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Figure 8 and salinity

Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 5:36 pm
by caleb
Hi guys been a while since ive been on here. I recently set my brackish tank back up and bought my first figure 8 i have had gsps and dwarfs but this was the first time i saw the figure 8s at my lfs and i got the tank ready and put him in hes been doing great and im wondering what is the highest salinty that you could go with him. its not possible to go full marine is it? i have a salt tank and a ton of extra live rock and was wondering if theres some way i could incorprate the live rock into his tank?

Thanks guys

Re: Figure 8 and salinity

Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 5:39 pm
by Agnate
Unfortunately, the best conditions for F8s is low-end brackish, and nothing above 1.008 SG for long-term exposure. Ideally, you want to keep it around 1.004 - 1.005 SG. You can technically keep a F8 in marine, but I would vote against it as a long-term environment (for an emergency situation, it would be fine).

How big is the salt tank? Although you can't amalgamate the two tanks, you could always get a different puff for the marine tank. :D Tobies seem like a good idea if it's between 25 and 75 gallons. :)

Re: Figure 8 and salinity

Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 5:49 pm
by caleb
Okay its about 1.005 right now ill just leave it there if thats best for him. Whats your opinion they had another healthy one should i pick him up too? My lfs is really good all puffers are in freshwater tanks but they give you info on building up the salinity use no nets to catcht them. give you snails and ask about frozen food. wont sell if your mixing with other fish. they are just overall really good with their fish and i am starting to feel bad for the other little guy haha.

The salt is a 45 hex and only has a yellow tail damsel i was actually wanting to get another fish for it what would be some reccomended puffers for it?


thanks :)

Re: Figure 8 and salinity

Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 6:56 pm
by Agnate
In terms of getting another F8, it depends on how big your tank is. You'd need a minimum of 25 gallons before you could get two, I believe.

As for the salt, I'd probably avoid a puffer in a hex tank. Generally puffers require a larger footprint, whereas Hex tanks tend to just be tall. I think you should look into Cardinals, though, as they're similar to discus in that they kinda just float around in the middle. Maybe a couple clownfish, too, to give you some interactivity. You'd have to ask someone else about the puffers in a Hex, though, but I stick with my opinion on it. :) Your only choices would be one of the species of Tobies (any SW puffer in our PufferPedia that starts with Canthigaster), such as a Valentini or Solandri.