Figure 8 Help

untoldlegacy

untoldlegacy

My Rock Can Play Dead!
Mar 28, 2007
89
0
0
45
Hello everyone! im new to these fourms and was wondering if you guys and gals can lend me a hand. im looking to purchase a figure 8 puffer but i dont know if i can keep it in my current fish tank, right now i have a 45 G tank very well filtered with a pictus cat, a pleco and a talking catfish, these fish are mostly kinda boring (the pictus swims around alot) and i was hoping to liven up my tank. after researching alot i thought that a figure 8 pufferfish would be a great idea except everywhere i looked i couldnt find a straight answer on if they are fresh or salt water. i was just wondering if somone could answer this for me, my tank is currently freshwater.do these puffers need slightly brakish conditions and if so would it be possible to convert my tank without killing off my other fish?

Thanks alot for anyone who can provide me with help.
 
yes the figure 8ts are brackish but most stores keep them in straight freshwater. however the puffers can live in freshwater or complete saltwater. salinity of a brackish tank can starts from 1.010-1.015 with 1.024 being saltwater. most fishes can handle a salinity of 1.05 without a problem and some can even go higher. its really up to you on whether or not you want to convert your tank into brackish, your puffer will be happy but your catfishes might not be or vise versa.
 
thanks alot for the help guys its greatly appreiciated :D
 
they really nee BW in the long run. don't get one unless you're willing to go brackish.
 
WeeNe858 said:
yes the figure 8ts are brackish but most stores keep them in straight freshwater. however the puffers can live in freshwater or complete saltwater. salinity of a brackish tank can starts from 1.010-1.015 with 1.024 being saltwater. most fishes can handle a salinity of 1.05 without a problem and some can even go higher. its really up to you on whether or not you want to convert your tank into brackish, your puffer will be happy but your catfishes might not be or vise versa.
Click to expand...

BW starts anywhere above 1.000 & ends with SW (around 1.020). SG of 1.005 is roughly a cup of salt/5g. That's a lot of salt for a strictly FW fish, like catfish. Please do not consider keeping FW fish in BW conditions. Yes, most LFS will have their BW fish in FW tanks, because it is inconvienent for them to set up seperate tanks for BW. F8s survive best, long-term, in a SG of 1.005.
See: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/library/puffers-in-focus/f8/
 
Just an update: i decided to set up one of my 20G tanks and convert the FW tank to BW and make a Second tank for my FW fish. the BW tank im setting up is 45g, its been running for a few days with a salanity of 1.010 i also ordered my F8 today, should be in next week, i was just wondering what kinda of tankmates i could get for the little guy (perferably ones he will be less likly to eat)
 
I have a guppy and a molly in with my F8, at 1.008 sg. They've lived together for five months or so now. I've read about people putting bumblebee gobies in with them without having problems, but it will depend on your F8.
 
bumble bee gobys are fun fish i have four of them and they are entertaining to watch. they will ride on my snail or speed around the tank playing tag. they give my tank some great activity.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom