Porcupine Fish

M

macman7010

AC Members
Dec 28, 2002
71
0
0
42
Oakland
members.gcnet.net
I just set up my first saltwater tank, I have a lot of expierence in the freshwater arena, but very little with saltwater. I am still working on finishing up the tank but just wanted some advice.

The tank is a 30 gallon long
crushed coral makes up the substrate
currently it houses 9 pounds of live rock w/more coming
Filtration is done with a Marineland Bio-Wheel 330 and a Whisper 30-60
I am adding a power head to blow water through the live rock
tank has been curing for one week

I picked up my first tank mate yesterday, though he is in a 10 gallon containmant and quartenine tank at the moment. He is a saltwater Porcupine Fish, about 3 1/2 inches in size. Very interesting and energetic. The tank he is in has been curing for two weeks, filled with live rock and crushed coral. I have read these guys reach 7 inches in size, and are very good eaters. I was curious what was the best method of feeding, I am currently using Marine Flakes and Krill. Any suggestions?
 
Get a much larger tank, and set up the 30g to raise ghost shrimp and snails for food :D

I don't know where you got your information on his reaching 7 inches- a foot and a half is more like it. I wanted to put one in a 90g until I researched them- even a 180g is dicey for a full grown fish.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=244
 
...my two cents.I think 1 1/2 feet is too conservative.I think they can get up to three feet. I was recently at the aquarium in Baltimore, MD and they have two there easily over two feet long and upwards of twenty pounds.
 
Hmmmm... the guy at the fish store told me 7 inches, then I read an article that said they can hit 8 inches. Hard to say, then another site or book wiill say 36 inches. Likely I will keep him in the 30 until he out grows it then give him to my friend who owns a fish store, and has over 2,000 gallons of aquariums in his home.

thanks for the replies
 
There are 2 species commonly available for the aquarium trade--one which gets huge, one which does not. Don't have scientific names handy, but you may be just fine.

For feeding--things in shells. Doubt it will even take flake food, most frozen prepared foods will be happily taken, but it must have lots of crunchies or you risk it's beak overgrowing. Cockles, mussels, shell-on shrimp, crab legs--you get the picture. Crunchy foods should make up most of it's diet.
 
Yeah, that's an important point--saying that the smaller species is okay implies it will be fine in the 30--it won't. Not long term. But, with the smaller species, at least it is manageable--the larger species clearly needs much more than most hobbyists can provide! I've seen one monster--it was longer than my arm (I'm 6'1, so my arms are not short!) and a very active fish. I was shocked to see it--anything that makes a 300 gallon tank look cramped is BIG!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom