The Puffer Forum

I was at petco today getting a new filter (long story) so I had to check out the fish. They had the smallest f8's i have ever seen! There were 5 in the tank and they all came to the front of the tank to check me out. I was surprised that they looked ok, no shrunken bellys. I swear with the way they wiggled at me, they were telling me to take them all home, so I did!
I already have 4 f8's that are all around 2" long. These new guys are 1/2" if that. Luckily I had an extra filter on another tank and salt added to water for a wc for the big guys so I could start up a 10g rather quickly. I know I will need a larger tank down the line.

My question is feeding. I have lots of pond and ram snails. I put some bigger pond snails in thinking they could breed to give the lil guys some food. I also smashed some on the side of the tank. They were all over the crushed snails, eating well. Would that keep their teeth trimmed? Also I was going to feed 3 times a day (snails and blood worms) since they are so small, is that too much? I already do wc's every other day for a couple guppy tanks near by so that isn't a problem.

A second question is how fast do these guys grow? I would love to have a 75g with all the f8 later down the line but these guys are just so little there is no way now they could all be together.

I want to thank you guys here. This is a great place for information!

Beth ~ water changer slave

I'd get a larger tank ASAP. Even at their small size I noticed that the 5 I had could be nippy at times and a couple got some nipped tail fins. I'd definitely want to get them into their permanent large home ASAP.

As for the growing question. I've had mine 1.5 months and my smallest was a little over 1/2 an inch. They haven't grown a great deal yet, I was wondering the same!

I wonder what age they are when they reach full size!

Any pics of your babies?

I'll try to get pics today.
What about the feeding? is 3x a day enough?

blb wrote:I'll try to get pics today.
What about the feeding? is 3x a day enough?

They only need feeding once a day.

blb wrote:I'll try to get pics today.
What about the feeding? is 3x a day enough?

At that size once aday will get them by...Smaller portions 2x aday would be better...(at-least until they reach the 1-1.5" range)....3x may be a bit much

Just my opinion though

Oh ok, Hilly. I thought since they were small they would need more.

Here are some pics.

Peregrine has a good point, you could feed small portions twice a day if you have the time to do it, they would get by with one daily feeding if you dont. Only feed enough so their beely starts to get round.

Wow, those are tiny! Tiny but cute
Isn't feeding regime for puffers dictated by size and age? The smaller/younger the more regular (e.g. twice a day). The older/larger the less often (e.g. once every other day).

coldmachineUK wrote:Wow, those are tiny! Tiny but cute
Isn't feeding regime for puffers dictated by size and age? The smaller/younger the more regular (e.g. twice a day). The older/larger the less often (e.g. once every other day).

That was my understanding as well...it is healthier and provides a more constant level of energy for them to grow with.

Full grown F8's should probably be fed daily with a fast day once per week...I suppose one could feed every other day...but the begging would be heart wrenching...

Larger puffs or Lurkers can stand greater intervals between feeding...but I refrain from commenting on what is appropriate in that case as I have never kept one

My puffer (she wasn't nearly that small when I got her, maybe 1") grew about 1" in a year. Now she is about 2 1/2". She was always in the proper water conditions and a properly sized tank. Puffers seem to grow faster as juveniles, and I think mine is slowing down a bit.

Keep in mind keeping too many to a tank, or one in too small a tank, or not in brackish conditions (1.005), or in poor water quality, will slow the growth rate/stunt the puff.

You said you already have 4 Figure Eights, and I counted 5 in the pictures above. Assuming one is going by the rule of 15 gallons (minimum) for the first puffer, and 10 for each additional puffer (minimum), you're looking at 95 gallons (minimum) for your 'school' of 9 puffers (or are there more??).

As I posted in the first on this thread I know they will need a bigger tank. I had the 10g ready for them but they are moving up soon.