The Puffer Forum

Hello I wanted to know what is the best temp to keep your tank at for a juvenile fahaka. I have never owned one before so this is my first. He is about 4inches and I have owned it for one day now. And also how long does it take for them to start eating. I have offered mine ghost shrimp and a red claw crab with no success.

it could take a few days, and yours may not like those things also.

I keep mine at 80

What should I try feeding him

Welcome and congratulations on your fahaka. They are definitely the favourite of many people on here

Here are some articles that will be helpful and should answer many of your questions.
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/T_Lineatus/
library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
library/feeding/problems-feeding-your-puffer/
library/feeding/feedingproblems/

I am getting rid of the other fish in the tank. They are 2 juvenile silver dollars and 3 juvenile clown loaches. I know from reading that if I do not get rid of them the fahaka will.

what size tank is your fahaka in. I feed mine snails, shrimp, and earthworms

He is in a 125 gallon right now and I am getting ready to get a 150 gallon for him.

He is mainly just hiding under my heater. He has not even roamed the tank yet. It could be that I just got him yesterday though.

Do you have enough decor in there? Fahakas like caves to hide under.


Here's my 125g fahaka's tank:

I have found that 78-82 for temp is ideal, however in these summer months circumstances dictate otherwise and it goes up.

Turn the tank light off and let your fish get used to the tank if it's being shy. Give it a hiding spot.

Offer it an earthworm if it doesn't eat in a few days - your puffer will eat it up.
I made the transition of earth worm to frozen silversides to frozen seafood medley that you can get at the grocery store (which is the most ideal and convenient as fahaka feeders) with relative ease.

I will do that. I just thought that it was weird that he has not explored the tank yet. And he just stays hovering above the ground.

He is just shy. Mine was for the first day or so also...but that may be because he is in with some very large fish, and I intentionally picked a shy puffer in hopes of keeping him with some tankmates.

I had an interesting conversation with my local fish guy, from whom I purchased my fahaka and has decades of experience, but mostly with saltwater puffers. He seemed to suggest conditioning is the key with puffers and tankmates, as it is with pit bulls. That is, if you feed the puffer live objects, which he needs to pursue and kill, this will likely cause him to eventually view his tankmates as food. However, if you feed him frozen items, at a particular time of the day, with a particular cue (light going on), it is much more likely that the puffer will remain indifferent to his tankmates rather than seeing them as a buffet. Seemed to make sense to me. You other experienced aggressive puffer keeps - thought on this? I would be very interested in your experiences and thoughts.

greg

Incorrect, a puffer is not a dog, they cannot be trained to be unaggressive.

He seemed to suggest conditioning is the key with puffers and tankmates, as it is with pit bulls. That is, if you feed the puffer live objects, which he needs to pursue and kill, this will likely cause him to eventually view his tankmates as food. However, if you feed him frozen items, at a particular time of the day, with a particular cue (light going on), it is much more likely that the puffer will remain indifferent to his tankmates rather than seeing them as a buffet. Seemed to make sense to me. You other experienced aggressive puffer keeps - thought on this?

I think for some specimens this could certainly be true, and I can see the logic to the approach, of course every individual is unique and you can never underestimate that when figuring variables. So I'd recommend one to proceed with caution in the testing of this approach.
However, I find the behavioral enrichment there is to be gained from offering live foods and opportunities to engage their instinctual behaviors as a predator are much anticipated, and I think appreciated, by my fish. I feel like since I am keeping this animal in an unnatural setting much less engaging than the wild world I have a responsibility to keep it as fun as I can. I would feel like a creep watching anything in my care pace an unchanging habitat and die of boredom 1000 times a day. Put it this way if a superior species ever showed up here and decided we'd make great pets, I would want the same consideration. As an animal keeper I am always challenging my definition of success, keeping something alive can be all too easy, seeing how good I can make a life in captivity is where I find the most satisfaction.

I keep all my puff tanks at 80*F