The Puffer Forum

Hello Everyone,

I am new to this forum!! I recently came into possession of a Fluval Flex Aquarium 15 Gallon Tank (will upgrade when needed) and I would like to create a brackish tank for a Figure 8 Puffer. I have some questions regarding setting up the tank::

1) Do I need to get a second filter or can the one the comes in the tank be enough? (it is a 3 stage filter with mechanical (foam), chemical (carbon), and biological (BioMax) media). If I need a second filter what do you guys recommend?

2) Would sand be a good substrate or should I use gravel?

3) Can I use silk/plastic plants or do I have to use live plants?

4) How would I cycle a tank to become brackish?

5) How do I go about breeding snails to feed the puffer?

Thank you so much for helping me with my questions. I want to give the puffer the best possible tank I can.

Start by reading these: library/puffers-in-focus/fig8/
library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=19348

I had a male figure 8.. he lived in a 75g brackish alone (I'm unsure what the SG was, but it was always around 15-19 ppt, well with Buddy the hermit crab (which he decided not to eat after a few months of meeting him). I may have overfed him over the years.. but I also have a 75g planted freshwater aquarium with angelfish - I keep that one stocked with snails from local pet shops eager to get rid of them. My puff ate just about all the snails that 75 could ever hold. I had to pull snails just from the left side, so the lucky ones on the right could reproduce. Maybe the snails figured out my antics? I don't know. He eventually ate all the snails from the left side, so I had to start pulling from the right.

How'd you know it was a male?