The Puffer Forum

Hello all.... Newbie here Im kieran, 21, from hull, UK.

Heres my setup....



Im attempting to keep two F8's in this 160l tank. The temperature is at 25c and the water is currently fresh, but will be upping the SG once the puffers are here. I've just ordered some more fake plants like the ones on the right, to give them more places to explore. Maybe some more rock aswell (?). Im planning on getting lots of different foods for my puffers. So far i've got a selection of frozen foods such as blood worm and daphnia. Im looking at getting them cockles, muscles, prawns.... etc etc. But do i need to prepare them? Should i buy frozen, fresh, in a jar, shelled, deshelled..... ??? Also, should i leave the live snails in the tank for them to eat whenever they want? Or keep them in a seperate tank and add a couple at meal times.

So anyways, the puffers should be here on tuesday. I'll get plenty of pictures

Cheers

Looks great so far Kieran!! Welcome to the neighborhood !!!

You can use fresh or frozen foods,...but it's a good idea to freeze the fresh/live stuff before feeding to kill off any badies anyways. I would avoid freeze dried stuff. For things like prawns, cockle and mussel you will be feeding small amounts so I would take them off shell. Avoid prepared foods as they sometimes contain additives. You can buy a mixed bag of frozen seafood at most larger chain grocery stores that contains octopus, squid, shrimp, etc

I would remove the snails to a separate tank as the puffer will go to town and eat them all in one sitting. You will also want a regular supply on hand (most important) to help keep his teeth trimmed. I suggest feeding once a day,...and only 6 out of every seven days. One day of fasting to clear his system. Feed snails at least 3 out of 6 days for his teeth.

Very important to not over-feed a puffer. They have no rib cage and most will stuff themselves til they can't swim. You're looking for a slightly rounded tummy, not bulging.

Also take care to only raise the salinity of the water .002 sg per week to preserve the biological filter in your tank. If you don't have a refractometer or hydrometer already then try to get one before you start.

HTH

Thanks Blaine

I have a little 5 gal tank spare and was thinking about using that for breeding the snails. How many snails would each puffer go through in a day? I've also got a brine shrimp hatchery always running. Will the puffers like baby brine shrimp?

I'll head to asda tomorrow to stock up on squid and prawns (i've cleared out a draw in the freezer just for the fish hahaha).

I've got a hydrometer and the salt ready to go. The puffers are currently been kept in FW, so i figuered i'd start mine FW and over the course of 3-4 weeks bump the SG up to 1.006. Does this sound ok?

There will be many more questions to come haha

Cheers

Anywhere between 1.005 to 1.008 is good...only move it up .002 per week

I feed my 3 inch F8 about 4 medium size snails per day...depends on the size of the puff,...again look for a slightly rounded belly...no beer guts

The 5 gal will be great for the snails,...you can throw some cherry shrimp in there to breed as well...yummy. Feed the snails a diet of raw veggies (raw potato, carrots, brocoli, spinach) and throw in some algae wafers now and again. The better the diet for the snails...the better the nutrition for the puffs.

Sounds like you've got everything well in hand...your puffs are getting a good home.

Can't wait to see some pics.

Looking good . Welcome to the group. I love F8's because of many reasons.

Thanks both.

Be sure to check out our F8 Article in the Library here.

Yeah, i've looked through the pufferpedia and library. Very useful

Thanks

Its just clicked that i dont have a powerhead for when it comes to mixing the salt!!! Is there any other way i can do it?

Cheers

not really....you need something that is going to move the water well. You can pick up a small powerhead cheap,...especially if you get a used one

A pump of some sort is quite useful in speeding up the process and making it predictable. Marine mix is not really all that fast-dissolving.

I use a heater and a pump to get the water to the right temperature and hold it there and ensure completely solution of all the trace elements.

I've got a few air pumps but i dont think they will work will they?

If its necessary to have one then i'll check ebay.

P.s. Fish not here yet. Getting impatient hahaha

Cheers

You need a cycled tank for the fish anyway. Hopefully they won't arrive before this is completed & safe for them.

The tanks been running for a bout 3 months. I was using it has a grow out tank for Kribs and Angels.

Cheers

Any pics?