bronze puffers

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pretty_nikki

AC Members
May 26, 2006
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I have 2 Bronze Puffers, 8 African Cichlids, and 2 redtail botias in a 37 gallon tank. I've had all my fish for about 4 weeks, my concern are the puffers. When I bought them, both of them were dark green now one of them has turned yellow almost clear, what is wrong or what should I do? :(
 
It's stressed because you're overstocked. The 8 Africans should be in a tank no smaller than the 55 and they're probably terrorizing the Puffers or worse the Puffers are terrorizing each other. You need to seriously do some research on how to care for these fish....
 
The two puffers I bought as a pair, they were the only two, so I thought they might be boy friend and girlfriend. How do you know when your over stocked? I thought it was a gallon of water two one inch of fish? The Africans will only get 4inc right? The puffers on the other hand I don't think they're being bullied, They've bitten each fish in they're, They even killed my frog, shrimp, snails and Gouramis. I think they run the tank.
 
the africans will get to be 5"-6" but it doesn't matter because the Sq In of fish per gallon rule is BS. African cichlids are highly territorial creatures requiring balanced ratios of males to females and large amounts of space. The common way to dispel the inch per gallon rule is that it would be cruel and ludicrous to put a 10 inch oscar in a 10 gallon tank. Your tank is overstocked, it's your tank, you can do what you want, but you're gonna have constant death and problems if something isn't done. Puffers may also require brackish water (half-marine salt water).
 
Aren't those puffers brackish water fish as well? If so, they're in completely the wrong environment if you're running a freshwater tank.
 
ok, thank you. I might have to buy a new tank,because I love my puffers more than anything and I don't want to just throw the Africans out.
 
When I bought them they were in fresh water, it's been said they can live in either, but do best in brackish.
 
It's more complex than that...They normally live in basins where salt and freshwater mix. They will come into fresh water to feed and such for short periods of time, but they mainly live in brackish water. By subjecting them to only freshwater you will greatly reduce their lifespan...
 
If you will be setting up a brackish tank for them, be careful when you go to the pet store to buy salt. Many uninformed employees will try to sell you "aquarium salt". You want marine salt. I suggest asking for tips over on the marine boards here as far as getting the tank set up and acclimating the puffers.
 
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