The Puffer Forum

Hey all. I'm looking to set up a few of my tanks and puffers have caught my eye. I have 1 x 125 gallon and 2 x 75 gallons as well as a bunch of small ones. I was wondering which puffers I could keep together successfully without too many problems. I want one or two tank brackish and one fresh. I was thinking as many freshwater puffers as I could get in my 125 gallon without overcrowding or anything like that and one 75 gallon tank dedicated to each of figure 8 and green spotted puffers. I know I can do the 75 gallon tanks but was wondering on the 125 gallon. Which species of freshwater puffer are compatible and easy to keep? How many species should I be able to keep with plenty of hiding places and things to break their line of sight? How many of each species? I may also set up a 20 to 30 gallon tank with dwarf puffers and try to breed them. My tap water perimeters are going to be verified at my local fish sore soon (my test kit is old and I don't think it's correct). As of now they are as follows:

pH: ~8.0
gH: ~6 degrees
kH: Well, you see, I did what it said and got to 50 degrees and it still wasn't conclusive...hence the reason why I don't think I can trust my test kit...
ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates: didn't check those...should I of?

Another couple of things:
1) What substrate should I use for each tank and what decorations (plants, caves, roots, etc. NOT those toys.) would you recommend me get?
2) I'm on a budget but I will be getting a job soon so money shouldn't be an issue.

Also, I am getting all my info from http://www.pufferlist.com/

Thanks!

Ammo, nitri and nitra are the most important tests. How are you cycling these tanks. For the brackish tanks use aragnite sand, for the f/w it's down to preference. In the 125 you could have a fahaka depending on your measurements, you could have south American puffers ( colomesus assellus) as you could have half dozen of these or some red eye species will live with eachother. Welcome to the forum.

bertie 83 wrote:Ammo, nitri and nitra are the most important tests. How are you cycling these tanks. For the brackish tanks use aragnite sand, for the f/w it's down to preference. In the 125 you could have a fahaka depending on your measurements, you could have south American puffers ( colomesus assellus) as you could have half dozen of these or some red eye species will live with eachother. Welcome to the forum.

Don't forget the possibility of a big dwarf puffer colony in a 125g .

Oh yea. You could have 20 or so dps and some khuli loaches.

bertie 83 wrote:Ammo, nitri and nitra are the most important tests. How are you cycling these tanks. For the brackish tanks use aragnite sand, for the f/w it's down to preference. In the 125 you could have a fahaka depending on your measurements, you could have south American puffers ( colomesus assellus) as you could have half dozen of these or some red eye species will live with eachother. Welcome to the forum.

Thanks for the quick replies. These tanks aren't set up yet as I am in college and my parents suggested I see how it goes for the first semester. I am just doing a bit of research but I may be able to convince them to let me set up my tanks since I have a lot of free time.

As far as puffers go, what are the conditions to keeping different species together? Also, how can I figure out how many I could keep in a tank (size of puffer versus gallons)? I have a lot of small tanks that I was hoping to raise dwarf puffers in but I may have to set these up with different puffers. I always thought as long as you have enough plants and things blocking their eyesight from one another you could have way more.

I will try to post which puffers I'm interested in so you can help me more. Thanks!

There is no real general rule of thumb to puffers in general, we do have minimums we state for each type of puffer which considers size, activity level etc. mixing different puffers is generally a no go, very few will live with other types of puffer and even the most calm and placid puffer could turn nasty and kill everything in sight. I have even had my hand attacked

Don't put f8s with gsps. GSPs get bigger than f8s and they require different levels of salt.

In general it is not a good idea to have different species of puffers in the same tank.

I would do 125 single fahaka with no other fish.

75 two gsps with no other fish

I am sure you think the big tanks are the stars of the show but your little tanks can hold some interesting puffs as well. Lots of puffs can live as the only fish in 20 to 30 gallons.

