The Puffer Forum

I purchased 2 fahaka puffer fish 5 years ago. They were about an inch long. Since then one of them is huge, rotund(8") and ferocious, and the other is long and slender(4")and quite docile. I can put other fish in with it and he doesn't care. I have heard that if they are in a small tank when they are young(I raised them in a 15 gallon until the one got mean)it stunts their growth. Why the total difference in attitude and appearance? Are they different sexes one being long and slender and the other being huge and like a football? Thanks

Yes, they are most likely stunted if kept in tanks too small. A 120g minimum is recommended for ONE, you'll need much larger if you keep two.

If they are 8" and 4" after 5 years, they are already permanently stunted and will not regain much of their potential size. I would guess the larger one was moved to a bigger tank sooner. Puffers need constant good water conditions or they will not fill their potential.

I would agree, Fahakas are fast growers and should have hit their full size potential a long time ago.

Most likely one was a bit more healthier, with a bit stronger of an immune system. Poor little buggars, hope you can get them a bigger tank. They may still grow some more which will give their internal organs some relief if they get the extra room.

To bad the people at the pet stores don't give you the right information when you make a purchase. One is in a 75 gallon and one is in a 55 gallon. You learn when you get older not to make impulse buys and research what you are buying. But when they are an inch and the guy tells you all you will eventually need is a 30 gallon. Well I have tried to make their lives good. They seem happy.

Hopefully now that they are in larger surroundings then their youth they will regain a bit of size. Nearly everyone here has been duped into a fish that was a terrible match for their tank, the LFS generally know nothing about puffers.