The Puffer Forum

Just bought a little 1-1.5" Fahaka Puffer. It's in good shape ,except its dorsal, anal, & 1 pectoral fin have been chewed almost down to its body. It seemed healthy and happy at the store. Just wondering if I should do anything as far as prevention of any bacterial or fungal infections? Should I add some salt? It's in a 20 gallon long aquarium ,by itself. There has never been a fish in the tank until I put the puffer fish in. It only has gravel/sand from a local creek, and a few snails that got scooped up with the gravel. Tank is 78℉, with no ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate. First pufferfish I've ever owned. Thanks.

Did you buy it that way? Let me guess--there was more than 1 fahaka in the tank at the store?
I wouldn't add salt. Try Melafix, that should heal it right up.

My bigger concerns are:
How did you cycle that tank before adding the fish?
Did you rinse that gravel in hot water to get rid of parasites in the gravel you took from outside?
What are your plans for upgrading this potential monster?

Welcome to the forum. +1 to the questions above

The Fahaka Puffer was by itself at the LFS. Probably not at the wholesalers. I bet it was in a tank full of other Fahaka Puffers. The gravel was from another tank that is already established and disease free for over a year. I replaced it with new gravel from the same spring fed creek ,after I baked it in the oven at 220℉ for an hour. I also used one of the filter pads from the donor aquarium on the puffers tank. Also, I added stability to the tank and the donor aquarium. After the Fahaka Puffer outgrows the 20 Long, it will be moved to an 80 gallon breeder tank that the dimensions are 48"x24"x24"H. It's a guess on that 80 gallon tank's height to be honest, but I bet I'm really close. If the Fahaka Puffer outgrows the 80 gallon breeder ,I'll either attempt to add it to my 180 gallon (6x2x2'H) predatory community that has 2 Bichirs, a Giraffe Nose Catfish, an African Arowana, and an African Pike.

+1 to PP's questioms. No nitrate sounds like your tank is not cycled.

Say goodby to ALL your other fish in the 180, if you add even a juvie fahaka to that tank. I've known a 4" fahaka to bite an 8" pleco in half!

Yeah, I wouldn't trust anything you want to lose with a fahaka...