Kitsune

I saw that the LFS got some south american puffers in and they are soooo cute. I was reading up on them but I keep getting conflicting answers. I am considering getting one (or two) but am unsure of what water parameters they need and what size of tank.

Of course I won't buy one until I know what I am getting into and have a tank fully cycled. But it's a nice dream

angelfish220

http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/...-in-focus/sap/

Sounds like a nice little fishy. Normal (6-8) pH sounds like it will work for them. The site above said that they grow to about 4 inches, usually, but up to 6 inches in the wild. It was also recommended there that they were kept in groups of 3. Since they are picky eater, they probably will leave food around, so you need more room for that extra ammonia source, I would say 30 gal for the 3-5 of them? At the end of that article it said 6 in a 33-44 gall tank.

if you do get some post pics please

pinkfloydpuffer

I've kept an SAP before. Unfortunately I lost him to a stupid accident Anyways, I'd go with 15 gallons per puffer. And be careful of those teeth, they grow way fast!

Kitsune

I just saw your post about that. I am so sorry about Elton.

It's not going to be soon (looking at 8 months or so till I am ready to start) but I wanted to do some research and decide what tank so I can at least buy the tank during the holiday sales .

I saw that their teeth grow a lot faster than other puffers and they were suggesting how to cut their teeth and to use clove oil to make sure they slept through the procedure. If you have to cut a puffers teeth you keep them in the water to cut them right? I couldn't tell.

pinkfloydpuffer

I'd suggest using Finquel instead of clove oil, if you can find it. I had to snoop around and finally found it on some pond fish site. Clove oil is linked to brain damage in those guys, it's not really good for them
When cutting their teeth, you keep them fully submerged until they're completely unconscious, at which point it'd be ok to take them out for a few seconds to trim, but no longer than a few seconds, you don't want their skin drying out or them to suffocate. Then back into a small container of freshwater until they're fully awake, then you release them back into the tank.