Bored?

[SkeptikaL]

Ok, below is a pic of my F8 tank. I have 3 of the little fellas in there, 45 gallons. But to my question. Are they bored? Let me give you guys some info first.

They've been in there for about a month now. Seemed to have settled just fine. However, all I see em do is pace the corners and the surface? Now, they do rush the top whenever they can see me... So that makes it hard to tell exactly whats up, but, I'm sitting here, about 15 feet from the tank, on my computer, back turned, but monitor light I think lets them know I'm here.

Also, they never pace the back of the tank really. They stay on the front pane or top front... Every once in a while, they'll tuck back into their tank, wandering around or hiding a little bit, but for the most part, they seem to be constantly begging near the top.

I was gonna get a couple more tall plants to add, but, in all your expert opinions, is my tank decorated heavily enough for em? (lol, I think thats my real question) Do I need more plants? If I get more, do you think they stop pacing?

Also, other F8 owners, you see same tendencies, or just me?

[OraLacerta]

The F8 I've had the longest, Hindenburg, has always paced the glass when he can see his reflection, no matter what tank he is in our how many decorations I give him. The both of mine do the same as yours when they see me walk near the tank; they come right up from whatever they were doing to beg... up and down... up and down...

I do think your tank could use some taller plants to break up the space a bit, but it looks awesome! I've got to post mine now that the black sand is in it. Doesn't look as nice as your tank though.

[SkeptikaL]

Well thank you! Yea, I'll get some more tall ones, then leave it be.

[Pufferpunk]

Your tank looks great!

[Hilly]

Your tank looks good Skeptikal, I shift the plants around in mine every few weeks slightly re-arranging the decor seems to keep him a little more interested as long as I dont mess with his main sleeping area.

[CheyGirl]

First of all - hello to all of you Puffer fanatics out there!
I'm newbie to the forum but I've been a puffer owner (GSP's in particular), for a very long time.

Skeptical, I doubt your fish (or any fish) ever gets bored.
When you see your fish swimming up and down and up and down the tank, he's instinctivly, migrating (or so he thinks).

I suppose that rearranging things in the aquarium, gives him the false sense of accomplishment.

I also find that it might be helpful for anyone who is unsure as making this a time as to when you can increase the salinity a little, (from low brackish - 0.002 to high brackish and beyond,)

Because when it's all about "getting to the ocean"

:38:
...isn't it really all about getting there???

(Great tank too, Skeptical!!)

[SkeptikaL]

Thanks for all the feedback on the tank. But correct me if I'm wrong, F8's never manage to 'get there' lol. They stay low brackish their entire life, right?

[OraLacerta]

True. Her theory may work out with GSPs, but I feel some F8s are just fanatic pacers.

[SkeptikaL]

lol, I mean, don't get me wrong, they appear to be extremely happy and suprisingly they are quite interactive with one another, and not in a hostile manner... But... we'll see how that goes in a couple years... They're still between 1 - 1.5 inches.

BTW, how quickly do these guys grow?

[OraLacerta]

Mine has grown almost an inch in a year, and now he's about 2" long (not including his tail). I think as they (F8s) get larger their growth rate slows down a bit, as my puff seems to be slowing down now. Yours look pretty tiny and in that big tank they should shoot up pretty quick.

[Hilly]

Welcome Cheygirl

but I feel some F8s are just fanatic pacers.

In training for the Puffer Olympics.

[Pufferpunk]

I do believe in a tank too small, they are looking for larger swimming space but if the decor in a large enough tank is visually complex enough, the pacing stops.

[OraLacerta]

I agree with that too, but in the case of my little Hindenburg, he paces even in his well decorated 35 gallon. I think it's just an obsession with his reflection though- he switches to whichever pane reflects him best.

Narcissistic puffer?

[Boxermom]

Oddly enough, I found that all of mine stopped pacing when I added a background image.

[OraLacerta]

Lol, once again, I haven't added a BG to any of my tanks! I 'spose I will actually do that today and see how my blimp-o-puff responds. This should be interesting