when i got my first f8 puffer, he constantly paced up and down the tank. He was always at one end of the tank, mostly chasing his own reflection up and down, but pacing up and down the front of the tank too. he wouldnt go and explore at all.
Anyway, when i got my second f8 puffer, he stopped pacing altogether, except for in the mornings when he begged for food. He now quite happily explores the tank looking for food and gets on well with his new friend.
ive read in places that puffers can sometimes prefer to be alone, but he seems happier and less stressed now i have added a tank mate of his own species. is this normal?
puffer happier with friends?
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nmonks
- Mentor
- Posts: 364
- Joined: Wed May 24, 2006 8:33 am
- My Puffers: Carinotetraodon irrubesco
Colomesus asellus - Contact:
In my opinion, it isn't so much that puffers cannot be kept with others of their kind, it is that the results of keeping two or more specimens is unpredictable. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes the two fish get along fine, only to start bickering (or worse) after months after peaceful coexistence.
As far as I know, the only truly schooling pufferfish routinely kept by aquarists is Colomesus asellus, the South American puffer. It lives in groups in the wild and in aquaria does well when kept in small groups (though, as with any schooling fish, there's still the chance of bullying within the school). Strictly speaking then, the SAP is the only puffer that "needs" friends.
Most other puffers may school when young and then turn territorial (and aggressive) when they mature. If you think about it, this makes sense: while SAPs scatter their eggs and ignore them, the Asian and African pufferfish lay their eggs in a nest and the males then guard them. This type of breeding can only work if the male is territorial enough to drive away fish that might eat its eggs. SAPs don't care for their eggs, and hence don't become territorial. In fact, their breeding (shedding eggs and sperm into the water) will be most effective if there are lots of fish in the group.
If you have two figure-8s that get along, that's great news. That isn't unusual. Do keep an eye on things though. Sometimes, have two fish is unstable, where having three or four fish tends to minimise aggression between individual fish by making sure that the dominant fish can't harass a single fish for too long. That's a reliable approach with cichlids, for example.
Cheers, Neale
As far as I know, the only truly schooling pufferfish routinely kept by aquarists is Colomesus asellus, the South American puffer. It lives in groups in the wild and in aquaria does well when kept in small groups (though, as with any schooling fish, there's still the chance of bullying within the school). Strictly speaking then, the SAP is the only puffer that "needs" friends.
Most other puffers may school when young and then turn territorial (and aggressive) when they mature. If you think about it, this makes sense: while SAPs scatter their eggs and ignore them, the Asian and African pufferfish lay their eggs in a nest and the males then guard them. This type of breeding can only work if the male is territorial enough to drive away fish that might eat its eggs. SAPs don't care for their eggs, and hence don't become territorial. In fact, their breeding (shedding eggs and sperm into the water) will be most effective if there are lots of fish in the group.
If you have two figure-8s that get along, that's great news. That isn't unusual. Do keep an eye on things though. Sometimes, have two fish is unstable, where having three or four fish tends to minimise aggression between individual fish by making sure that the dominant fish can't harass a single fish for too long. That's a reliable approach with cichlids, for example.
Cheers, Neale
Last edited by nmonks on Mon Nov 13, 2006 5:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I was going to get a second f8 puffy but read the article on this forum regarding how they don't live as long and that they are used to being by themselves in the wild unless it's mating season, and decided against it. I have noticed that my f8 will pace when I am in sight, but if I peek out of my bedroom, I see her roaming around exploring. I'm glad that when you added a friend for him, he seems more happy and content though. I sometimes think I'll get another friend for her at some point but she is the queen of the tank and seems to prefer it that way =p
Every puff has thier own personality and your little guy might feel more secure with another with him. How long has it been since you added another?
Every puff has thier own personality and your little guy might feel more secure with another with him. How long has it been since you added another?