The Puffer Forum

Hello, my first post

I have read conflicting advice about how to and how not to keep GSP's and Fig 8's.

My husband wanted a GSP so I bought one for him and we both fell in love with the little guy. I have read that you shouldn't have GSP in tanks with other's including more of the same but also people having success with more than one. Your experience?

I would like to get some Fig. 8's for another tank. Fig. 8's won't fight eachother right? Should they be species only or could I put other fish in the tank as well? If you can put other fish in with the fig. 8's do you have any recommendations as to a nice type of fish that do well with them?

Regards and thanks for all your advice and information!
-Stacey

I have a pair of GSP that play nice. One is immature, so that may change, but they are pretty friendly now. There are really no good tankmates for GSP unless you run them at full marine, where they may tolerate some fish, it comes down to the individual puffer. F8's are much calmer than most others, my GF has a pair that get along just fine, and they're more likely than most puffers to tolerate other fish, many have had sucess with bumblebee gobies. Lots of space is important for any of this to work, so dont' be pushing the tank limit when trying to get puffers to share their tank.

The problem with puffers, is that you can have the same species, but different attitudes. One person's Fahaka will never touch its tankmates, the next person's will kill anything that moves. Same with GSP's, same with Figure 8's.

The key thing is to give them lots of room and decor, so they have hiding places and territories. With a GSP, you are looking at 30 gallons PER PUFFER. For Figure 8's, more like 15 for the first puffer, an additional 10 for every additional figure 8. If you want more tankmates, make sure you research their fully grown sizes and gallons needed, and add that on top of what you already need for the puffers. Too many people look at the size of the fish at the store and think they are fine, and forget they will be doing a lot of growing in the future.

And in either case, always have a back up plan so if the battling starts (which may happen years down the road), you can quickly move one of the puffers to a safe location.