figure 8 puffer in a community tank?

O

ouiouigirl

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May 21, 2006
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Fort Lee, NJ
While my tank is cycling, I'm considering how to stock. In the past I had a classic community tank (platties, gouramies, tetras, guppies, danios and lots of plants). I want to do the same this time only with more fish since it's a larger tank and also add rainbow fish. I went to the LFS today and fell in love with a figure 8 puffer, never seen one before. it read aggressive, keep single. HMMM does it mean it's not a good idea to have a puffer with the rest of my community? What are good matches for puffers?
thanks
 
Just in case you didn't know, Figure 8 puffers are brackish water fish that require Marine salt for long life and health. As you’ve pointed out, they are also not community type fish and most likely will need a species only tank. But I haven’t kept this type of puffer before, so maybe someone who has can give you some ideas.
 
They can be kept as freshwater for a short period of time during the beginning of their lives. Eventually the water must be changed to light brackish. Over a period of time they should be exposed to more and more saltwater, eventually ending in a salinity of 1.003 or around there. You can do a saltwater drip, or just add salt with waterchanges, both take a few weeks or a month to change to brackish.

You pretty much have to keep puffers by themself or with other puffers. Even with other puffers they can become aggressive. I've heard that mollies can live in brackish too but never had any experience with that. Some puffers must also be fed snails often to prevent overgrowth of their teeth, which will kill them eventually. Other than that they love ghost shrimp and are fun to watch!

This is loaches_r_cool's stocklist, seems like it may be what you're looking for:
40G Brackish, 3 Figure 8 Puffers, 2 Knight Gobbies, 1 Anablep, 1 Mono Sebae, 1 Silver scat.
 
Last edited:
DeRo316 said:
This is loaches_r_cool's stocklist, seems like it may be what you're looking for:
40G Brackish, 3 Figure 8 Puffers, 2 Knight Gobbies, 1 Anablep, 1 Mono Sebae, 1 Silver scat.
Click to expand...
Hrm, that tank is severely overstocked. F8s need 15g each, so the 40g alone is too small for them. Monos and scats are schooling fish and they shouldn't be alone. Monos also get VERY big.

Suffice it to say that I wouldn't use that as a recommended stocking list for anyone.

Roan
 
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