The Puffer Forum

So I've been wanting a puffer for forever, but the only one available around here is the F8. I called EVERYWHERE, and no sells anything other than GSPs. I was really hesitant about going brackish because I can't afford it. One pet shop I'd called said they also get a "twin-spot puffer" occasionally. I looked that up, and that could be one of at least 4 fish. All prefer sand and are NASTY, even for puffers. I had pretty much settled on getting an oscar instead when I decided to call the same shop again and try to get more info. I talk to the guy who runs the fish department, and I couldn't believe my ears! He gets SAPs, red-eyes, twin-spots, and something called a "black river puffer." I am SO getting SAPs now! *is very happy* At least as soon as they get any in. It might be a wait, but I don't mind.

BTW, anybody know what a "black river puffer" might be?

Generally, that is the palembang.

Thanks, I'll let you know what I end up getting.

Oh! Before I forget! What are red-eye puffs like as far as personality? I'm not yet sure if he's got lorteti or irrubesco.

(Eep! Three posts in a row!)

I ended up going with a brackish setup anyway, because I really want another dragon goby. (This one healthy.) A few questions.

I know the desired salinity for F8s is 1.012, but what's the minimum? I don't have a lot of money for marine salt. I could swing the 1.012, but it would be nice to go lower.

Also, what options do I have for brackish algae eaters? My tank is unavoidably near a window, and without an algae eater my tank is an absolute mess. And it would have to live with a pair of F8s, too.

On that same note, I have a 50g that will house two F8s and a dragon goby along with an algae eater. Is that alright?

Figure 8 puffers are just fine at lower salinties, most people keep them right around 1.006. They do just as well as higher salinity, but it saves you $$ on the salt so its a win win situation hehe.

Brackish algae eaters.. well, there really aren't any. Or if they are, your puffers probably will not let them survive, sorry. A scrubbie pad and/or mag float are going to be your new best friends hehe.

1.006? Thanks! Would bumble bee gobies do anything to the algae?

No, gobies are more meat eaters.

So I'll be getting my puffers next weekend, they'll be F8s unless by some miracle they get a fluke shipment of red-eyes. (Which has happened once in the year and a half I've been going there.)

I'd like to switch over to an aragonite or sand substrate in the future. How do I do that without totally crashing the biofilteration?

Dragon gobies don't mind low-end brackish, right?

On a slightly unrelated note, there is no WAY this thing is a dragon goby. Right?
http://www.fishtanksandponds.info/live- ... ies-II.htm
What IS it?

Yep, that's a dragon goby. Didn't anyone tell you they get quite large? And eat anything, including your puffer, that can fit in their mouth? I'm thinking 50 gallons is big enough, as long as it has enough floor space for it, but I'm not totally familiar with the species.

Have you cycled the tank yet? You'll want to have that done before you buy the puffer.

Generally its best to do the substrate before you get the fish, but it can be done without disturbing your biofilter too much. Its just a messy job.

Myaj wrote:Yep, that's a dragon goby. Didn't anyone tell you they get quite large? And eat anything, including your puffer, that can fit in their mouth? I'm thinking 50 gallons is big enough, as long as it has enough floor space for it, but I'm not totally familiar with the species.

I've seen many and kept one dragon goby in the past and never saw anything that LARGE--I don't mean long, I mean massive. It just blows my mind. And dragon gobies do not "eat anything." They're very picky and will eat only small foods.

Have you cycled the tank yet? You'll want to have that done before you buy the puffer.

Up and running for over a year.

Generally its best to do the substrate before you get the fish, but it can be done without disturbing your biofilter too much. Its just a messy job.

I've already got a couple brackish fish in the tank, so it won't much matter whether or not the puffers are in.

Yup, big fella! Probably woulda lived a lot longer in BW. Check out my article on them in our Library.

Pufferpunk wrote:Yup, big fella! Probably woulda lived a lot longer in BW. Check out my article on them in our Library.

Ooh, nice article. Here's a question for you. How can I tell if my goby is actually eating? I drop a sinking pellet of some kind in there every other night just before lights out. In the morning, the pellet is gone, but I have a pleco (temporarily! before anybody gets on my case ;P) and 3 BBGs in there. So how can I tell my dragon goby is getting enough food?

Great article Pufferpunk! I've always been warned that while they won't actively hunt fish, if one happens to wander by while its hungry and looking for something, if it can fit in their mouth it will be gone.

Gorgeous fish though, wish I had a tank to dedicate to one.