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If you're willing to go brackish, the figure 8 puffer is pretty vicious. You should see mine tear apart a cricket! I keep 3 in my 29, along with 6 bumblebee & 4 knight gobies.

See: http://www.aaquaria.com/aquasource/8puffer.shtml

I've heard of people keeping Arrowhead puffers (Tetraodon suvatti) in 20 gallon tanks. I think 29 gallons is better, but considering how typically inactive they are 20 would probably be ok. I have 2 and I absolutely love them...problem will be finding them. I don't see them around here very often. Actually, I've never seen on in an lfs before. I got lucky and found these 2 on aquabid.

You could also keep a red-eye puffer (Tetraodon lorteti). These only grow to ~3" I believe. You could keep a pair but keep in mind I've read several times of pairs that breed a few times and then one kills the other. Also, if you decide to go with these, make sure they are really T. lorteti because I've seen as many as 4 or 5 different species sold as "Red-Eye Puffers".


Jason



[span class="edited"][Edited by jason_r_s 2004-06-06 19:15][/span]

i would get anyone of the fish jason said!!

Fig8s are NOT vicious, well, as far as puffers go. I kept mine with larger livebearers and khulis. Red eyes are actually in the genus carinotetraodon, not tetraodon. These puffers are actually quite placid (some deviants may stray from this), except, as aforementioned, to their own species. Arrowheads, IMO, are too small for 20gals, and aren't very common, anyways. Nigris are probably you best bet for mean puffs suitable for life in a twenty gal.

Fig8s are NOT vicious, well, as far as puffers go

I assure you if Pufferpunk says her Fig8's are vicious then they are. She is definitely, at least in the opinions of most in the pufferworld. How old are your fig 8's Klee. I know hers are several years old. I'm just wondering if perhaps your fig8's have not reached maturity yet. I'm sure they're much more aggressive once they hit maturity.

Red eyes are actually in the genus carinotetraodon, not tetraodon.

Honestly I was about 90% sure that was the case, but I was in a hurry when I was typing that first post. I merely wanted to provide a scientific name for CLK to be able to search for info on them. Even if CLK were to type in Tetraodon lorteti instead of Carinotetraodon he would still find ample information about them.

These puffers are actually quite placid

I'm sorry, but I still have to disagree with this. Every account I have heard of C. lorteti say that at some point they will kill everything in the tank with them.

Arrowheads, IMO, are too small for 20gals

Did you mean that a 20 gallon is too small for an arrowhead. If so, that's what I said...but I know some people keep them in 20 gallons simply because of how inactive they are. 29 gallons is a much better choice, imo.

Nigris are probably you best bet for mean puffs suitable for life in a twenty gal.

Do you mean T. nigriviridis? If so, these also grow to ~6" if I remember correctly...same as arrowheads. These are also much more active than arrowheads which would make them a worse choice for a 20.

Jason

My single fig was around 5" in length, and was fairly placid. I returned it to the LFS to make rrom for my angel breeding pair.

I'm sorry, but I still have to disagree with this. Every account I have heard of C. lorteti say that at some point they will kill everything in the tank with them.
They are, IMO, fairly peaceful fish, my own pair included. Mine are kept with (most prominently) several angels in a community setting. No problems as of yet. As for the nigris, I thought they stayed small, but I'm likely wrong about this. And on a completely unrelated note, I would like to say that pufferpunk's fahaka is beautiful .


[span class="edited"][Edited by Klee 2004-06-07 20:23][/span]

They are, IMO, fairly peaceful fish, my own pair included. Mine are kept with (most prominently) several angels in a community setting. No problems as of yet.

I'm glad they're getting along but I'd definitely keep an eye on them. There will always be exceptions to every rule as far as aggression goes in fish so maybe you got a very passive pair. I've never kept them myself, so I'm only going by what I've heard and that is that they should be kept by themselves. If your setup is working for you though, that's great.

