The Puffer Forum

Learn to use and love veggie filters. It means adding extra tanks, but they can do wonders for water quality. They can be linked to the specimen's tank for best results, or simply used free-standing to age make-up water and water for partials. A mat of Java Moss will be a help in cleaning up water. If you use RO water, you may need to add some electrolytes back into the water.

HTH

I should have at least gotten a pic of yours in the works!

RIP Donnie, he died today, the best fish in the world i had had him for 12 great years. when we took him out the tank we measured and weighed him, he was 14" long, 4 and a bit " wide and a very heavy 1.1 kg in weight ...i got to take a good look at him and i think the damage was too great to fix it looks like he ran into the glass with enough force to push his beak into his head, he had blood in his eyes, i'm only glad he is not in any more pain and it didn't drag out longer for him, but he will be sorely missed. Donnie was the cleverest fish and i'm privileged to have had him with me so long .

OMG, that's so sad...

That's terrible news, so sorry

Its very sad but he had a very long life and i can't seem to find cases of older ones. I managed to get hold of some fish vets but they all said they had never heard of any that old before and they hadn't seen any that big ..., so maybe it was just his time. I will certainly keep another of this species again such great personalities... but at the moment its too soon, should i get some tetras or something to keep the tank running till i'm ready to re stock, as at the moment there's nothing in the tank.

Also i saw a load of fahakas for sale but they are real young and i'm not sure how they would get on in a big tank on its own as when i got Donnie i had him in a smaller tank and just upgraded all the time .

Any small fahaka would LOVE to grow into a larger tank! They come from a BIG river, ya know...

My Filbert is 12 years old.

Not many Fahakas have made full size or full lifespan in captivity, because we have not learned to handle them correctly. That actually is true for many puffers, likely most of the giant puffers. The active hunter predators need space, current. and proper feeding from the very beginning to avoid stunting and few of us have the space and money and time to keep them in conditions allowing full size and long lives.

I'd bet on 15-20+ years being possible for most of them other than the Carinotetraodons. I have not worked with enough of that group to have a feel for them.