I would start with one of your little tanks, just untill you get the feel of things. (I wish I had started off small when it comes to puffers)

Good luck! And just so you know..puffers are one of the most addictive fish known to man!

Lol. I feel ya. My early puffer experience involved a fahaka. I am just glad this forum was here so I could quickly get to grips and use my previous fishkeeping to my advantage. I was straight off hindered by not even thinking about getting a puffer (did not know f/w ones existed) just saw one in a tank with other fish and thought I have to have it, I instantly forgot what type he was and scoured the Internet, luckily I found all the info I needed before moving him out of qt, lots of fish changed tanks etc etc etc. sorry kinda went off on one there lol. Basically yea I agree start small especially if you are in education. You have all the time in the world, get your qualifications and earn loads of money to support a puffer habit lol.

bertie 83 wrote:mixing different puffers is generally a no go, very few will live with other types of puffer and even the most calm and placid puffer could turn nasty and kill everything in sight. I have even had my hand attacked

Okay, did not know that. Thanks for letting me know so I won't make that mistake.

purplecandle wrote:Don't put f8s with gsps. GSPs get bigger than f8s and they require different levels of salt.

...

Good luck! And just so you know..puffers are one of the most addictive fish known to man!

Yes, I am going to get f8s and gsp but was originally going to have a tank dedicated to each of them. 1 x 75 gallon each. I presume by 2 gsps you meant in a 75 gallon? Thanks for your input! And yes, puffers are addictive. I want them ALL even though I haven't kept any of them! lolz

How many f8s would I be able to put in a 75 gallon?
How should I set up the soon-to-be puffer tanks?
I may just start out with dps then when I get a job get the others. Like purplecandle said, it's better to start small.

As for specific species...I know I want the Amazon puffer (fresh) and of course dps, gsp and f8s. For the Amazon puffer, what tank size would you recommend for 2 of them? Better yet for 1 and how many gallons for each additional one? I'll be letting you of know any others I want. One thing I do know...I only want active hunters.

Oh, and about the fahaka puffer...How big do they get? Can they inflict a wound (make me bleed)? I know these are solitary only. My 125 gallon is 72" x 18" x 24" tall. Is this big enough for one? Most importantly, are they active hunters? Also, aren't they freshwater?

Thanks again for all the quick feedback!

I have a fahaka. Ive seen him kill and eat plenty of crawdads shell and all. I wouldnt risk it. I'm sure your skin doesnt stand a chance. They grow up to 18" maybe a lil more or less everyone is different but regardles they get big. He will grow maybe an inch a month. As long as your fish has turning room and plenty of room for a sprint it should be fine. Full grown i think a 120g is more than enough to spoil him. They are active swimmers when hungry and or just curious or when they see you. They will recognize as the food giver and will follow you as you walk by. ..buut they can get lazy and just sit there at times..

Oh and yes totally completley freshwater...weekly water changes are needed. 30 to 50% change

For a fahaka you really need 24" front to back or he could have spine trouble from turning. They can inflict wounds if you push your luck, be careful and there will be no problems lol

For a 75g tank you can deal with 4-6 Fig8 puffers. Their adult size is 3-3.5 inches. I highly recommend that you need to over filtrate if you do the max amount as 6 will be pushing the limits of the bioload. Be aware that if you find or have Fig8 puffers exceeding 3.5 inches it is likely a Ceylon puffer and the same rules apply as you would for a GSP in that case.

@defool89: yeah I've decided not to get a fahaka.

@bertie 83: yeah, and since they need 24" I'm not getting one. I'd hate to get one only to have it get nerve damage because my tank wasn't wide enough.

@sgtmyers88: thanks. I'll be getting 4.

Now, does anyone have experience with the Amazon/South American/Brazilian Puffer?

Should I plant my tanks or just leave them bare?

Thanks again for all the quick feedback!

For just a few dollars a day you can adopt and save a starving African fahaka...lol jk smart move