f8 tank size

puffer2007 · Post by **puffer2007** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 9:13 am

hello,
i am new to the puffer forum but i guess you guys know what your talking about so i will try this. does anyone know the minimum tank size for a figure eight puffer? and can i keep one in a 10 gallon for four months as a grow out tank, because when i get him he'll be small?

thanks.

Boxermom · Post by **Boxermom** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 9:56 am

We recommend a minimum of 15g for a Figure 8.

puffer2007 · Post by **puffer2007** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 10:36 am

ok, how long can i keep him in a 10g

Peregrine · Post by **Peregrine** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 11:13 am

How big is he now?

It is not so much a matter of swim room, although these are active fish, and would appreciate more space. The 15 gal min is a reasonable one, for an adult.

The issue (IMHO) is the stability of the water paramters...these are messy fish..even if you have enough surface area to support a large enough bacterial colony...the nitrates will rise very quickly given the small volume of water. Since they are very sensitive to nitrates...this would be a bad thing.

Having said that...it would be possible to keep one in a 10 gal for a few months, but you have to be ontop of your water parameters, large water changes (likely more than 1/week) and feed sparingly. A 10 gal is only a short term fix...not a permanent solution...I have kept F8's in a 10 (as their new accomidations cycled)...not only was it a pain to keep tabs on things...I honestly think they were lucky to survive the ordeal, they are totally different fish in a larger tank.

Phaedrus · Post by **Phaedrus** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 1:54 pm

A single small F8 in a 10g for 4 months would be alright provided the tank is cycled, he's in there alone, has good decorations, and you keep on top of weekly 50% water changes.

It'll have grown a bit in 4 months, so getting it into its final larger home ASAP is a good idea.

OraLacerta · Post by **OraLacerta** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 3:06 pm

It's important to keep the fish in a large enough tank right now while it's a juvenile (when it is growing the fastest=at the greatest risk of stunting). 15 gallons aren't expensive and 15-20 gallons are commonly found used, so if it were me I would properly house him right off the bat.

If you end up looking for a 15-20 gallon, look for a tank that is long rather than tall; this gives the puff more room. I kept my Figure eight in a 15 gallon tall for quite a while, but upgraded him to a 35 gallon when I realized the 15 tall didn't give him enough room to exercise and explore. I definitely do feel a 15 tall is way better than a 10 gallon though; so if you happen across one for a good deal you should snatch it up.

Just a side note: Keep in mind I am not recommending a 35 gallon for one Figure Eight! I have 2 F8s and some other fish in there. I was just making a point about tank dimensions being important.

Peregrine · Post by **Peregrine** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 4:11 pm

OraLacerta wrote:It's important to keep the fish in a large enough tank right now while it's a juvenile (when it is growing the fastest=at the greatest risk of stunting).

I agree with the thought of housing them correctly right off the bat...less hassle, less stress to the fish ect...than relocating them later.
but do you really think that physical stunting would occur???
The ratio of fish to area (not the best phrasing) of a <3" fish in a 10 gal is not so indifferent to a 6" GSP in a 30gal...Its just that I find the word "stunting" to be a little understood, and often mis-used scare word. I am not saying it is not a true ailment (bad wording again), but perhaps not the most appropriate in this setting...(a 4" Nile puffer in a 30 gal for 4 years...different story.)

Water quality related health issues are definitely an concern, and if not maintained could contribute to stunting...but stunting due to short term (by all accounts) exposure to somewhat less than adequate housing for an immature specimen?
Granted my definition could be off...perhaps a clarification of definition

Phaedrus · Post by **Phaedrus** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 5:30 pm

I'm taking this situation has being like a dwarf puffer in a 10g for 4 months, (note, i'm assuming it's a baby F8) which isn't too bad. But Ora is right: if you can, go for a 15 right from the start and be done with it.

I'm not totally convinced that stunting would occur in this situation such as that which occurred in this thread: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/vie ... php?t=7791 (This was from 4 years in a tank ~4 times smaller than recommended.)

~1" fish spending 4 months in a tank 5g smaller than recommended isn't that bad provided all other parameters are met.

OraLacerta · Post by **OraLacerta** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 7:53 pm

I agree the concept of stunting is mis-understood, and often a 'fear tactic'. That was not my intention and I apologize if I came off that way.

I really don't think a DP sized Figure Eight would stunt in a 10 gallon for 4 months, but who's to say once he seems to do ok in that tank the owner would still feel the need to upgrade? If all seems to be going well, the upgrade may fall down a few notches in priority and maybe won't happen for a year, or two, or maybe never?

I'm not saying this particularly about you, Puffer2007, I'm just trying to make the point about fish in general that it's just better to upgrade immediately... to ensure an upgrade will happen at all, and because it's cheaper and less hassle in the long-run as Peregrine pointed out. It's definitely not a crisis-type of situation for a Figure Eight to be in a 10 gallon as it would be for a Mbu in a 55, but I guess I prefer to take the safe route. It also seems so easy to upgrade since the tank sizes we're talking about are so common and dirt cheap.
I 'spose I'm being a bit anal about this.

Phaedrus · Post by **Phaedrus** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 9:23 pm

At the very least, we've given Puffer2007 a few viewpoints and opinions, all of which with solid reasoning behind them. There's no absolute answer, so you'll have to take what we've given and make a decision from there.

puffer2007 · Post by **puffer2007** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 11:19 pm

well, i don't have the puffer yet, but when i do get him he will be only a few months old (1-1.5 inches). how long does it take for a f8 to grow 3 inches? but you see the reason why i am not giving him a 20 gallon now is because i don't have the room, but when i move to my new house in 4 months i will more room than i know what to do with. plus the fact that i have been saving up for many months now and have enough money to upgrade my 20 long into a 75 gallon and then put my puffer into the 20 long. so i am only upgrading one tank and moving some fish around. but moving the puffer is my number 2 priority, because before i can do anything with him i must first get the 75 gallon. but anyway thank you very much for your advice. is it going to be ok to do the following... 1. cycle 10 gallon, 2. raise salinity to 1.001. 3. put puffer in 10 gallon. 4. raise salinity .001 each week to 1.005, then move the puffer to a 20 long in 4 months.

thanks

Phaedrus · Post by **Phaedrus** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 11:36 pm

Since you are cycling your tank from scratch, you might as well start with a salinity of 1.005 and maintain it. Are you going to be using a fishless cycle? Do you have access to bio-spira in your area?

puffer2007 · Post by **puffer2007** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:33 am

i already have the fish in my 10 gallon cycling it. and no, i cant get biospira anywhere. besides woludnt dumping biospira into a tank with 1.005 salinity kill the bacteria?

Phaedrus · Post by **Phaedrus** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 2:04 am

1.005 is still really low brackish and FW bio-spira has been proven to work just as well in salt water. Here's a description of it working in a salt water tank: http://www.hoerl.com/biospira.html

puffer2007 · Post by **puffer2007** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 1:10 pm

well, i wish i could do biospira but it is pretty expensive plus, my lfs doesn't carry it.

The Puffer Forum

The Puffer Store

f8 tank size

f8 tank size

how long