The Puffer Forum

How's it going everyone just joined up and had a question about figure 8's. I've read up on all different pages about the SG and everything and I think I got that under control. I have a new 45 gallon set up that I'm currently cycling and was looking for some direct feed back. Is this sufficient to house two f8's or should I only go with one. I'd appreciate any kind of advice or comments I want these fish to live well. Thanks, mike

You could keep 3 in there.

My experience with multiple Figure 8's was that one would hang back and let the other do the hard work when it came to opening up shelled foods and just eat the meaty bit so i had to be ready to do dentistry a couple of times a year

Thanks for the quick responses! iliveinazoo I've seen a couple things on this how hard was it to do? would you recommend only getting one for this reason and if so are there any other fish that could go in the tank with one f8?

Welcome. You could add some bumblebee gobies to clean up puffer scraps. They will need dinky caves to hide in though

Thank you. Do you all think that two f8s and five or six bumble bee gobys would be too crazy in a 45 tall its 37L x 24H x 13D

The provlem with keeping only 2 is there will always be a dominant one, chasing the other. In 3s, there will be less problems.

Okay thanks that makes sense is 45 big enough for 3 and a few Gobys or should I just keep it a strict puffer tank

I would stick with one and perhaps half a dozen bbgs. One puffer is enough anyway, they are more personable when kept alone

My F8s ate all but 1 BBG.

Thanks for all the input I still have a little while before I'm actually ready for fish so I'll keep you all updated

Mikede94 wrote:Thanks for the quick responses! iliveinazoo I've seen a couple things on this how hard was it to do? would you recommend only getting one for this reason and if so are there any other fish that could go in the tank with one f8?

Bit nervy the first time with a shaky hand but you get used to it. The mistake i made was taking him to the vets because the vet picked him straight out of the water and used clippers that were probably reserved for Fahakas and permanently damaged his teeth.

I would recommend only getting one for this reason but 3 would be viable if you were prepared to clip.

As to other potential tankmates, I've started a thread here recently on what I am thinking about housing with my own Figure 8.

I'd also recommend trying BBG with a F8. They are pretty comical fish to watch and have oversized personalities in their own right, although it is tough to say if they will ultimately get along in the long term. My old F8, erm...made 2 of my BBG disappear...lmost immediately. Both of the ones with yellow heads. I thought I was going to have to relocate one of the two species but, then it stopped. I only had BG with black heads left, which he never bothered. They coexisted happily for a long time before the F8 was gifted away. Go figure. I guess what I'm saying is that the individual F8, or F8's will let you know (sometimes painfully) what they will allow you to keep.

Iliveinazoo wrote:

Mikede94 wrote:Thanks for the quick responses! iliveinazoo I've seen a couple things on this how hard was it to do? would you recommend only getting one for this reason and if so are there any other fish that could go in the tank with one f8?

Bit nervy the first time with a shaky hand but you get used to it. The mistake i made was taking him to the vets because the vet picked him straight out of the water and used clippers that were probably reserved for Fahakas and permanently damaged his teeth.

I would recommend only getting one for this reason but 3 would be viable if you were prepared to clip.

As to other potential tankmates, I've started a thread here recently on what I am thinking about housing with my own Figure 8.

thanks again, is there a way you can post a link or tell me how to get to it(still havent gotten good at finding my way around the forum) id love to take a look at your thread!

Mikede94 wrote: thanks again, is there a way you can post a link or tell me how to get to it(still havent gotten good at finding my way around the forum) id love to take a look at your thread!

My thread is here: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=34605

If that doesn't work you can go into active topics and look at the thread titled 'New 200 Litre Tank Set-up Plans?'