The Puffer Forum

Hi guys, I'd love some suggestions on stocking a 60 gallon aquarium. My cichlids are moving out of it into another tank, but it is fully cycled (been running a couple years now), keeping the same filters and everything, but I want puffs in it! What would be suitable for this tank, and how many? Are there any puffs that can be mixed? Which can be kept with others (same or different species)? In a big 60 gallon, I'd rather not have just one puff and a lot of empty space, you know? I'm hoping for fresh or brackish puffers, but if anyone can help me out in setting up a plausible marine puff tank, I'd like that too. I just don't have the time, space and money to spend on a marine tank that is super delicate right now So could all you puffer experts put your brains together and think me up some ideas?

If it makes any difference, the filtration is nice and strong: a Fluval U4 (rated for 60-80 gallons if I'm correct) and a Fluval 305 (rated for 80-100 gallons i think). Anyways, strong filtration, and I do large water changes once or twice a week, willing to do more, that's just my schedule (cichlids are almost as messy as puffers!!)

Thank you!

You could do 3 Fig 8's or 2-3 GSP or 2 Cylons. I know 2 may seem like you will have allot of empty space but there personalities will make you quickly forget about that empty space and they will be allot happier.

PS I have to tell you I have Christmas on the brain when I first read your thread title I was thinking Christmas Stocking Stuffers. I was thinking, LFS Gift Card, Filter Media, new heater, fish net. LOL I am such a dork.

I doubt that a 60 is big enough for 2 GSPs and certainly not for two Ceylons.

GSPicthus wrote:You could do 3 Fig 8's or 2-3 GSP or 2 Cylons. I know 2 may seem like you will have allot of empty space but there personalities will make you quickly forget about that empty space and they will be allot happier.

Absolutely NOT!

Pufferpunk wrote:

GSPicthus wrote:You could do 3 Fig 8's or 2-3 GSP or 2 Cylons. I know 2 may seem like you will have allot of empty space but there personalities will make you quickly forget about that empty space and they will be allot happier.

Absolutely NOT!

WHY NOT!?

I didn't say get all of them gsp or f8 or cylon.

How much water does a singe fish need! It seems like you have to have 100 gallons on this site for 1 juvenile GSP.

30 gallon for a full grown GSP. 30x2 = 60 (i agree 3 is pushing but for juveniles they will be fine for at least 5 years)
20 gallon for a figure 8 20x3 = 60

Your own library confirms this
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Brackish/T_Nigroviridis/
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Brackish/T_Biocellatus/


This is why I rarely come back to this site no tank is ever big enough for any fish.

ALWAYS stock according to adult size! Those suggestions in the PP are MINIMUM tank size.

In our pufferpedia the volumes stated are for useable water volume. For example this 60 gallon tank will only hold appr 46-50 gallons once you add substrate and decor. The f8s could possibly work if good tank hygiene is strictly kept to. Would be pushing it with 2 gsp, a pair of ceylons would require much more volume to be happy and healthy.

Like Les Claypool said on a Primus song ..."its just a matter of opinion"

Cyber communication is psychologically demanding because we have so little to base intentions on but the voice we hear in our heads when we read OTHER peoples thoughts.... no way anyone is blasting anyone with a comment. Its just a matter of opinion where yours is welcome to rebuttal with no hard feelings...

I'm sure we all agree anyways. Some think short term others long term and opinions in between

Very true!

defool89 wrote:Like Les Claypool said on a Primus song ..."its just a matter of opinion"

Cyber communication is psychologically demanding because we have so little to base intentions on but the voice we hear in our heads when we read OTHER peoples thoughts.... no way anyone is blasting anyone with a comment. Its just a matter of opinion where yours is welcome to rebuttal with no hard feelings...

I'm sure we all agree anyways. Some think short term others long term and opinions in between

Very Very True. When I see a response that just says "Absolutely NOT!" I hear arrogance and a demeaning tone. Maybe it wasn't intended that way but it was certainly not helpful or friendly at all.

