New fish keeper, advice needed please :)

[littleali]

Hey guys, how are ya all?

My 1st post here so bear with me....

I have recently purchased this: -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... %3AIT&rd=1

i havent set it up or anything yet as i am doin as much research as i possibly can at the moment....anyhow....

I am interested in buying a Arothron nigropunctatus. I have looked at various websites but many have conflicting advice.

Basically i was wondering if anybody knows about what other fish it can go in with, how it should be introduced (1st....last...?)

I know about its diet and its teeth but info on this fish is quite hard to find and not very informative...any help will be MUCH appreciated

[Woland]

Hi.

Do you have any experience in Marine fishkeeping?
The tank you bought (nice as it is) is basically a freshwatersystem and would have to be converted in order to keep an A. nigropunctatus.

[littleali]

no i dont total newbie

hence me doing some research

how would i go about converting it?

[Woland]

You will need STASH, and some of it rather expensive...
The chemistry is a tad complicated as well.

Puffers are generally not the best fish to start out with as a newbie fishkeeper, but if you have fallen in love (as most of us have) I would strongly recommend that you start out with a freshwater puffer in a freshwater system.
It is easier by far and would give you the perfect opportunity to find out if the hobby is for you.

[littleali]

i have kept fish before but only shubunkins in a 10gallon tank!

Expense isnt a great worry as i have just got my student loan haha

i really want the nigropunctatus, i wanted to ask on here as i have been given mis-information many times in my LFS so thought i would ask people with some personal experiences

[Pufferpunk]

What exactly are the measurements of the tank? The fish you want grows to 10".

Aren't student loans to live on?

[Woland]

Well, Ive kept fresh and brackish-water puffers for 7 years and am still hesitating about going Marine, mainly due to the expence and the need for maintenance.

Please skim through the marine sections here at TPF.
In this way you may get an impression on what its all about.
We have several experienced Marine aquarists around here and I am quite sure that some of these will answer whatever questions you have after youve done some self-education.

Love Blondie BTW... guitar1

[littleali]

hey i aint to sure at the minute, as you can see, it doesnt say in the description, just that its 3ft

i guess i`ll know more when i pick it up

i have been visiting my fish for about 5 months now, it doesnt seem to have grown much at all

[littleali]

Love Blondie BTW... guitar1

hehe she rocks dont she

ty for the advice

[Pufferpunk]

Agreed, even worked in fish stores for 8 years & stayed away from the SW section. After sucessfully keeping FW fish for 26+ years & BW fish for about 8, I am finally keeping SW.

[lisalisa]

I think it CAN be done though, if you read a tonne first. I started my reef after less than a year in the hobby, and a reef is far more difficult than if you go FOWLR, which is what I highly suggest, if you must go SW.

[Woland]

Was hoping you would get aboard, lisalisa.

[londonloco]

Taggin along. I'd like to know the dimensions also....

[lisalisa]

My guess is that it is btween 40-75 gals, and is too small for a DFP.

[Pufferpunk]

That's why I'm asking. You could always write to the seller & ask.