The Puffer Forum

A good read. http://www.tfhmagazine.com/blogs/2013/0 ... help-fish/
Another reason why I always try to heavily decorate my tanks with a dynamic environment. The fish are more intelligent and live better and longer lives in general.

Bare bones aquariums are not good for your fishes health.

Thank you! I've been trying to tell those idiots at MFK this, for years!!!

There is nowt better than a visually diverse and complex tank for both fish keeper and fish. Why bother if all you see is fish and gravel/sand. We hang pictures on the walls of our houses, put ornaments on the shelves and us lucky ones have fish tanks as decor, why not treat our fish to the same luxuries that we strive for.

+1 to all of the above!

Isn't that Fishkeeping 101??

You don't stick a dog/cat/polar bear in a totally sterile environment and expect it to thrive.

Why are fish, and especially bettas, left in totally unsuitable enviroments?

Okay..we use plastic rather than real plants but that's the trade-off for being enslaved by the Almighty Puffer Federation( and I for one welcome our Tetradonic Overlords).

No, for most novices to fishkeeping, tanks are bare with only substrate and a rock or two, fish may not even live a year, and are fed nothing bu whatever food the LFS is pushing this season, and water is changed when stinks.

I've never understood under decorated tanks.

For me decorating the tank is fun. Plus you want a nice looking tank to look at. Not that fish are furniture.

I think most people find decorating a tank expensive. Most fake plants cost more than the average fish. I know I spent at least $100 of silk plants for the 20g fangs tank.

Most of what I've seen and heard involved people not wanting to spend money to properly care for fish, or take cheap shortcuts. I always have people argue that what I recommend is over the top, when in reality I usually suggest less then what I'd personally do because people don't seem to think fish are animals. People really see fish tanks as furniture that if it requires even somewhat routine maintenance is no longer worth their effort/time/money. People seem to think fish are cheap and easy, and when care gets too expensive, the fish get flushed. It saddens me how people pamper and go overboard with their mammalian pets while fish are utterly abused by the same people. Just my thoughts.

As for tank decorating I'm guilty of almost over decorating lol, I sometimes find myself frustrated I don't have enough room for all the decorations I'd like to add. When watching my puffers explore their environment I find it hard to believe people don't think they need a dynamic environment, and again the ignorance of people saddens me.

What can I use for decor in my marine tank? I have plenty of live rock, which Juke loves to explore. I also have a ping pong ball for entertainment after I read a post about a puffer pushing one around their tank. What else can I use in there that's safe?

You can use some types of coral but it is hit and miss in a puffer tank for obvious reasons.

Some people despise the use of artificial plants but I have not had any problems using them in my puffer tank.
You can also throw in macroalgae for additional diversity.


My marine GSP tank. (deactivated the bubblers and changed the lighting since this photo was taken)

I don't support the bare bottom tank practice its depressing and counter productive. I also believe that a fish needs mental stimulation on top of physical to be happy and healthy.


Edit^ My puffer is very happy, don't judge him by the look on his murderous face.

Yeah thanks but coral is probably not a good idea. And I've never been a huge fan of fake plants but your tank looks awesome. I wonder how Juke would like em. Guess I'll think about trying it. Any other options? We have plenty of live rock, n he loves his caves and bridges.

We had a gal who had a wonderful tank for her burrfish with all sorts of colored macroalgae in there.

Oh that's a cool idea. I just looked at some pictures of some pretty crazy blue hypnea pannosa. Pretty and wild looking!

I know I have a pic of her tank somewhere...