Should I get a F8 Puffer?

[Illusia]

I have been thinking about this for some time, I really like this puffer. However I hear that they are difficult to care for. I have experience with fresh water fish and currently own two seups. This would be my first brackish set up though and my first puffer. Are f8s not a beginer puffer, is there another species I should look into?

[t1gerbee]

You are doing the right thing by researching first, much better than buying the fish and finding out about its needs afterwards!

What type of freshwater fish do you keep? Cold water or tropical?

Do you use test kits for your freshwater tanks? i.e are you familiar with cycling, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates etc....?

Fig 8's are not that difficult to keep if you know about water testing and keeping the water parameters correctly...

The brackish thing comes with time, it's easy after a bit, but you will need to buy a hydrometer to measure the amount of salt in the water.

[Illusia]

I have a 200l tropical community tank and a 40l tank with 3 corries and 2 guppies, I have had the 200l for over a year now (it was my first tank) and the 40l for about 6 months (it housed my crayfish until he died ). I know about cycling and I have test kits. I suppose i want to know if they puffers need special care.

[mikeosoft]

Really the only special care they need comes with feeding. There are some really good feeding articles in the library here.

Other then that it's all about good tank husbandry. Puffers are very sensitive to toxins in the water (ammonia/nitrite/nitrate) so the tank should be well cycled first; then regular water changes (I do 50% every week) must be performed to keep the nitrates in check.

A Figure 8 is a pretty good beginner puffer. They don't require a lot of salt (generally 1.005-1.008) so the water changes aren't that expensive.

[Illusia]

Cool, thanks for the advice. I think I am gonna go for it so watch this space!

[t1gerbee]

sounds like you'll do fine...

just make sure the tank is well cycled... and is big enough

and beware you'll end up with a feezer full of mussle, cockle, shrimp...

or a breeding tank for snails... puffers teeth need constant crunchy food...

good luck, let us know when you have your new friend.

[Agnate]

If you put him in a 25-30 gallon tank, you *might* be able to keep him with Bumblebee Gobies. Some posters wouldn't chance their BBGs with a F8, but it all depends on the individual F8's attitude. I think you can put in other Gobies if you find ones suitable for you tank set up. Not that you NEED them, but I think they're neat little fish that add to a setup.