New Puffer owner (Fahaka)

[BakeAT98.6°]

After over a year of searching I got a call from a LFS I left my name and number with AGES ago they told me they got a baby Fahaka in stock.

I went and checked him out today and he looks pretty good, a bit stressed from shipping I'm sure, but otherwise healthy.

I have a 125 for him to go in, but it is occupied by a 16" channel catfish at the moment so he is going to live in a 45G til I find "Big muppet" a new home.

How fast do Fahakas grow? How long will he be ok in the 45G. He is about 2" total length right now.

I am going to plant the tank and try breeding snails in a 10G for him.

Any other suggestions?

I have done quite a bit of research (this site has been very helpful) but admit that this is my first puffer.

Thanks in advance

Andrew

[crazedpuffer]

They grow about an inch a month for the first year (with a proper diet and adequate filtration) and then slow down.
He shouls be alright in that 45 for a while, but the sooner you get him in the 125 the better.

[Agnate]

You should be fine, assuming that the 45 gallon is properly cycled with a good culture of beneficial bacteria. If not, steal a filter from your 125g.

Hopefully you'll find a good home for the catfish soon, but you should be good for a few months, especially since the 125 is already set up and cycled. Just don't leave the 125 fishless for too long, or you'll lose most of that bacteria.

Be sure to deworm your puffer while he's in the 45 gallon (save yourself a lot of future headaches). Gel-tek or Jungle Labs Parasite Clear both work well (treat the food if he's eating normally - only dose the tank itself if the puffer isn't eating anything).

[BakeAT98.6°]

You should be fine, assuming that the 45 gallon is properly cycled with a good culture of beneficial bacteria. If not, steal a filter from your 125g.

Hopefully you'll find a good home for the catfish soon, but you should be good for a few months, especially since the 125 is already set up and cycled. Just don't leave the 125 fishless for too long, or you'll lose most of that bacteria.

Be sure to deworm your puffer while he's in the 45 gallon (save yourself a lot of future headaches). Gel-tek or Jungle Labs Parasite Clear both work well (treat the food if he's eating normally - only dose the tank itself if the puffer isn't eating anything).

Thanks for the worming advice, I was not aware that they can have such issues.

I am an experienced aquarium keeper and know the nitrogen cycle well. In fact my plan is exactly that. I'm taking one of the AC110 filters off the well cycled 125 and putting it on the 45G with Bio Spira for some extra piece of mind. I have a local store that keeps it properly refrigerated and it has never failed me.

I just ordered another AC110 and a box of Ehiem Effi Substrat to put back on the 125. I also have an 18W UV to go on the 125 with a mag drive 3 to provide the flow. I just need to find the time to plumb it together and build a mount to hang it on.

[Agnate]

Nice! Sounds awesome.

[BakeAT98.6°]

The weather was crappy today so I didn't go pick up "Diddy"...

I will be making the trek tomorrow afternoon.

In the mean time I filled the tank, moved the filter over and put a tiny little piece of shrimp for an ammonia source.

I'm gonna pick up a packet of Bio S. at the LFS just to be safe but the filter I put on has been running for over 6 months with monthly media rinses in a bucket of tank water...

[Agnate]

Personally, I would have waited to move the filter until you actually picked up the puffer.

[BakeAT98.6°]

Diddy is home now and enjoying his new diggs...

I moved the filter and filled the tank less than 12hrs before I picked him up, and I added some Dr. Tims. So far the water chemistry has been perfect. I tested it last night and this afternoon.

He is already eating well... he ate krill both last night and tonight and comes to the glass to say hello...

I will try and get pics up later or tomorrow. I have a few decent shots, but no light on the tank yet as I need a power strip, right now just the filter and heater are plugged in..

[BakeAT98.6°]

Heres DIDDY...

Diddy 1.JPG

Diddy 2.JPG

[BakeAT98.6°]

One more...

Diddy 3.JPG

[puffertt77]

Beautiful Fahaka BakeAT98.6°

That's great that he's eating so quickly, sometimes they have to settle in before they'll eat (As I found out with my Mbu)

Has he got those strange body patterns because he's a baby?

He looks across between a Fahaka and a Mbu

[edmlfc1]

He looks stunning!

[puffertt77]

Sorry to ask the same question again, but why has he got those strange body patterns?

Is it because he's a baby?

[edmlfc1]

He's just very young. His color and markings will change as he gets older.

[BakeAT98.6°]

He has the more traditional look when you view him on a side angle, unfortunately those shots didnt come out very well cause I was in macro with no tripod and just whatever light was coming in the window.

Most of the pics came out really blury or dark.

I will be taking more pics soon. I just put a light on the tank too, they should come out brighter...