The Puffer Forum

Hi all.
New to forum. I've been searching around and thought a forum about puffers be good place to seek advise on a puffer.
Currently remodeling bedroom and now I have a blank room to work with. I am wanting to reinstall a marine tank in there. I had one before built into the wall but unfortunately a winter storm took out power for 3 days. The tank did not survive . Since I work on RVs, this time I am going to install a 3000watt inverter system as a backup so it doesn't happen again.
Anyway I digress, I really really want a dog faced puffer. I couldn't before since tank was only 50 gallon. I have numerous tanks in my basement but the only one that I can make fit is either 55gal or my bow front 75. (4' length is my limitation).
I know 75 gal won't be big enough for a full grown dog face. But I have been trying to find out if the physical size of the tank is big enough. I can easily increase water volume by adding sister tank in other room. Linking them together. Or in basement (how my old one was). So water volume I can make big as needed. Linking 55gallons together as sumps or reef etc.
anyone know if my 4'x18" tank will be physically big enough for him?
I've seen people put them in 75gal but I don't know how happy it is. I don't want to keep one if I can't provide an adequate home.
Thank you

Hi and welcome to the forum. You could get the fish to survive in that tank but it would not likely thrive. You want to aim for 2x the fish length front to back so it can turn with ease and at least 5x the fishes size for the length. A min of 5 foot x 2 foot would be best.

Water volume is great but this puffer would have a hard time turning around in a 55 or a 75. The width of those tanks is similar to the length they grow. You will likely cause stunting to the fish and damage to the caudal fin.

Have you considered a smaller variety of marine puffer? One of the Canthigasters perhaps?

ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Marine/?g2_page=2

I wonder though, if the 75 BF might have a good center spot to turn in?

A center "turn-around" is not very effective Turning room should be at the ends. Yes, that complicates aquascaping, but it it far more fish-friendly. The fish cannot just stay in the center of the tank and rotate on it's own axis. That is not exercise. Even DPs (quite agile for puffers) cannot easily rotate within their own body length.

I do know that this is a major cost and accommodation factor, but this is also a huge factor in selecting potential wet pets which can be realistically kept in the home. One of the lessons I have learned (the hard way) is to be realistic about what I can keep well and what I would enjoy but cannot accommodate.

Thanks for info so far.
I called it a bow front but technically it's not. It's 18" at each end and the front "waves". I just couldn't think what they called that design.
I'm starting to come to realization that my doggie may not be possible. Just think make a great fish for a bedroom.
Still installing that tank in there but guess look at alternatives.

Get yourself a 4x2x2 tank off craigs list