The Puffer Forum

so i picked up a 45 gallon tank for 20 bucks this weekend (tank, hood, and lights) and got to thinking. there's a beautiful palembang at the lfs who is really friendly. the tank has a foot print of 1'x3' and is 2 feet tall. do you think this will work for the guy? i'm hoping to put a decent size freshwater puffer in the tank when i can set it up and i'm suddenly in love with palembangs after meeting this one.any suggestions on what kinds of puffers would fit in the tank? I woudl also like to maybe keep some kind of live bearer in the tank that will swim around the top and have the babies supply a steady source of food since most of the lurkers are piscivores from what i gather. perhaps some endlers or mollies? think this might work?

Aw puffers are so addictive lol A 45 gallon would be perfect for a palembang and if that is what you have fallen in love with go for it! With regards to livebearers I pretty new to lurker/piscivore myself but after having my miurus for the week know nothing is going to last a day with him. The livebearers would definately need to be quaranteened before being added as they are typical to carry parasites. It would probably also be best in the long run to wean him to frozen foods if you can (im attempting this at the moment). I think if you were considering livebearers at all separate tank to stop carnage happening!

Another suggestion for the tank have you considered a baileyi if you can get one? Mine is pretty active, I have heard Palembangs can be pretty much immobile rocks. It depends what you are looking for in a puff? Sorry to ramble on!

don't worry about rambling, the more the merrier. and yeah, i was planning on QTing the livebearers and hopefully having the young be food. a separate tank would probably be best i admit, was just hoping to have something else lively in the tank since they are pretty immobile. a hairy would be sort of cool, how active is yours? i also found an arrow head in another local store, but he was very anti-social and didn't even come to the front of the tank when i bend down to look at him. also what kind of decorations do you reccomend? and is there anything i could keep in there with one, even some snails or shrimp would be nice just for some added motion. would a planted tank work nicely? lots of driftwood and roots for him to hide in and tones of plants everywhere.

My hairy is pretty active but I think this is due to many hidey holes and floating plants. Shrimp get eaten instantly. Though I have nice snails which he doesn't touch. You could try some snails with either the Palembang or baileyi, they should be safe though it will depend on the puff! Suvattis are mainly buriers and inactive. It does depend how happy you will be. I did try some fish with baileyi and he ate them, so not recommended! I am thinking of trying some Sulawesi snails in with him as they are more interesting.