The Puffer Forum

I have a fahaka whom I have had for almost 4 years. Measuring about a half inch when purchased it is now right on 6 inches. I never kept im in a tank smaller than a 55(currently a 120) fed him daily in an aquarium that was heavily over filtered with weekly/bi-weekly water changes. Admittedly I have no idea what my ph levels are or the hardness, but could those 2 things stunt his growth that dramatically? He has always been healthy looking, active, and a good eater. So did i do something wrong, or did i end up with one of those rumored to exist 6" fahakas? Currently I am fearing i stunted the poor things growth somehow.

How long has he been in the 120 gallon? It does seem a bit small for a four year old Fahaka...PH and Hardness should not be a factor in stunting a fish's growth....have you ever treated him for IP's?

How much time did he spend in the tanks that were under 120? At what stages in his life was he in which tank?

I think that he is permanently stunted from small tanks. They should grow an inch a month for the first year of their lives.

spent maybe the first year in a 55, got to be about 4-4.5 inches and then got bumped to the bigger tank, hes put on a little length and bulked up some, just nowhere close to every forum i've read that says 1/2 inch or more per month. I've never treated him for IP's though, never considered that since he was always active. I suppose he shall just remain small.

If he spent the first year in a 55gal then I imagine he's stunted. An inch a month means that after a year they'd have to be at least 12", and 12" is way too big for a 55gal...

Yes, I agree. He is probably too stunted from the 55 to get any bigger. With good water quality and good food and vitamins, he might grow a little more, but not much.

My fahaka spent his 1st year in a 55g. From the looks of that round tummy, I doubt he has IPs--looks very well fed. You know, there are people who never get taller than 5' tall. Maybe he's just a "shorty".

Pufferpunk wrote:My fahaka spent his 1st year in a 55g. From the looks of that round tummy, I doubt he has IPs--looks very well fed. You know, there are people who never get taller than 5' tall. Maybe he's just a "shorty".

Dwarf Fahaka?

Pufferpunk wrote:My fahaka spent his 1st year in a 55g. From the looks of that round tummy, I doubt he has IPs--looks very well fed. You know, there are people who never get taller than 5' tall. Maybe he's just a "shorty".

That's a great point...I've never really thought about it..

Not the small variety from lake Turkana. These are smaller.

Likely as PP said hust a little shorter that others.

So, Corvus, are there different sub species of Fahaka? Like one species adapted over time to live in a lake environ and another adapted to live in a river habitat causing them to have different characteristics (like length and girth, slight color difference) but remain Fahaka?

It would be neat if they had different morphs!

Pufferpunk wrote:You know, there are people who never get taller than 5' tall. .

I'm one of those people!!

Dadof4 wrote:So, Corvus, are there different sub species of Fahaka? Like one species adapted over time to live in a lake environ and another adapted to live in a river habitat causing them to have different characteristics (like length and girth, slight color difference) but remain Fahaka?

Yes, that's the idea. It was described as a subspecies in 1948 when no large specimens were found in this quite isolated lake, but no further detailled research has been done. What also might be interesting is that this lake has a greater salinity than the African rivers that are the main habitat of this puffer.

PS: I don't think fish from this lake are exported for the pet fish trade.