The Puffer Forum

I finally found an aquarium store in my area that was selling figure eight puffers. They looked very healthy too. I picked up two of the smaller ones. I have them in a 24 gallon nanocube with a bunch of plants and decorations. Currently the tank is fresh as I anticipated that pretty much and LFS would house a F8 in freshwater. I plan on slowly ramping up to 0.005 SG (slowly also for the plants that I have in there). I had previously picked out plants that supposedly should do well in brackish water. I ordered from aquariumplants.com

Micro Swords
Tiger Lotus, Red (Nymphaea zenkeri)
4 Bacopa (Bacopa carolina)
Aponogeton crispus
Lots of Java Moss (Vesicularia Dubyana)
Crinum, "Onion Plant" (Crinum thaianum)(large)

I also had a Java Ferm and some Christmas moss which I haphazardly let mix in with the java moss so I don't think separating out the Christmas moss will be possible, hopefully it doesn't die too quickly in the brackish water.

I also have a black molly in with them.

Hopefully I can get some pictures up soon as I think the tank looks really good. I have a large grey root (appearance of Mangrove roots) by Top Fin that looks really good and Tahitian Moon sand in there. Also two brown lava rocks.

The little guys looked so cute when I first put them in. Even though they were housed in the same tank at the LFS, the ride home in separate bags made the reset their territorial rituals because when I first put them in, they went at each other. It was kind of hilarious, they were both chasing each others tails at the same time like a dog chasing his tail. Neither could catch the others tail. After a while one began to submit more often and he started to get chased a little. Hopefully they get along or I will have to try to figure something out.

Sounds like you've done your homework and thoguht the tank is at the smallest suggested level for two it could be ok. I am interested to see how your plants fair with brackish conditions

You might also have to separate the molly eventually, mollies are faster than puffers and I've heard several accounts as well as had a personal expereince with a molly chasing the puffers relentlessly and needing to be separated. The chasing exhausts and stresses the puffers.

i have had experience with a molly annoying a fig 8 --- the 8 eventually killed that molly, and the other 2, who tend to leave him alone, have survived.

Yes, the puffer deciding to use his teeth after too much harassment is always a possiblity...