Need Help...really Confused With Fig 8 Puffers..

[shahrezsyed]

well i,m about to make a fig 8 tank.
the thing is that some people are telling me to make a brackish for them and some freshwater.....really confused.
i need to know one thing...a very clear question.
will my fig 8,s thrive, grow and live long in 1.005 SG brackish or in freshwater.
shahrez

 

[nmonks]

Figure-8 puffers need slightly brackish water to do well in the long term. Anything in the range SG 1.003-1.008 is fine. In freshwater they tend to be shorter-lived and more prone to disease.

Cheers, Neale

 

[Davo86]

You will need a brackish setup to keep Figure 8's long term, If kept in freshwater they can easily become sick and don't usually last very long at all

 

[shahrezsyed]

thank you very much for the reply.
is the following setup all right??
1.005 sg water,visi therm heater, internal filter, bogwood with lots of java fern,anubias ans java moss,sand substrate,a gro lux light and an airstone.
how many fig 8,s can i keep in the 33 gallon?
shahrez

 

[Davo86]

I'd go for 2 Figure 8's and then around 5-6 Bumble bee gobies.
Although just make sure that the tank isn't to open, as this can lead to increased aggression between the puffers if they are constantly in each others line of sight.

 

[K-Holed]

I've never considered bogwood for a brackish setup before. I guess I always thought it'd screw with the water stats too much. *toddles off to do some reasearch*

 

[nmonks]

Depends on your carbonate hardness. If your carbonate hardness is above, say, 7 degrees KH, any acidification will be so minimal between water changes that it'll be negligible.

Cheers, Neale

I guess I always thought it'd screw with the water stats too much.

 

[jennybugs]

thank you very much for the reply.
is the following setup all right??
1.005 sg water,visi therm heater, internal filter, bogwood with lots of java fern,anubias ans java moss,sand substrate,a gro lux light and an airstone.
how many fig 8,s can i keep in the 33 gallon?
shahrez

I'd seriously consider getting a large external filter in addition to an internal one. F8 puffers eat very meaty foods and poop for medals so 50% weekly water changes and loads of filtration is vital to keep the water quality tip top I love my 2 F8s and swarm of 9 bumblebee gobies and spend many happy hours watching them drift around the tank