I have kept puffers a very long time (about 12 years now). I know Puffer Punk has a good 3 years on me. But I have been keeping fish in general for about 30 years starting at age 6. One of the other types of fish I keep is Frontosa. On this forum I see of allot of don't do this or oh your setting your self up for failure, allot of negativity toward newbies that just don't know any better. Then they leave uneducated and discouraged. On the Frontosa Forums I see allot more recommendation and how do we help this newbie out.

Forget the cylons but lets say f8's and GSP's can anyone honestly say there isn't enough room for 3 f8's or 2 GSP's to live happily in a 60 gallon? 60 gallon is a good size tank.

I guess I can see that. I never even kept a single fish in my life when I decided to go with puffers. I was a super noob with no clue even with what cycling meant. The suggestions sometimes are blunt forward but its probably based on he or shes experience with their own morality on paremeters on whats right and wrong. Being free thinkers (hopefully lol) you/we apply our own morality on whats right and wrong and choose to agree with it or not amd move on to the next topic without fear of being demanded or hated.

With that perspective in mind I have learned a lot in such short amount of time. I school lfs all the time on knowledge and credit this forum for the majority. So if knowledge is your goal, any negativity you may perceive is irrelevant and unimportant compared to the true objective here and should be disregarded.

I've actually been in the process of setting up a 60 gallon tank for about two months now I think. After doing my research on puffers I was set on a GSP and wanted to start out as full Marine. My tank is up and running (cycled and all) however, I have not added my GSP. I'm waiting for a number of reasons. When I first began my research and asking questions I was somewhat set on housing two GSPs in this tank because of their personality and the risks that are taken when adding other tankmates. I have to say that even though the 60 gallon is a decent sized aquarium I couldn't imagine two adult GSPs living in this tank for any length of time. Like I've read here many times when they are full grown they'll be similar to a nerf football swimming around. After seeing the tank in person, knowing what full size GSPs look like, their bioload, true water volume after substrate/etc, space taken up by decor I'd say a 75 would be the minimum for two adult GSPs. Not even taking into account how hard it would be to keep pristine water conditions in that size tank with two messy eaters as they are, I'm thinking that just by looking at the tank and trying to imagine two full size GSPs in their with the live rock (my 'decor') there would be very little room for swimming. Footprint of the tank comes into play here. Try and imagine the same. They're just so big around on top of their length and aren't exactly as agile as a lot of other fish because of this. Even as my future GSP grows I'll have to do some rearranging to provide ample swimming room.

As badly as I wanted two GSPs I decided against and will just do one. I do have a tank progression thread that goes into more detail about my tank as well, but I am attempting tankmates who will be introduced first (one at the moment) before I even get my GSP. I know this is a risk, will depend on the individual GSP, aggression is likely with aging, etc. but after my reading/research and help on this forum it seemed much better for my tank size and not wanting a tank with only on fish. It may or may not work, if my GSP becomes aggressive he/she will end up the only one in the tank and I'll relocate tankmates in the future if problems arise. It will be a hit or a miss as puffers are almost always best kept in a species only tank and I don't have any experience just yet with the GSP (much less as an adult) with tankmates so I definitely can't and don't recommend and do have plans if it doesn't work out.

As far as space and bioload two baby/juvenile GSPS would certainly fair better than two adults but I am one that will buy fish appropriate for the tank I have now and not for a upgrade that may or may not happen for a number of reasons that could arise.

I feel as thought I'm rambling but for me the lightbulb went off regarding stocking the 60 gallon with two GSPS after I saw my tank fully set up and imagining adult GSPa in the tank. Not even considering how hard it might have been in the future with keeping the water parameters in check. Its just too small. The width (just talking size not water volume/bioload/etc) is what gets me mainly on this tank size especially after seeing a 75 gallon in person as well.

What is the foot print of your tank out of curiosity?