Green Spotted Puffer.

[Liam50]

Hey well mum is moving out of the shed and selling her work stuff, so that means games room for me. I want to add a tank and i've been thinking about some sort of puffer tank for a while. A guy at work has a Juwel lido 120 that he would sell to me. So would that tank be sufficient? I read that some people have kept green spotted puffers with figure of 8 puffers. is this possible as it would be nice to a combination of puffers.

 

[lilacamy931]

That is a poor combination for a couple of reasons Im afraid, it might work out as they are juvis but there would be definate aggression between them all as they grow, it is hard enough to ensure own species get along alright as they get older. It also is a bad combo as the figure 8's are at the low end brackish and the GSPs go much higher end, so high some peeps take the tank into full marine for easier maintenance.

The tank itself is a nice one (just googled ) Puffers generally prefer length over height but I have a puff myself in a cube tank which he enjoys (I put it down to the landscaping ). Anyways here is a small low down on the two.

F8s - 15g minimum for one and 10g per extra (though 15g each best bet). People have successfully kept them together and also with tankmates such as knight gobies and bumblebee gobies, the two I had lived very peacefully with a silver molly (again wasnt sure how that wouldve panned into adulthood). General water params:
Low-end brackish water (SG = 1.005 - 1.008); Temp:24-28C (76-84F) ; pH: 7.8-8.3
Get to 3 inches

GSPs - 30g minimum for one (and would say 30g per puff). Again there are success rates if grown from juvie that they can live together, some have even had one in a full marine setup with tank mates but there are inevitable losses. Puffers have individual personalities so it would touch and go if it works. General water params:
High brackish to marine salinity; Temp: 23–26C (73 - 80F ); pH: 7.0 - 8.3
Get to around 6 - 6.5 inches.

Hope that helps a little! TO broaden horizons if set on puffs, others you could try are:
Red Eyed Puffs - they work well together and could get 4 in there (perhaps more)
Dwarf Puffs - 5g per puff )some work 5g for first and 3g for each additional) they are full of personality but it depends if wish for a bigger one
Congo Puff - gorgeous colours such as red or orange. Could have one but is a lurker and buries.
Abei - again one, I have one of these extremely active little fellow.
Hairy Puffer - unusual puff not so common, again one of these, though have read peeps have breeding pairs.
Brown Puffer - again one and simialr to abei
Suvatti - a funny looking puff and similar to congo, a lurker.
Dragon Puff - if went a little bigger to 150 litres then this would be a possibility too, these have successfully been mixed with suvatti (1 palem, 3 suvatti) but only in big enough tank

All the alternatives above are freshwater, sorry to babble!

EDIT P.s. other folks will come along with their experiences!

 

[nmonks]

Nothing to add to what lilacamy has said above; a poor combination. GSPs do need SG 1.010 upwards once mature, and that's much more saline than you want to go with figure-8s. The latter species is happiest in a low-end brackish tank with lots of plants, around SG 1.003 is ideal.

Cheers, Neale

 

[TheHolding]

Or you could try the South American Puffer.

Great fresh water puffers that do well when they are together - I have some with South American Cichlids they are quite peaceful in comparison to my GSP's!

 

[lilacamy931]

The only thing to watch with SAPs is to get the tank set up right as they are known pacers and also there is a tendancy to have a regular teeth trim regime. They are gorgeous active pufflets, also one of the only puffs that need their kindred spirit, from what I have read and been advised do not do overly well by themselves.

 

[Liam50]

Thank you so much guys brackish really isn't my local environment so your input is greatly accepted. I think i may go with figure of 8's as i believe i could have a nice pair. I assume also that these guys prefer a heavily planted tank like other puffers so they can set up territories. But yer i'm looking forward too brackish as i really want to try my hand and checking salinity and you know how it is learning new stuff in the hobby is fun.

 

[lilacamy931]

Aw best of luck, figure of 8s are gorgeous puffs, try to get them as juvis and also roughly the same size, heavily decorated and breaking line of sights is the key, just ensure to go for plants that can withstand the salt content of the water such as java ferns, etc Best of luck would love to see tank and puppies when get them x

P.s. Do have a look at knight gobies and bumblebee gobies if wanted to add something different (though the pufflets will be just as awesome by themselves )

 

[Liam50]

Aw best of luck, figure of 8s are gorgeous puffs, try to get them as juvis and also roughly the same size, heavily decorated and breaking line of sights is the key, just ensure to go for plants that can withstand the salt content of the water such as java ferns, etc Best of luck would love to see tank and puppies when get them x

P.s. Do have a look at knight gobies and bumblebee gobies if wanted to add something different (though the pufflets will be just as awesome by themselves )

would the gobies be ok in the tank with the puffers?

 

[lilacamy931]

That I can not say 100% yes as it is down to the puffs and how the tank is setup but the bumblebees are a common mix that works with figure of 8 puffers, it is best to introduce the gobies first to the tank before the puffs are introduced. Gobies are funny little things but do read up about them and really consider their care and what would you do if it goes wrong and they are not accepted.