Figure-Eight Puffers?

[RTR]

Any article that gives Tetraodon nigroviridis and T. fluviatilis as FW and the former as a good community fish is based on dry lab results without actual personal experience with the fish, most likely repeating all the bad info you have already seen on the web and in old books. Figure-8s are also not FW, and are risky as community.

If you want better info, see the Aqualog monograph by Klaus Ebert. It is better than all the other sources combined.

No, a Figure-8 does not have to have BW, but in FW it will be prone to disease (Ich, eye probs, fungus) and will not be likely to grow to normal size and will definitely not live a normal lifeapn.

They are carnivores, some have been reported to eat flake. It is not a satisfactory diet for them and the their teeth will overgrow resulting in starvation. They need lots of snails, shrimp with shell, and shellfish.

Keeping one of these fish with a breeding pair of Chiclids is, quite frankly, ridiculous, but it is your tank and your choice.

 

[Cichlid Woman]

You might be right.

He's paying no attention to the kribs now, and is ranging happily all over the tank, but I'm worried about the BW vs. FW issue and the feeding issue.

Gonna have to think this one over carefully.

Thanks for the response.

-- Pat

 

[Decz]

Originally posted by RTR
Decz - if you ae refering to the the Dec Aquarium Fish mag article, it has even more incorrect information than ususal.

great, another subscription well spent

 

[JamisonBWolsh]

The subscription wasnt a waste of money. Each article is an opinion. If a species of fish is said to be aggressive, an individual might be different. take for an example the red tail shark. You can get REALLY mean ones or you get nice ones.

With FISHKEEPING, there is no one true method. Its a try and see basis. One peron can say one way of taking care of a tank is the best. Another person could say no..its done this way...

Its what works for you that counts

 

[Cichlid Woman]

The puffer is now in a better home. After a couple of calls to lfs, I found one with a brackish tank set up who was willing to take it, and I got a $10 credit to boot! (For the puffer and the female extra krib I had--I couldn't catch the extra male!! Planted tank ...)

Thanks for the info, guys. Learning about the puffer's brackish and eating needs convinced me he didn't belong in my tank. Sure was a cute little bugger, though!

-- Pat

 

[rjl420]

Cichlid Woman-

if you ever want to add a puffer to your tank, look into Tetraodon travancoricus, the true freshwater dwarf puffer, and Colomesus asellus AKA south american puffer, among others. they are well suited for community tanks.

 

[FishmasteR2002]

I just bought a spotted puffer for my 20L. He seems to be doing fine in there. I have him in there with guppies(3), Dwarf Gouramis(2), Harlequin Rasboras(2), a Forktailed Blue Eye, Flying Fox, Pl*co, and a small Convict Cichlid. He is so cute. I will try to take pics later on tonight.

 

[rjl420]

FishmasteR2002-

I'm not sure that is the best stocking for that tank, if your spotted puffer is a green spotted puffer (Tetraodon nigroviridus or Tetraodon fluviatilis) it will prefer brackish water and isn't the best of tankmates for most fish as they trend to get aggressive with age. check one of the above sites. the freshwater dwarf puffer,Tetraodon travancoricus, would be fine however, if thats what you have.

not to mention, the convict doesn't belong in that tank either.

sorry for the threadjack Cichlid Woman

 

[Cichlid Woman]

That's okay ...

I really like the looks of the colomesus. Thanks for the link, I bookmarked it. (It was kind of neat having a puffer in there.)

If one doesn't turn up, maybe I could get an lfs to order one ...

-- Pat