 2 fundulopanchax gardneri killifish.

Thank you for such quick responses btw!

[Arny]

Personally I prefer lighter substrate as puffers tend to try and blend in with their surroundings. If you have black substrate the puffer will look dark/black and very dull. IME

[Elaori]

Personally I prefer lighter substrate as puffers tend to try and blend in with their surroundings. If you have black substrate the puffer will look dark/black and very dull. IME

The turning dark and dull looking is what I'm afraid of, but I love black sand!
What about mixing black and tan sand?

I also meant to ask, do these guys burrow?

And any suggestions for baffling a filter is appreciated, I think this one is a bit too fast (at least when there aren't tons of floating plants)

[G S P Freak]

As far as I know, the genus carinotetraodon does not exhibit camoflague coloration changes as dramatically as some puffers, nor do they burrow into substrate.
HTH.

[casc]

I have black substrate and I love the way it looks. My porc Juke always looks nice. I only ever notice him change color when he comes out of a cave.

[Pufferpunk]

I have 75% black sand mixed with 25% red gravel, to bring out the red in my red Congo.

[Elaori]

Hrrrm. Thank you all for the responses! I think I will try mixing tan and black, just for something different, and hopefully won't affect the puffs colors.

Do these plants sound good? Anubias nana, pygmy chainsword, crypt lucens, crypt petchii, vesuvius.
Also any recommendations to places that sell smaller driftwood? Branchy kinds like manzanita preferred

[bertie 83]

My puffers always have a mottled appearance when I have mixed light and dark substrates. I have seen the best colour from them with light substrate

[Elaori]

My puffers always have a mottled appearance when I have mixed light and dark substrates. I have seen the best colour from them with light substrate

Well arg! I hate light sand I want my puffer to look it's best though, so I suppose will go with just a light tan colored sand. Thank you.

Should I make another topic for further questions or keep posting them here? Imagine I may not get as many answers on care questions due to the subject title. Should've thought of that before posting..sorry. :c

[bertie 83]

You would defo be better starting a new topic

[Elaori]

You would defo be better starting a new topic

Okie, thank you! Have made one, here it is, if anyone on this particular thread is interested viewtopic.php?f=4&t=33687