Dog faced puffer?

[looneytunes]

hey everybody, i am stuck on a pretty big decision. TANK SIZE. i can get a 120(4x2x2) for $500 or get a custom tank 150(5x2x2)$1800+. a 6 ft tank will not work. so my question for those who have dog faced puffers:
What size is your tank and how is it working out.
any input from puffer parents is greatly appreciated. i know you can't tell me what to do but i do value everyone's opinion so pretend its that show What Would You Do?

thanks,
christine:bounce3:

 

[PGHreefer412]

Christine, my mom and dad have a dog faced puffer in their 75 gallon and its doing just great! They had it for about 3 years now and is around 7 inches or so. He is a PIG and eats and nips on anything he possibly can!

 

[anaya]

Is a 75 large enough to house a dogface? If so I would be interested in getting one?

Not trying to hijack your thread I'm just wondering.

 

[looneytunes]

thanks for the info PGHreefer412. please everybody keep it coming. the more the merrier anaya.

 

[rayn]

I currently have a dog face and a striped in a 55, sorta a grow out tank. They will be moved to a 120 soon and I think that should be a good size for them. They eat like crazy and make a huge mess, so a good skimmer is a must, but they haven't grown as I expected them too. Stripe is about four inches and the dog face is maybe six.

 

[PGHreefer412]

they surely do eat anything that they can so like rayn said, a good skimmer is a MUST because they will produce a good amount of waste.

 

[Adam S]

I kept my dogface puffer in a 5ft 120g and he did great, great personality and very friendly. I personally feel any shorter than a 5ft wouldn't be the best situation, not saying a 4ft wouldnt work but seeing my 6in puffer, he usually used most of the tank as a territory. Hope this helps

 

[looneytunes]

thanks for the responses. Do you guys think width makes a difference. 24 as opposed to 18.

 

[Adam S]

I wish i had gone 24 instead of 18 just because rock takes up a good amount of space. Like in my tank the rock takes up about 6-8in of front to back space in the lower part of the tank.

 

[anaya]

I have frequently read that people like the wider tanks for aquascaping and the bigger fish like the extra turning space.

 

[rayn]

Wider is better. Height isn't as much, but it does provide swimming room as long as your not looking into a fast swimmer. For a puffer though height would work. Make your self a box 12", 18", and 24" and see which is easier to work with if you have some dry rock. Gives you a little practice without being in a breakable tank too.

 

[nonstopfishies]

Wider is better. Height isn't as much, but it does provide swimming room as long as your not looking into a fast swimmer. For a puffer though height would work. Make your self a box 12", 18", and 24" and see which is easier to work with if you have some dry rock. Gives you a little practice without being in a breakable tank too.

I agree here. The bigger the tank the better because these fish do get so large. You could help counter act the mess a big puffer will make by getting the largest sump you can under the tank and spending the money you save buying the cheaper tank on some nicer equipment to keep the water quality high.

 

[jarrod13]

Mines in a 220 6x2x30". I would also say the bigger the tank the better, they get big. Mines sticks half of his head out of the water trying to bite me

 

[looneytunes]

thank you to everyone, i bit the bullet and ordered the 150. i would rather start off with the tank i will keep rather than possibly having to ugrade and all the work involved with switching tanks.
thank you again,
christine