Oh, and yes Pufferpunk's fahaka is gorgeous, but then again so are the rest of her puffers.

As for the nigris, I thought they stayed small, but I'm likely wrong about this.

Could you have possibly been thinking of Tetraodon schoutedeni? This is the Congo Spotted Puffer if I'm not mistaken. This fish looks very similar to the Green Spotted Puffer but T. schoutedeni is freshwater (I think) and only grows to ~3" as opposed to ~6" like the T. nigriviridis. However, if my understanding is correct T. schoutedeni hasn't been imported in years.

Pufferpunk can confirm and/or correct anything I've said. Everything I know about puffers (which isn't a whole lot) I learned from her and one other person who goes by LinearChaos. I'm not sure if she's registered here though?!?

Jason

I'll keep an eye on them, just in case (I've ben struck with paranoia XD). Also, I googled Schouties and I think you're probably right about that. Thanks for the info though .

[span class="edited"][Edited by Klee 2004-06-12 12:52][/span]

so should i get a fig8 puffer?

6x2x2 - Firemouth and Oscar Tank
30+ royal pythons.

Back in the game after 4 years out ..

i dont want dwarf puffers i want something nasty and wont get to big for my 20g

any ideas?

thanx in advance

6x2x2 - Firemouth and Oscar Tank
30+ royal pythons.

Back in the game after 4 years out ..

BW?

i will try and get 2 fig 8 puffers

what does my tanks lay out have to be? i have sand and gravel mixed together in there at the moment and then i have a flwoer pot aswell? do i need more flower pots? then just sand? i hear they like to dig and bury themselves?

i will go and see if they have some tomorow if not i will order 2 of them

thanx for info i will keep yah posted



6x2x2 - Firemouth and Oscar Tank
30+ royal pythons.

Back in the game after 4 years out ..

i think it needs to be brackish

Again I ask--are you ready for a BW tank? You need marine salt & a hydrometer. I like to use crushed coral as a substrate, to keep the pH around a steady 8.

hmmm well i dunno wether i know how to do bracksih water

can somebody tell me what i need to do please? i liked the fig 8 puffers at ym lfs they ahve 5 in stock so i will have no problem getting them



6x2x2 - Firemouth and Oscar Tank
30+ royal pythons.

Back in the game after 4 years out ..

can someone give me advice about a puffer that is just freshwater?

as no1 will help me make a BW tank i odnt want dwarf puffers so i need something else?

6x2x2 - Firemouth and Oscar Tank
30+ royal pythons.

Back in the game after 4 years out ..

Puffers in general need special care & feeding. How expereinced ar you at fishkeeping? Puffers are not for novice fishkeepers. For example, I suggest 50% weekly water changes. They are messy fish & heavy waste producers. They must be put in a fully cycled tank. You cannot cycle a tank with puffers. Fishless cycling is recommended. Puffers generally, won't eat flakes & need crustaceons as a staple diet to keep their teeth trimmed. Some may need occasional teeth trimming by their keeper.

The only difference with FW & BW is adding marine salt. You need a hydrometer to measure the amount. I also recommend using crushed coral or aragonite for substrate, to keep the pH around a steady 8.

If after carfully considering all this, read this excellent article on F8 puffers, written by a pufferkeeper of over 40 years: http://www.aaquaria.com/aquasource/8puffer.shtml

Puffers are wild-caught fish. If folks not ready for their specific care kept buying them without knowing what they were getting into & they died, eventually, there would be no more.

well i been keeping fish for 3 years

i keep discus ...... they cannot be harder to keep than them surely

also i know how to cycle a tank i cycle my tanks for at least 4 weeks



6x2x2 - Firemouth and Oscar Tank
30+ royal pythons.

Back in the game after 4 years out ..

i just got a great deal on 2 fig 8 puffers the place is gunna hold them for me for a while

just gotta set up my tank for bracksih

6x2x2 - Firemouth and Oscar Tank
30+ royal pythons.

Back in the game after 4 years out ..