S&S Size

[JustinPSmith]

I am looking for someone who has experience with a S&S and their growth rate. I have read probably a dozen care sheets/web pages about them and talked to many stores and I get a different answer most of the time. I have talked to two people with experience keeping them and also get different answers to my questions...I understand that each puffer is different and conditions, tank size, ect. play a part but the answers are SO different each time.

Anyways, Im looking for the approximate max. size of a S&S you would see in an AQUARIUM, providing that it has been given decent space and water quality. One guy I talked to has had his for four years and its only 10 inches, he has it in a 180G, so he assumes its not stunted but this is way off from many care sheets I read like the one here where it says 18 inches! I checked other care sheets and get size from 12 inches max to 2 feet max...very big difference! The store I bought him from says that 10-14 inches would be normal in a home aquarium...Not sure who to believe now!

If anyone has experience with them or has seen full grown S&S in home aquariums, can you please let me know what sizes we are talking? I am trying to plan his upgrade tank and need to make sure it will last him for at least 3 years. In three years, I will be able to set up my 230G but in the meantime I think 150G might be max. He will always be alone in the tank and the skimmer I have is suppose to be a great one (better be for $600) that is rated for 250 gallons...If that info helps at all!

Thanks to anyone who can help me and "Crush" out!

[Phaedrus]

There could be male/female size differences, or species variations, or even species-internal variations from specimen to specimen. There are far too many variables and far too few reliable case reports to make a solid stab at an average. Best you can do is probably aim for a range with a minimum of 12" and a max of probably 18". Starting out with a larger tank may allow him to attain a larger size than would be possible starting lower and upgrading later.

Since a large amount of their growth occurs early on and then slows, a 150g may be fine for a few years. If that's the biggest tank you can practically get in the meantime, then it will have to do.

Maybe a few years from now when people like you have kept them for a while we will have enough accumulated data to be able to make some rough estimates, but for now, it's anyones guess.

[JustinPSmith]

If that's the biggest tank you can practically get in the meantime, then it will have to do.

Yes, right now for the next three or so years, this is the biggest tank I can have. We plan on moving and buying a place in the next three years but I am not 100% sure that will happen or when. But having said that, I am willing to give him up still, although I have already become attached

I do not want to keep a puffer that I cannot care for properly long term. My fear now though would be finding him a suitable home. I will not take him back to the fish store I bought him from (J&L) because they tell people that a 90G tank is enough for one long term and I think he will likely go to someone who will not care for him properly. So, its one of those dilemmas...Do I keep him in a 150G, not knowing when I can set up my 230G or give him back to a store that will sell him to someone under the impression that a 90G tank will be fine for him. I doubt I can find someone with a 200G+ tank who is willing to take him.

[JustinPSmith]

The one thing I know I can do, is give him great water conditions. I have already bought a great skimmer rated for 300G and he will always be the only fish in the tank. I was hoping that this would help me feel better about keeping him in a 150G but it really has not! I still feel guilty...

[Phaedrus]

How big is he right now btw?

I'd say staying in a 150g for a while until you can get a bigger one is a better idea than giving him to someone else who may or may not be able to take care of him any better.

[manutius]

i say keep him and give him the best care you can. Its obvious you have your fishes needs as a priority. If he goes to someone who just thinks it looks cool and puts him in the wrong conditions that would be sad

[JustinPSmith]

He is about 3 inches right now, maybe 3.5

[Puffer Queen]

I have a 10 year in captivity Arothron Hispidus - aka stars & stripes. It was 4 inches when I received it and currently is ~13 inches and its head is ~4 inches across.

Mine lived in a 180 for 3 years and now resides in a 600 gallon.

I have seen and read ~ 19 inch is max length. I have seen ones of this size in the ocean and in public aquariums.....don't know if the ones in the public aquariums were obtained as adults or juveniles???

I would not recommend an adult be kept in less than a 6 - 7 foot tank - 180 gallon is ideal for the width of the tank so the puffer can turn easier.

Justin, being the only fish in the tank and your good husbandry skills - 150 might work - how wide is the tank?

[JustinPSmith]

Tank is 2 feet wide. I plan on keeping most LR on one side and very back of tank to give him at least half the tank with nothing to obstruct his swimming.

[Puffer Queen]

Two feet wide should work.

I would recommend trying not to stack rock against the walls of the tank as detritus will build and contribute to water quality/nitrate issues. I keep my rock caves in the center of the tanks so the puffers can swim around them and have a front and a back door to the caves.

[JustinPSmith]

The thing Im worried about is that the tank Im thinking of using is 2 feet wide but only 4 feet long. I think the exact dimensions are 48x24x31. So its wide and tall. The other 150G tanks I was looking into were all too narrow but had the nice length to them. Im now not sure about which is more important...well I know both are but I have to make a decision! I am thinking the 4x2 tank is better than a 6x18inches....

[Puffer Queen]

I would take the longer tank over the shorter tank.

[JustinPSmith]

OK, even though its only 18 inches deep?

If I could find a 5 foot tank that was more like 20 or 22 inches deep, would that be better? Or would you still recommend a 6 foot tank either way?

[Puffer Queen]

I like 6 foot so they can swim without having to turn more frequently. Two feet would be something to aim for but 18 inches would work especially since the puffer may not reach 2 feet and the tail can "bend".

Just my "2 cents"

[JustinPSmith]

What about this....

135G Acrylic, 6 feet long, 2 feet wide and foot 1/2 tall

Thought that it might be too short but the other dimensions are great! Its a beautiful custom tank that I can buy used for quite cheap!