The Puffer Forum

That's awesome! Well, I have officially broken my promise to wait until the end of summer. I knew I was going to have some consequences in feeding with going to vacation but I have more confidence with my cousin into fishkeeping now. Anyway, yesterday I dropped by the LFS and told them to order my a 30 long. I'm thinking of putting a pair of convict cichlids in there but I'm utterly confused about their actual tank requirement. Some sites say 10 gallons, others say at least 30, but I'm still up for suggestions.

I'm pretty much been indecisive overall this and the last week. Also my LFS said they had no record of having a red-eyed or bleeding heart or anything. *sigh* I don't even think they actually checked. So now what, brackish? Sure, whatever. Indecisive, I am.

Guessing F8 again, maybe a molly? Will F8's eat molly fry? 1 Female Molly and 1 F8 for 20 gallon tall over stocked?(Think it is, 20g high is... eh..*shrugs*) What size tank do you need for a GSP? Is driftwood okay in brackish?

Questions might seem random but I need to know.

hobbes wrote:Guessing F8 again, maybe a molly? Will F8's eat molly fry? 1 Female Molly and 1 F8 for 20 gallon tall over stocked?(Think it is, 20g high is... eh..*shrugs*) What size tank do you need for a GSP? Is driftwood okay in brackish?

I've had an F8 eat all but a few of the fastest molly fry... I think I had three survive to grow up when I let "nature take its course" for a year. although what that means in an environment as contrived as an aquarium is beyond me

As prolific as mollies are this was a tiny percentage of survivors. I finally moved the male of my trio... I liked the fry to much to see them keep getting eaten, but didn't have a spare tank at the time to breed them.

Mollies are usually recommended to have at least 30 gallons, although (I think) this is for small groups since mollies are livebearers... IMHO a 20H with an F8 and molly would be crowded... an F8 as a solo fish or with a BB goby should be okay.

A 29 or a 30 would be okay with a molly (or two) plus an F8. If you can get a 30, go for it!

I'd go minimum 40 for a GSP, although The Puffer List has the minimum at 30. If you keep up really well on water changes, a 30 might work. (And a good skimmer and lots of LR as an adult!)

I've seen several differing opinions on driftwood and brackish tanks. I had some and my water (ph) did fine for over a year. I finally got the really nice fake roots from Petsmart since I wanted the wood for java ferns in a freshwater planted tank. I guess that means someone else should weigh in on this one...

Hmm.. Maybe I will put a F8 in the 30g I'm getting. Happy to get a molly in there too. Oh! And what about target puffers? Are they easy to obtain? What about T. cochinchinensis, Puffer list says minimum tank size 10 gallons, I'm guessing that's wrong. What do you recommend? T. cochinchinensis, partly positive with this decision.

Targets and Fang's are freshwater, and I have no idea how hard they are to get. I've never seen either for sale personally... are you thinking of putting one of these in that 20H? I'd definitely stick with the smaller of the two...

For a base/lurking species of puffer I would look for a longer tank rather then a tall one. Tall onesz offer more for vertical swimming fish (which there are not any that I know of) and lack in horizontal space that lurking species need. The target and fangs species are slightly active but don't require as much space for housing, so a 10 gallon at the smallest is sufficient.

Tihsho wrote:. Tall onesz offer more for vertical swimming fish (which there are not any that I know of)

Seahorsies breed vertically

lisalisa wrote:

Tihsho wrote:. Tall onesz offer more for vertical swimming fish (which there are not any that I know of)

Seahorsies breed vertically

Hrm, my mind was stuck in freshwater. Wonder why I didn't think of marine tanks... Nice save Lisa!

Ok, 1 species is now known of!

Don't some pipefish swim with heads down so a tall tank might not hurt... but now I'm just getting silly.

Shrimpfish do!

:end of thread hijack - sorry:

Hey! That hijack was interesting.. well most are..

OMG! I dropped by the LFS last night, like I always do. (It's sort of creepy, I spend too much time there, even the workers there say so. I can't really help it either, its right by on the way home.) I was snooping around looking at some tanks. AND THEN! I see the cutest little puffer. It was about 3/4 of an inch. Pretty much golden color, but I was familiar with the spots. Labeled, "Baby Figure 8 Puffer". It was so awesome. Funny little guy, quickly started to follow my finger after a couple seconds of observation. So they said my order would come in on Friday. I asked them to reserve the puffer for me, somehow they agreed. The puffer had been in there for about a week by itself in a big 20 gallon long. (Smart guys at that LFS, I tell ya'.) The coloration though, it was so cool. He was almost a golden-yellow.

So should I pick him up?

I would pick the little guy up if he is in good condition.

Wow I have never picked up so much RO water. Just took 50 gallons. Took us two trips, exhausting. Well the kribs and the unkown cichlid are in the 30 gallon and unforetunatly someone took the F8. Shucks, I knew it was too good to be true. Hey does Auriglobus modestus' teeth grow fast? Is 25 cents per gallon of RO water a good deal?

Thanks to everyone who helped me out in this topic. I knew I couldn't say away from fish until the end of summer.

I've paid as much as 30 cents a gallon for DI water, so that price is not bad.

I also used to live on the second floor and I feel your pain... I wish they made "portable" RO units for people who are renting just so I did not have to carry so much water around.

Seriously. Fortunately only the 30 gallon and 20 gallon are upstairs. I had to carry the water for those, grr. Surprised the rubbermaid tubs didn't leak, good thing we filled them 3/4 though.

If you have the space I'd look into a RO unit. They are worth every cent!