The Puffer Forum

This weekend or the next I plan to get a figure eight puffer. I have only kept beginner fish in the past, so I thought I'd try to go to the next level. I'm not sure if I skipped a level but I fell in love with puffers. And I really want one. So here is my tank set up:

Size: 20 gallon
Type: brackish
Substrate: gravel
Filter: 20g whisper power filter
Temperature: 76'F
Cycling: I'm getting used filter media
Cleaning: 25% water changes biweekly
Diet: I have a breeding tank-16g- with 20 snails I got a few days ago. Also frozen krill+bloodworms and freeze dried river+white shrimp.

My LFS sells the figure eights in brackish so I don't think I need to do the acclimatization by WCs-0.002 salt every water change. Also my LFS is giving me some filter media in two days. Will that be enough or should I add some gravel from my already established tank.

Any tips on keeping a healthy happy puffer is greatly welcomed as well as how to keep him entertained, I heard ping pong balls.
Thank you for all the help.

library/puffers-in-focus/fig8/

What specific gravity does the LFS use for the F-8 puffers. It is important that you water matches theirs when the fish is introduced, mainly to keep the biofilter bacteria intact. We use rather low density BW for F-8s around here.

I'm not sure the gravity. I'm asking all those questions tomorrow. I know it's brackish conditions though.how many tbsp of salt per gallon will equal low brackish conditions.

Unfortunately just measuring a quantity of salt to get a specific SG doesn't work. Not all salts are the same and they can also change over time as they age and are exposed to moisture. You have to test the water.

Thank you for the notes on brackish water. That is one of the things im most scared of. If I use the drip method when introducing puffer to fully brackish, will it still shock him.

It will not.

Pufferpunk wrote:I will not.

Uhh what exactly do you mean

Sorry, I fixed it.

The drip technique, properly done, is insurance against shock. It pretty much guarantees a gentle shift in the water conditions, easily managed by the fish.

But please do remember that live rock and biofiltration bacteria cannot be drip acclimated.

Thank you.
Also I have been researching more and everybody says double the filtering. Should I get another 20g power whisper filter.

Stick with Aquaclear filters. I'd get the 70 for a 20g tank.

Uh but I already have a whisper. Should I just get rid of it.

They're junk. I won't use a filter I have to continually buy new pads for. You're dumping all the good bacteria.