Member

Posts: 17
From:courtenay B.C Canada
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-31-2004 11:27 PM         

---

I was Wondering if i could convert my old 20 gallon tank to brackish so i could get 2 figure 8 puffers? So is is 1 table spoon aquarium salt to 5 gallons of water? what other fish like corys can i add that help with the cleanign alittle? thanks

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 24
From:nicholson ga usa
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 02-01-2004 04:27 AM         

---

hello mart6763
yes you can put figure 8 puffers in a 20 gallon tank. the things i've read say you don't need brackish water for them. we have ours in water with 1 tablespoon of salt per 5 gallons. we keep salt in all of our tanks
I'm not sure that you can put anything else in with them i've heard that they are very agressive fish.
we have a very small 1 in a 5 gallon tank (he's about 1 inch long) we're going to move him to a bigger tank when he gets bigger. from what i've read they get 6 to 7 inches long so a 20 gal should be big enough for 1 or 2 not sure you can keep 2 togather though. hope this helps.
this is just the way we keep ours not sure it is the right way. maybe someone who knows more can give you more help

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 17
From:courtenay B.C Canada
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 02-01-2004 03:30 PM         

---

thanks ill ask the pet shop lady, she seems to be the only 1 that actualy keeps fish and is sorta insane hyper about it but she knows what she is talkin about.. lol all the other people that work here seem to know nothign at all or just say stuff to make ppl buy pets or suplies

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 78
From:
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 02-01-2004 09:37 PM         

---

20g is borderline for two adult F8 puffs. They are indeed agressive. The jury is still out on whether to use aquarium salt or marine salt. I am using "Instant Ocean" marine salt for my brackish tank right now. You may want do some due dilligence and research their requirements before stepping up to puffers so you don't get any nasty surprises. They have very specific food requirements. In addition to frozen krill, winkles and cockles (with shell) you'll have to supply them with snails every week. If you do not, their teeth (actually bony plates) will grow to long and if this occurs they won't be able to eat - and they will starve to death.

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 266
From:Canada
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 02-02-2004 11:42 AM         

---

There are freshwater puffers, however, the figure8 is generally not considered to be one of them. You should aim for a specific density of about 1.015 (some sights will call it salinity - it's actually the density ratio of salted water to pure water, but it's an easy enough term to understand). This translates into approx. a 1/4 cup marine salt per gallon. Get a specific density meter to measure it. I would use marine salt as their natural environment is a mixture of marine and freshwater. For more info on aggresiveness and caretaking check out http://www.liveaquaria.com under brackish water fish. You may only want to keep one in a 20, or make sure you have a lot of cover.

IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)