A few months ago, I went to my LFS, and saw these super plump, super awesome figure eight puffers. Each one was about an inch and a half, with bright markings. I was screaming inside, telling myself to get one before they sold out. HOWEVER. I didn't get one, due to the fact that i knew nothing about them, and didn't have my tank ready. Now, i'm waiting for them to restock on these awesome puffers, and preparing for them!
SO, i'd love it if you guys could rate me on my "readiness" for my figure eight puffer. Ive been preparing for one for about three months now, along with a cycled tank, and snails! :* I really appreciate the help/crits!
My tank size is a nice 20gal
As of right now, my tank salinity is 1.008, with marine salt.
Ive researched quite a bit, and found that a lot of plants "die off" in brackish water? However, I have quite a few plants in my aquarium that are still doing okay (knock on wood @_@), and so, lots of hiding spots. Will my plants die off eventually? Or did i just do a good job of acclimating them? haha
I am using carib-sea eco complete as my substrate, as well as a fine white sand for the "hiding spot" I created for the puffer. I plan to put a few more rocks near the opening of the hiding cave, to close it up a bit and provide some privacy, but I've yet to find a nice rock again (I'm picky about rocks? 8|)
I have my freezer stocked with some shrimp, mysis shrimp, hikari jumbo bloodworms, hikari regular bloodworms, and brine shrimp. As for live foods, i have about two dozen feeder shrimps, and a heck ton of snails breeding in a large white bucket with a sponge filter and air pump….and some java moss.
What else…I do have some Opae Ula shrimps in the main tank, as they're a brackish water shrimp…However, would it be okay for my figure eight to consume them? They're a bit small, so they probably wouldn't be more than a bite for the puffer…?
Ammonia is 0. GH is a bit high? at 120-180 (I'm using API 5 in 1 test strips here) PH is 6.5, and Nitrite is 0.5? or 0 (its hard to tell the difference) and Nitrate is 0-20 (again, hard to tell the difference @_@
I had three guppies in here for a while, to help cycle the tank. They did well for a week, then i removed them and moved them back to their original home, where they are still alive.
I also put in half of a catappa leaf in there, as all my fish seem to do really well with those leaves. O-o
If I'm missing anything, please let me know. I am just planning to get one puffer, nothing else. ^^ Im hoping that they'll be in this week, but i don't want to get my hopes up due to the fact that i AM in hawaii, and its very rare to get these fish in. >.>
Thanks for any advice/help guys!! Puff on!
The tank
so heres hoping they'll have some this week. *crosses fingers* Cant wait to see their fat little faces again!! ;D