Changing tanks with a large Fahaka?

[Srkoe]

Ares new tank will be here Saturday. He's moving out of his 110 in to a new 125! We are all very excited. I am how er a not nervous and have a couple questions. I hate his current substrate. I want to buy all new sand for the new tank. I don't think the people we got him from were able to rinse the substrate enough...a year later it still clouds the tank pretty badly when stirred up. If I move everything over to his new tank minus the substrate should it be okay? I'm really nervous about moving such a large fish. We plan on using half of his exsisying tank water and plan on leaving the tank sit over night to get the temp stable and allow things to settle. Should I drip acclimate him to the new tank? And how in the heck do you move such a large fish???!!!! I'm so nervous about moving him. I'm not sure what to catch him in. He is really strong and can jump pretty high. I'm open to any suggestions...please!

[Nuclear_Glitter]

This is a very good question. Perhaps you need a bucket large enough, with a lid so he doesn't jump, to move him. How big is he now? Congrats on the new tank as well!

I would think everything, minus the substrate SHOULD be okay, but someone else will give a definite answer soon, I'm sure.

[xrayjeeper83]

Leaving the old substrate should be fine. Just move all your filters over thats where most your bacteria are anyways.

To catch him use a net and a large clear tupperware or something like that to herd him in. Then transfer him to something else to drip him for a little bit.

Just make sure the temps match and you should be good to go

[Srkoe]

I think I'm gonna drip him in a cooler with a hinged lid. I just hate to put him in one container then into another then back into a container to get him in his new tank. I hate to stress him but want to do this as safely as possible. He's been in his current tank since he was 2". I feel like I'm taking his home from him. His new tank will be fairly bare for awhile until we can purchase some large decorations. I've been looking at craft stores for large plants but they all have metal in the stems. None of the local shops have large enough plants. I wish I could plant his tank, but being a Fahaka that won't happen...he tears everything up! On the plus side I am selling his old tank to a friend for $200 because he is gonna set it up for a puffer!!!! We are going to use the money to buy stuff for Ares new tank.

[sevenyearnight]

I've used pliers and removed the metal stems from craft store plants. Funny thing, I've seen the same plants, same style, different colors, in Petsmart, just without the wires, and 3x the price. You will have to choose ones that you can remove the wire without totally destroying the plant, some will pull right along the seem, but otherwise stay the same. You'll need to silicone them to a rock or something to keep them from floating. And of course, clean them really well.
This is only if you don't mind getting a bit crafty.

[Pufferpunk]

Don't be surprised if he goes on a hunger strike.

[Srkoe]

Got Ares tank today! Got it painted and have about 160 lbs of sand in it. We plan on adding about 100 lbs more sand. Ares loves to bury and needs a much deeper sand bed. Here are a couple pics. What you see is not all sand...there is a couple inches of water.



We hope to have him in by tomorrow night if everything settles.

[Pufferpunk]

Keep in mind, you're gonna have to hand-stir all that sand weekly. Good luck with the tank, he's gonna love it!

[edmlfc1]

That's the same size tank I have Annabelle in. lol Only mine is this ugly light brown color. I just ordered my new stand yesterday. This is the tank I'll be turning into a community tank. Ares will love it! Annabelle has done really well in hers. The only reason I'm moving her is because we lost our beloved Elvis (stars & stripes puffer). His tank was larger and drilled with a sump. When I move her I'll be putting a 5 gallon bucket in the tank, herding her into in and drip acclimating her to the new tank. I figured it would be the easiest way to go.

[Srkoe]

I'm probably using the same method as you, I'm so scared he will jump though. I've seen him jump into his glass lids and they pop open! I read your story on Elvis...my condolences to you...very sad:(. I hope to go shopping for some decor today because as it stands the tank is going to be very bare at first.

[edmlfc1]

I know the feeling. I can't stand a bare tank. My new tanks not even cycled yet and I've redecorated it at least 4 times already. I just can't seem to get it the way I want it to look. I still have a few more weeks to make it perfect and then I'll have the other tank to work on. I swear my work never ends.

[xrayjeeper83]

And whats even better is you spend all that time making the tank look like you want it, just to have your puffer rearrange everything to their liking lol

[Srkoe]

Ares is in his tank and nothing went wrong! He stayed really calm and behaved himself the entire time. He looks pretty mad right now though...I suppose he'll get over it. He's probably gonna be mad that he can't watch cartoons anymore or see when we go to the freezer to get him food...lol! Tank is decorated but I'll be adding more plants when I find some I like. There are three large pieces of wood in his tank, hope I don't run in to problems like I did with Manson. We also went to the lake and found a pretty sweet limestone rock...gotta love free. I spent $50 on a mangrove stump at the LFS. We stopped at the lake on our way home and since we are in a drought we found all kinds of driftwood since the water is down. We didn't use any of it though because we ended up having enough that we have bought over the years. Wish we had hit the lake first...lol! Gonna take some pics and get them posted later.

[Srkoe]

OH!!! He ate too! Didn't attack it like he usually does, but he at a mussel them laid on the shell...lol!

[Nuclear_Glitter]

I would never be able to focus on the TV with the fishtank below it...