The Puffer Forum

Hi

I'm setting up a new 100g tank for south american puffers. The tank is/will be quite heavily planted with lots of bogwood and fine sand. It's hooked up to the same sump as my other tanks including a large 200g planted show tank. I inject co2 and auto-dose ferts. Water quality shouldn't be a problem.

Right now the tank has been running for a few weeks with just cherry shrimps and snails in it to provide some quality food for the newly arrived SAPs.

My plan is to add 7 SAPs, I think that will be a good number based on what I have read so far. I would like to add some tank mates too to provide a more interesting environment for the SAPs, any suggestions?

Any other suggestions? I have not had any puffers before but I have read all the information I have been able to find.

You don't really need to add tankmates for it to be interesting. A school of tetras would work, though, I should think, and they will enjoy the planted tank.

You should add the SAPs gradually, maybe three at a time, since your tank is currently only supporting the shrimp.

SAPs will really enjoy a powerhead, since they're from rivers and are used to strong currents.

You've probably already found out that their teeth grow faster than most puffers', and that they need to get their teeth trimmed fairly often, so I would reccomend getting ahold of some MS-222, the tranquilizer used in dentistry, before you think you'll need it. It can be hard to find.

Welcome to the forum! Great job doing your research ahead of time. I think you'll have some happy puffers.

My SAP's love to play in the filter current!

Oh, and welcome to the forum!

LilGreenPuffer wrote:You don't really need to add tankmates for it to be interesting. A school of tetras would work, though, I should think, and they will enjoy the planted tank.

Yes some tetras will probably work. I have dwarf cichlids, Apistogramma Baenchi, in my other tanks but I don't know how they will work with SAPs.

LilGreenPuffer wrote: You should add the SAPs gradually, maybe three at a time, since your tank is currently only supporting the shrimp.

Even though it's a new tank, it's circulating the same water (through the sump) that's circulating through my other tanks that has been running for a year. The total volume of water is close to 500g. So the water should be fine. I have large amounts of established filter media and the other tanks are very heavily planted so the plants will soak up any surplus nitrates.

LilGreenPuffer wrote: SAPs will really enjoy a powerhead, since they're from rivers and are used to strong currents.

Yes I forgot to mention that, I have a 400gph koralia stream pump that I will put in the tank.

LilGreenPuffer wrote: You've probably already found out that their teeth grow faster than most puffers', and that they need to get their teeth trimmed fairly often, so I would reccomend getting ahold of some MS-222, the tranquilizer used in dentistry, before you think you'll need it. It can be hard to find.

Yes I have started looking for MS-222.

/ Jonas

Sounds like you've got everything under control! Be sure to take pictures for us, okay?

I've ordered 7 SAPs today, will get them next wednesday.

I'll make sure to take plenty of pictures.

Excellent, congratulations!!

Yes I have started looking for MS-222.

/ Jonas[/quote]

If you're in the UK, I have some MS222, that I could send you a little of when you need it. If you prefer to get your own, it is a prescription medicine, so is only available from your vets, or with a written prescription from them so that you can get it from an on-line pet pharmacy. Its not cheap though! It cost me £36 for a 25g tub (I work at a vets & got it cost price).

That 'bigfatfish' is so nice, what a nice Puffer-Momma!

schismy007 wrote:That 'bigfatfish' is so nice, what a nice Puffer-Momma!

bigfatfish wrote: If you're in the UK, I have some MS222, that I could send you a little of when you need it. If you prefer to get your own, it is a prescription medicine, so is only available from your vets, or with a written prescription from them so that you can get it from an on-line pet pharmacy. Its not cheap though! It cost me £36 for a 25g tub (I work at a vets & got it cost price).

Thanks for the offer. I'm in Sweden but I think I will be able to get some on my own. I have a friend in the US who I think will be able to send me some.

This thread is useless... with out picks!

I would like to see how a 500 system would look like! Amazing@!

yes please put a pic of the filtration set up. It would be nice to see since i have 4 tanks is one room it would be nice to have one filter set up.

Also I have had good success with dwarf puffers with my saps as well as just about any other kind of comunity fish from tetras, guppies, bottom feeders, sharks, eels, mollies barbs, etc... Nothing is really goin to mess with a puffer and I have noticed that dps and saps don't mess with other fish the SAPs are more interested in the current of water than they are with fish. they also like food too.

Here are some quick photos taken with my iPhone so the quality is really bad but it should give you an idea of the setup. My 200g show tank is behind the wall and uses the same sump.

Really good photos, very well done! On that first photo, I like the 2nd tank down, that's nice. What's in there?
I'd like to have a set-up like that. Is the shelving attached to the wall by chance?