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New fish keeper, advice needed please :)
Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 10:43 am
by 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

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 11:53 am
by 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.
Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:00 pm
by littleali
no i dont

total newbie
hence me doing some research
how would i go about converting it?
Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:19 pm
by 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.
Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:23 pm
by 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
Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:38 pm
by Pufferpunk
What exactly are the measurements of the tank? The fish you want grows to 10".
Aren't student loans to live on?
Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:46 pm
by 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
Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:47 pm
by 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
Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:48 pm
by littleali
Woland wrote:
Love Blondie BTW... guitar1
hehe she rocks dont she
ty for the advice
Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:49 pm
by 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.
Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:59 pm
by 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.
Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 1:05 pm
by Woland
Was hoping you would get aboard, lisalisa.

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:27 pm
by londonloco
Taggin along. I'd like to know the dimensions also....
Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:39 pm
by lisalisa
My guess is that it is btween 40-75 gals, and is too small for a DFP.
Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:59 pm
by Pufferpunk
That's why I'm asking. You could always write to the seller & ask.