The Puffer Forum

I'm a bit puzzled by the minimum tank size set for cochinchinensis (20G) and suvatti (30G), and wonder why they are put this way. Why do you think the suvatti has needs of bigger tanks than the cochinchinensis? I have both, and would consider that the cochinchinensis is the one with the most need of space. There's three things that I can think of that you have to consider when thinking about tank sizes. Of course it's the size of the fish. My cochinchinensis is fully grow, and I think my suvatti is too. The suvatti is a little bit bigger than the other, but not much. Then there's the activity level. Here the cochinchinensis is a lot (!!!) more active! He is on the move pretty much, a very lively fish! The suvatti on the other hand, only moves when there's food around (I don't know what happens at night time, but he is a lurker). And then there's how much mess the fish makes when eating. Nothing, nothing can beat the cochinchinensis when it comes to making mess of anything he eats. The suvatti isn't even close!

So why then would the suvatti need more room than the cochinchinensis? The reason why I ask, is that I will move my suvatti to a bigger tank pretty soon, but actually I would consider the cochinchinensis in bigger need of space. Right now they are both in a 22 G tank (no, not in the same one), and there will be a 35 G free tomorrow.

How big are your fish now?

the suvattii can achieve a size twice that of the cochinchinensis

Those maximum sizes never adds up when it comes to my puffers. The cochinchinensis is definitely larger than 7 cm, and my salivator is larger than 5 cm, but the suvatti seems right

So I don't think my suvatti will get twice the size of my cochinchinensis, if that is a cochinchinensis. I start wondering right now... If it's not, I'm in trouble. There will be another 35 G free later on, but that one is for my GSP (poor thing still hasn't gotten the tank I promised her - 3 or 4 times I've bought a new tank for her, but given it away to some other fish. It seems like I will have to fix the broken 30 G tank I have.

I don't look forward to moving the suvatti, though. He doesn't handle moving very well.

Probably not a cochinchinensis then.