Our Figure 8 Puffer

[Thunda]

Well, it looks like Todd & I are now following Dan's lead & we got ourselves a Figure 8 puffer.

it's in a 10 gal tank atm, in brackish water at 1.018. we'll be slowly acclimating it to our 1.024 30 gal salt water tank. 

I can't wait to place him in his new home!!!

wish us luck!!

-Lisa

[Darth]

cool let us know how it goes

[dan2x38]

It is the cheapest fish I have bought since I started in s/w. They are cool little guys fun to watch they are always swimming around being nosy. I lost one after acclimating he was to nosy I think and someone else got POed I lost one. Look forward to updates. I guess you know they need a way to grind down their teeth?

[Thunda]

we'll be doing a water change either today or tomorrow . I just fed him some dried bloodworms & he gobbled them up like candy! yes, we have a shell for him to grind his teeth on.

I will be placing more smaller shells in his tank to keep him happy. 

-Lisa

[Darth]

I would love to do this but I don't have a qt as you both seen my set up space is limited but can't wait to hear the results
Dan  I like cheap fish, I just bought the bartlett and he is now disappeared =( $34 down the drain

[Greatwhite]

I would love to do this but I don't have a qt as you both seen my set up space is limited but can't wait to hear the results
Dan  I like cheap fish, I just bought the bartlett and he is now disappeared =( $34 down the drain

He'll reappear.. or at least pieces of him will.  That's what happened to my poor little Dispar   At least I was able to get his remains out for a decent flushing ceremony.

[Darth]

no my cuc desecrates everything in seconds they took apart a fairly larger cleaner shrimp in 3 mins =(

[10gnano]

Thats one cool little fish. is it reef friendly?

[dan2x38]

They are reef friendly mine is doing great!

Darth check my thread on acclimating him. I did not have a QT used a bucket and did it in over 30 hrs.

[Thunda]

they don't eat coral. they will go after the invertebrates if they are hungry enough, since they need to grind down the hard shells to keep their teeth from growing. 

[10gnano]

so do they just pick up shells to knaw at like a budgie bird?

[Thunda]

I think it is something along those lines yes.  If they do not have something hard to chew on their little teeth will continue to grow and eventually wouldn't be able to eat properly. 

[Darth]

I think it is something along those lines yes.  If they do not have something hard to chew on their little teeth will continue to grow and eventually wouldn't be able to eat properly. 

just like hamsters and rabbits

[10gnano]

how do you get them used to salt water? do you put them in a different tank and slowly add salt to raise the salinity over time?

[Thunda]

Currently what we are planning to do is as we do our weekly water changes is to increase the salinity a little each time until we have it at the same level as our salt water tank (1.024-1.025).   The tank we have the little fellow in is strictly for him which makes it easy.  This is maybe a longer process than required but we feel it is the least stressful for the puffer. 

[dan2x38]

I did mine in 30 hrs of the drip line method. Slowly brining it up to SG 1.025 my DT SG.

[Thunda]

the little guy is now in water that's 1.020.

colour is still good & still eating well!

-Lisa

[10gnano]

where can this be bought

[dan2x38]

If Big Al's do not have them try asking Le Niche if he can order them for you. Jean-Marc there order mine and they were very healthy.

[Thunda]

We've seen them off and on at Big Al's as well.

  Little fellow seems to be doing well @ 1.020.  Put a little nano powerhead in there and he often plays in the current.  Another couple weeks and he might be ready for the move into the saltwater tank.  They are such great little fish. 

Todd