Bb Goby's And Figure 8 Puffer

[phishyphil]

Okay so after careful deliberation on what to do with the spare 120Litre (25Gallon) Tank, I have decided to go down the brackish form and have Figure 8 Puffers and Bumble Bee gobies.

Firstyl, Are these Species compatible? After researching, they both require the same water conditions, feeding habbits and tank layout, and was wondering of there compatability

Secondly, What number of each am I to buy? I know there won't be a lot in there, and don't want to 'cram' them in there as I know they require excellent water conditions. So how many BB Gobys and how many Figure 8's should be put in here?

Finally, is this tank set up what they requre?

Tank Size : 36 x 12 x 15
Tank Volume : 25 Gallon
Water Temp : 23-27 Degrees C
Water : Brackish
Substrate : Sand
Decor : Bogwood, Lots of plants, Caves and Hiding Places
Food : Live food, frozen food, Hard to accept flakes!

Does this sound right? Want to make sure I get the conditions as close to perfect as possible

 

[nmonks]

BBGs are pretty easy to keep, so long as you can keep them well fed. If you can get the gobies first, get them feeding happily, then adding a figure-8 shouldn't pose any problems. Most of the BBGs that die prematurely do so because they starve. They're actually not fussy about water chemistry, and the commonly traded species can do well in freshwater as well as brackish.

I've yet to see a BBG go for flake food, though some people have reported them doing so. Wet-frozen bloodworms and fortified brine shrimps make excellent staples. Larger specimens will also eat small morsels of prawn and fish fillet.

Look for plump, well-fed specimens when shopping. Most species are territorial, but really, all they'll do is defend an area immediately around their cave. Apple snail shells are ideal homes, as are the snails used for serving cooked snails that you can buy in deluxe grocery stores. Failing that, a few, not too fancy seashells will work just as well. Spiny, colourful seashells work of course, but they can look out of place in a freshwater or brackish water system. In most estuaries, the snails you see are rather generic-looking ones. Of course, with brackish water tanks you *can* use marine shells and decorate the tank just like a reef tank, with fake corals and whatnot. That can look rather nice!

Cheers, Neale

 

[phishyphil]

BBGs are pretty easy to keep, so long as you can keep them well fed. If you can get the gobies first, get them feeding happily, then adding a figure-8 shouldn't pose any problems. Most of the BBGs that die prematurely do so because they starve. They're actually not fussy about water chemistry, and the commonly traded species can do well in freshwater as well as brackish.

I've yet to see a BBG go for flake food, though some people have reported them doing so. Wet-frozen bloodworms and fortified brine shrimps make excellent staples. Larger specimens will also eat small morsels of prawn and fish fillet.

Look for plump, well-fed specimens when shopping. Most species are territorial, but really, all they'll do is defend an area immediately around their cave. Apple snail shells are ideal homes, as are the snails used for serving cooked snails that you can buy in deluxe grocery stores. Failing that, a few, not too fancy seashells will work just as well. Spiny, colourful seashells work of course, but they can look out of place in a freshwater or brackish water system. In most estuaries, the snails you see are rather generic-looking ones. Of course, with brackish water tanks you *can* use marine shells and decorate the tank just like a reef tank, with fake corals and whatnot. That can look rather nice!

Cheers, Neale

Thanks Neale, Great advice mate. Will certainly follow it. How Many BBG should I look at getting first in the tank then mate? Not sure what would be the best ratio to get for them. Is there a certain amount of females to males etc. Would 1 F8 be enough in the tank, or would he need a freind? any advice would be greatly appreciated mate

 

[nmonks]

I'd get at least half a dozen. They don't add much load to the filter.

Figure-8s are solitary. No need for a companion.

Cheers, Neale

 

[phishyphil]

I'd get at least half a dozen. They don't add much load to the filter.

Figure-8s are solitary. No need for a companion.

Cheers, Neale

Right, Thanks Mate. No doubt I'll be picking your brains in due time with questions.

 

[phishyphil]

Just a wondering, Is there any suitable "Clean Up Crew" that would survive here with the BBG and F8 with the water being brackish? Im assuming there would be no small cats here either due ti the conditions and size of tank

 

[nmonks]

You don't need a clean-up crew in any aquarium other than a reef tank. Clean-up crew exists for tanks where it isn't possible to clean manually. In all other tanks -- that's your job!

If you want more fish, that's a whole other question. And as you doubtless suspect, the answer is a big fat "no" where pufferfish are concerned. BBGs are the exception here, and seem to work for whatever reason, perhaps because of their colours?

Cheers, Neale