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my LFS just got these and i thought that they would look good with my chichlis as i have plenty of room. i read that they are pretty agressive but i was wonder if the could hold there own against cichlids. and could someone please explain brakkish water

Brackish is between fresh and saltwater. You'll need marine saly and a hydrometer. Cichlids are freshwater.They won't mix.


Kim

u can keep f8s in fresh water if properly acclimated to it but they still woodnt mix with most cichlidds

Acclimation to FW has nothing to do w/it. F8s will live longer, have better coloration & less diseases in BW. I doubt it would even make it to it's teens in FW. They can live 18+ years in BW.

From what I have read it is common to start this fish in FW and as it grows acclimate it to brackish. Most text will tell you adult f8's will only thrive in brackish water. I don't know from experience but I find that species rather interesting and have read some about it.

It is a mystery as to where their salinity preferences lie. They are caught in both FW and BW in fluctuating numbers. It also doesn't help that nearly nothing is known about their habits in the wild. However, that being said, I believe they would be appreciative to have water of whatever salinity they came in--acclimating things to varying levels of salinity is always a pain, both for the aquarist and the fish. I've had F8s for a long time--best I can guesstimate would be six-ish, bordering on seven years, the first six and a half of which were in freshwater. They did fine; never had black bellies or anything (and grew to a hearty 4". However, after the transition to BW, they seemed to have done just as well--since then, I've given them up for adoption and the foster parents, so to speak, say they're as ravenous and lively as ever, which is always good to hear.

Since it has been proven many times over, that F8s can live into their upper teens in low-end BW, that's where mine will be kept.

...Then that's a great decision on your part. If you're here within the next eleven years, I'll keep you posted on how the puffers are doing.