The Puffer Forum

Hi guys, my first post so be gentle if I am planning something you think wont work I have my 180gal set up at around 1.02sg at the moment. In it I have a ton of Cherry shrimp, A Sole, 7 BBG's, 1 Molly with a fair few fry, and a mixture of Nerite and porcupine nerite snails. Anyway, I am planning on adding more BBG's to around 20 and possibly 1 or 2 knight gobies, then a few F8 Puffers. This is my main question, how many would you add to this set up, 180gal, 6x2x2?

I know the smaller snails, and shrimps will probably disappear. I must have around 60-100 MTS's too. Also does anyone know of a good online delivery service that actually have these in at the moment because I cant find them anywhere.

Thanks for any advice in advance, Vinny

F8 puffers do best at a SG of 1.005. What are porcupine nerite snails Do they have spikes? Got a pic?

Yeah, they are just smaller versions of the nerite snails but without the stripes and they have spikes as you say. I forgot to mention, the tank will be 1.05 in the end, I am just rising it slowly as all these were moved in from a 40gallon with very little salt in. What do you think of the stocking?

cant wait to see this set up sounds fun

Stocking sounds fine as long as you have lots of broken eye lines so the F8's can't see each other all the time. Your cherries shrimp will become food for the puffers for sure. Also you would want to pull out the MTS as their shells are really hard and can break a puffers beak.

I have my 180gal set up at around 1.02sg at the moment.

You mean 1.002?

kniesh wrote:Hi guys, my first post so be gentle if I am planning something you think wont work I have my 180gal set up at around 1.02sg at the moment. In it I have a ton of Cherry shrimp, A Sole, 7 BBG's, 1 Molly with a fair few fry, and a mixture of Nerite and porcupine nerite snails. Anyway, I am planning on adding more BBG's to around 20 and possibly 1 or 2 knight gobies, then a few F8 Puffers. This is my main question, how many would you add to this set up, 180gal, 6x2x2?

I know the smaller snails, and shrimps will probably disappear. I must have around 60-100 MTS's too. Also does anyone know of a good online delivery service that actually have these in at the moment because I cant find them anywhere.

Thanks for any advice in advance, Vinny

You are on TFF?
I would reckon that the Knight Gobies will eat the Bumblebee Gobies.
The Figure 8's will eat the cherry shrimps and snails and I wouldn't trust them one iota with the sole.

I am on TFF, just after opinions from Puffer specialists

The snails and Shrimp I am not that bothered about, I know they will be eaten. The MTS I have would be almost impossible to clear out now I reckon. I also read somewhere that there is a small danger they can break their teeth but the smaller ones actually help keep them trimmed?

I do mean 1.002 btw

Anyone have any ideas on F8 numbers?

Welcome to the forum, and the world of puffers, Vinny!

Well, let's ask this? How many F8's would you LIKE to have? I mean, that's a big tank .... so unless you get crazy, I would think you'd be okay. But like taureandragon76 said, you need to break up the line of sight, which means either plastic plants (or real ones if you can get them to live), or lots of ornaments. Puffers enjoy complex environments, so they can explore and "hunt".

Best of luck!

Thanks alot. I was thinking about 5 but wasn't sure if the more I got, the more chance of getting a rogue individual who kills/eats all my BBG's. If you think 5 is good I am happy with that. The tank is quite complex right now actually, got quite a lot of tunnels from pipes/slate an big rocks, plus got quite a lot of wood in there, one hanging from the top in the middle with floating fake plants, and other fake plants and Java fearns and moss scattered about. I'm thinking the eyeline is covered. Really cant wait to get these little fellas unfortunately just cant find them anywhere at the minute

Personally, I don't see where 5 would cause any problems, actually I believe that groups do better than loners sometimes. Your tank sounds really great, I think the puffers will love it.
Too bad you're not closer, I've got some F8's, but I'm quite far from Liverpool!

haha yeah, too bad, I am after really young puffers so they all grow up together. Once I get the tank sorted the way I want it, I will upload photos

Too bad you're not closer, I've got some F8's, but I'm quite far from Liverpool!

But you're both on the same island.

Pufferpunk wrote:

Too bad you're not closer, I've got some F8's, but I'm quite far from Liverpool!

But you're both on the same island.

Yeah but .... distance over here isn't like it is in the US. When I lived in Florida, driving 40 miles up the road was no big deal, whereas over here it is. For one thing, there's only a limited number of roads available, not like in America where you can get some place by going any number of different routes, and traffic can be a nightmare as well. Believe me, you learn to understand how good it was in the US once you're over here. (No offense meant to Britain, I love Britain!)