Got two 2" fahaka puffers imported from aquarium glaser

[emartin]

I only plan on keeping one. How long can I keep them both at that size in a 20g-LONG (~76liters) (l*w*h 30"x12"x12" or 76.2cm*30.48cm*30.48cm) until they harm each other and I have to sell one of them?

Will they be fine with the 20g being bare-bottom (no substrate)? Do they need hiding places (tank is in garage which is minimal outside lighting and light pollution from other tanks) or as much open space as possible?

~Ed

[emartin]

I only plan on keeping one. How long can I keep them both at that size in a 20g-LONG (~76liters) (l*w*h 30"x12"x12" or 76.2cm*30.48cm*30.48cm) until they harm each other and I have to sell one of them?

Will they be fine with the 20g being bare-bottom (no substrate)? Do they need hiding places (tank is in garage which is minimal outside lighting and light pollution from other tanks) or as much open space as possible?

~Ed

Oh, and is $24usd for two ($12usd each) wild fahaka puffers imported from aquarium glaser in germany a good deal? LOL I think so...

[Pufferpunk]

I would separate them right now!

[trekenk]

Two fahaka's in a 20g bare tank is a disaster waiting to happen, sorry.

[emartin]

Even at 2"???

Right now they are in a bag together still and aren't bothering each other, and the person I got them from had like 20 in a 20g-long (he's an importer so he wouldn't keep them long anyway).

So you guys don't think 2" two fahakas will get a long in a 20g-long for a few weeks?

Would it be best if I place a LOT of pvc pipes as hiding places for them?

Or would it be best if I used eggcrate to separate them, even at that size???

~Ed

[purplecandle]

I do not have any fahakas and I do not know much about them..

But you did get a good deal

However, the things that this puffer will need..will take a huge bite out of your original savings

Talking about 120 gallon tank for ONE fahaka..

If I am not mistaken they need substrate to bury themselves...

I wish you luck..but this is a very complicated fish..not for the faint of heart

[emartin]

I have a 120g (occupied at the moment) I can throw one in eventually. So keeping one for life isn't a problem for me.

And if it did, I would just put it up for sale for cheap to a responsible owner or sell it to a local fish shop.

[Pufferpunk]

Even the fry have been known to kill each other. 20 in a tank--they were probably too freaked out to do anything yet. With no territories for them to hang out in, no broken lines of sight, it will be survival of the fittest--probably resulting on both of their deaths.

Is that tank cycled?

[purplecandle]

I imagine pvc pipe in a 20 gallon will be small (width)..so no not a good idea...these things grow an inch or more a month..I would not waste money on something they would outgrow so soon..

LOL eggcrate!

[trekenk]

Even at 2"???

Right now they are in a bag together still and aren't bothering each other, and the person I got them from had like 20 in a 20g-long (he's an importer so he wouldn't keep them long anyway).

So you guys don't think 2" two fahakas will get a long in a 20g-long for a few weeks?

Would it be best if I place a LOT of pvc pipes as hiding places for them?

Or would it be best if I used eggcrate to separate them, even at that size???

~Ed

I would like to tell you a little story. The boyfriend owned a LFS and many many years ago a importer sent them about 50 very small fahaka puffers. Not that educated on this puffer they put them together in their well decorated store tanks. By the next day there was only 20 left alive and the others were pretty badly beaten up. Needless to say this lesson was learned the hard way.

[emartin]

Even the fry have been known to kill each other. 20 in a tank--they were probably too freaked out to do anything yet. With no territories for them to hang out in, no broken lines of sight, it will be survival of the fittest--probably resulting on both of their deaths.

Is that tank cycled?

Doing instant cycling with a seeded sponge filter from another tank. I'll just have to acclimate them from a pH of about 6 to 8.4. Once I get them out of the bag and into a bucket I'll just add a little baking soda to start raising the pH a tiny bit...probably a 4th of a teaspoon.

Do they mind currents? I have a few unused Aquaclears but no AC30s available. I have a AC50 available to be used though, and I could just adjust the intake to have minimal current.

[emartin]

I imagine pvc pipe in a 20 gallon will be small (width)..so no not a good idea...these things grow an inch or more a month..I would not waste money on something they would outgrow so soon..

LOL eggcrate!

What's so funny about that? LOL It's an awesome material for putting under heavy and sharp rockwork. I actually dropped by accident a 50lb (NOT exaggerating) granite boulder that slipped out of my hands about 2 ft in my brand new (at the time...2 years old now) 265g tank. The eggcrate shattered but saved the glass from even being scratched.

This is eggcrate:




It can be found at almost all hardware stores in the light diffuser section

[emartin]

Got it....I'll add eggcrate or some other divider to separate them in the tank.

[purplecandle]

I know what eggcrate is...I just had this funny image in my head of one puffer on each side trying to get to the other..

[Pufferpunk]

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