Puffer bit by other puffer

First of all, a 21 gallon tank is too small for three figure 8s. They need 15 gallons each.

Secondly it's not unusual for puffers to attack each other. They'll nip or attack any fish they can catch. They really need to be kept in a species tank -- 1 puffer per tank. If you get a really big tank, it might work.

Thirdly, you should post in the Brackish Forum. That's where all the puffer gurus here hang out and they can give you more precise information.

As for your injured puffer, the best thing for it is clean, fresh water and maybe some mela or pima fix. Keep it isolated and do not put it back in the tank with the bigger puffers. The next chomp may kill it.

Roan

lokel said:

Hey thanks for your advice.

We arent going to be putting her back in with the bigger ones. Shes going to have her own tank from now on, with maybe a bubble bee gobie.

I am ashamed to say that i didnt know that 1 figure 8 needed 15 gallons. I had done research before buying them, but failed to see that part. I asked my local fish store where i got them and they said that 3 in a tank is ok. Good to know that the fish store doesnt know much. lol


Thanks again for all your help and advice.

Lokel & Puffy(lil puffer)

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This is the best place for species information:

http://www.pufferlist.com/puffer/brackpuff.php?puffid=13

BTW, those are brackish puffers. You do have them in low end brackish, I hope? They will live a good 15+ years if they are kept in proper brackish water -- that's with marine salt, not aquarium salt.

Hope that helps and good luck with the puffers.

Roan

lokel said:

Its a good thing i had to post here, cause the fish store said to use aquarium salt to make my water brackish. Does that mean that my fish have been freshwater, since they havent had the proper salt? When you say low end, u mean they dont need alot?

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That's correct, adding aquarium salt does not make brackish water. Your fish have been in salted freshwater all this time, which doesn't do much for any freshwater fish, let alone a brackish one.

Brackish water contains a lot more than just salt and the puffers need that to thrive. You'll see a marked difference in their behavior and color once you get them into brackish water.

Low end means 1.005-1.008 SG (Specific Gravity). You'll need to buy a hydrometer to measure the salinity of the water. They are pretty inexpensive (about 7$), but make sure you get one that will measure that low. For more accurate measure a refractometer is best, but they run $40+

Salt will never evaporate from the tank, so you must replace it with the same amount you take out with every water change. If you are just topping off the tank because of evaporation, just use treated water.

Don't guess as to how much salt you are putting in, kay?

Roan

lokel said:

Since they have been in freshwater all this time, is it best to just put a lil marine salt in so i dont shock their system and slowly wrk my way up to what it should be.

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You start them off at 1.002 SG and move up by .002 every two days so as not to shock their systems. So:

Day 1: 1.002
Day 3: 1.004
Day 5: 1.006
Day 6: 1.008

Here's a thread that talks about mixing marine salt properly:

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68628

The fish store where i got them, had them in freshwater.

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Yah, they do that and they don't tell you that they are brackish, either.

Roan