Figure 8 Puffer

micstarz · 12-09-2005, 04:32 AM

Hi, I'm planning to get a figure eight puffer or two. The ones I am planning to buy are housed in a well established aquarium and are peaceful so are two ok for a 20gal? What would they eat? (I am always most worried about feeding)

Info asap
Thanks a great deal.

**Cichlid Man** · 12-09-2005, 01:27 PM

They are brakish and aggressive. They need a species tank or a tank with larger brakish fish. People keep them with cichlids but these people tend to be naive.

**Scuba Kid** · 12-09-2005, 01:46 PM

also, 2 are not okay for a 20 gallon in the long run. i would give one at least a 30. they get to be about 6 inches.

edit: i misread. i thought we were talking about green spotted. LOL.

and also i disagree with the aggressive thing a bit. ill admit that they can be pretty aggressive but figure eights are generally more peaceful than other puffers. i kept mine okay with mummichogs and it was never aggressive towards them. but i will also say that it depends on the individual.

mine ate just about anything except prepared, dry foods such as flakes and pellets. it mostly ate frozen bloodworms and live blackworms though. they also need to have snails as a part of their diet to ware down their ever growing teeth. if you let their teeth get too long, you will need to clip them or the puffer will starve to death.

**Cichlid Man** · 12-09-2005, 02:04 PM

Forget about it being one of the most peaceful puffers. F8's are potentially very dangerous to other fish due to their powerful jaws and can inflict serious damage.

Tim · 12-10-2005, 12:42 AM

i lovvveeeeeeeeee figure 8 puffers

micstarz · 12-10-2005, 05:33 PM

ok, thanks for the info, yippeeeeeeee! Snails are a problem in my aquarium. MTS are literally covering the aquarium floor and I couldnt bear to throw them into the toilet. But now that a puffer's here I know it's natural for them to bash snails up!

**Scuba Kid** · 12-10-2005, 05:50 PM

NO. mts can never be fed to puffers! the shell is too hard and can damage their teeth.

**Cichlid Man** · 12-11-2005, 06:00 AM

We gave you advice and you went against it. Never mind, you'll learn one day.

Frozen · 01-04-2006, 04:31 PM

Puffers (or mine) Would suck the snail from the shell. But they are mean as heck, the guy at the fish store told me they were at worst, fin nippers, but thats at there best. They killed almost all my other fish, and I had to set up a new aquarium for the injured fish alone. Cool looking, but not a good choice of fish.

micstarz · 01-05-2006, 03:10 AM

ok thanks alot I will restrain myself from buying or capturing them any time soon.

12-09-2005, 04:32 AM	#1
micstarz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hong Kong Age: 14 Posts: 658	Figure 8 Puffer Hi, I'm planning to get a figure eight puffer or two. The ones I am planning to buy are housed in a well established aquarium and are peaceful so are two ok for a 20gal? What would they eat? (I am always most worried about feeding) Info asap Thanks a great deal. __________________

12-09-2005, 01:27 PM	#2
Cichlid Man Super moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,100	They are brakish and aggressive. They need a species tank or a tank with larger brakish fish. People keep them with cichlids but these people tend to be naive. __________________ If you have a big enough tank with enough hiding places, pH of around 7, you can keep virtually any fish together as long as all the fish are around the same size and these two groups of fish are avioded: Serrasalmus Tetradon(figure eights and dwarfs are the exception). I keep a successful community of fish in a 4 foot tank including the following families: Cichlids, tetras, loaches, gouramis, barbs, rainbows, livebearers, killiefish, catfish, puffers.

12-09-2005, 01:46 PM	#3
Scuba Kid Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: RI Age: 17 Posts: 4,219	also, 2 are not okay for a 20 gallon in the long run. i would give one at least a 30. they get to be about 6 inches. edit: i misread. i thought we were talking about green spotted. LOL. and also i disagree with the aggressive thing a bit. ill admit that they can be pretty aggressive but figure eights are generally more peaceful than other puffers. i kept mine okay with mummichogs and it was never aggressive towards them. but i will also say that it depends on the individual. mine ate just about anything except prepared, dry foods such as flakes and pellets. it mostly ate frozen bloodworms and live blackworms though. they also need to have snails as a part of their diet to ware down their ever growing teeth. if you let their teeth get too long, you will need to clip them or the puffer will starve to death. __________________ Current setups: 1800 gallon koi pond, 10 gallon planted, 150 gallon reef, other FOWLR tanks Last edited by Scuba Kid; 12-09-2005 at 01:51 PM.

12-09-2005, 02:04 PM	#4
Cichlid Man Super moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,100	Forget about it being one of the most peaceful puffers. F8's are potentially very dangerous to other fish due to their powerful jaws and can inflict serious damage. __________________ If you have a big enough tank with enough hiding places, pH of around 7, you can keep virtually any fish together as long as all the fish are around the same size and these two groups of fish are avioded: Serrasalmus Tetradon(figure eights and dwarfs are the exception). I keep a successful community of fish in a 4 foot tank including the following families: Cichlids, tetras, loaches, gouramis, barbs, rainbows, livebearers, killiefish, catfish, puffers.

12-10-2005, 05:33 PM	#6
micstarz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hong Kong Age: 14 Posts: 658	ok, thanks for the info, yippeeeeeeee! Snails are a problem in my aquarium. MTS are literally covering the aquarium floor and I couldnt bear to throw them into the toilet. But now that a puffer's here I know it's natural for them to bash snails up! __________________

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12-10-2005, 12:42 AM	#5
Tim Banned Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Dee Why, Sydney, Australia Posts: 50	i lovvveeeeeeeeee figure 8 puffers

12-10-2005, 05:50 PM	#7
Scuba Kid Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: RI Age: 17 Posts: 4,219	NO. mts can never be fed to puffers! the shell is too hard and can damage their teeth. __________________ Current setups: 1800 gallon koi pond, 10 gallon planted, 150 gallon reef, other FOWLR tanks

12-11-2005, 06:00 AM	#8
Cichlid Man Super moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,100	We gave you advice and you went against it. Never mind, you'll learn one day. __________________ If you have a big enough tank with enough hiding places, pH of around 7, you can keep virtually any fish together as long as all the fish are around the same size and these two groups of fish are avioded: Serrasalmus Tetradon(figure eights and dwarfs are the exception). I keep a successful community of fish in a 4 foot tank including the following families: Cichlids, tetras, loaches, gouramis, barbs, rainbows, livebearers, killiefish, catfish, puffers.

01-04-2006, 04:31 PM	#9
Frozen Fishy Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Texas Age: 18 Posts: 10	Puffers (or mine) Would suck the snail from the shell. But they are mean as heck, the guy at the fish store told me they were at worst, fin nippers, but thats at there best. They killed almost all my other fish, and I had to set up a new aquarium for the injured fish alone. Cool looking, but not a good choice of fish. __________________ 10 Gallon Tank 5 Cardinal Tetras 4 Cherry Barbs 3 Corydora Catfish 3 Male Platys (assorted) 3 Ghost Shrimp 2 Male Mollies (Dalimation Lyretail & Creamsicle) 1 Rubber-lipped Plecostamos 1 Upside-down Catfish 1 Beautiful Male Betta 7 Gallon Tank 2 Female Mollies (Dalmation Lyretail & Creamsicle) 2 Corydora Catfish 1 Male Betta 1 Molly Fry in breeder net

01-05-2006, 03:10 AM	#10
micstarz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hong Kong Age: 14 Posts: 658	ok thanks alot I will restrain myself from buying or capturing them any time soon. __________________

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