The Puffer Forum

Hi guys! This is my first post on this puffer forum. This is a very nice forum and i was wondering if i can get some info. from you experts!
I was contemplating on purchasing the Fahaka puffer because of the beautiful color patterns and their lively personality. My question is as i have noticed while visiting the fish stores on fresh water puffers such as the Mbu/Fahaka. They have been pretty much in a still state and not very active. I read on certain previous post that they can be nocturnal fishes. Is this true? Where they will usually be unactive in the daytime and more active at night; because i really want a puffer to be active and swimming around a lot. I have a 125 gallon glass tank, so there will be plenty of room to swim around. Please help! Any comments are welcome. Thank You.

Hi, welcome!

Fahakas are definitely not nocturnal. They are most active during the day and sleep during lights-out. I believe the same is true of Mbus.

Fahakas at least are in "hide-mode" at the store due to the cramped conditions and aggression. A fahaka in a single species-only tank has the potential to be an active to very-active swimmer.

Mbus get extremely large, requiring tanks over and above 300 gallons as adults, so I would advise against purchasing one. Fahakas are indeed lovely & lively fish. Very personable.

Thank you so much for your very insightful advise. Your advise may be very well the advise i need in order to go ahead and purchase one. I was wondering if there are ways to promote active puffer activity?

For the jumbo puffers such as Fahakas and mbus, just clear water and lots of swimming room - with a bit of current (they are river fish primarily).

Yeah ditto RTR. Get a big enough tank for them and don't fill it with too much decor.Allow space for them to swim and they will!

how do can u make the current increase?

The addition of internal powerheads or external filters will increase the current, or water movement, in the tank. All powerheads and filters have a max. pump or flow rating, measured in gallons per hour (GPH). These give an approximation of how much water they are capable of pushing.