Puffer Keepers

[reefergeorge]

What is a good turnover rate for a tank with a porcupine puffer in it?
I don't want him to get blown all over the place. I will be using koralia pumps if the wider flow makes a difference.

 

[Snausy]

I use a 900 gph(eheim 1262) on my 100gal FOWLR with just two outputs in top corners pointing down. There are diffusers(fan shaped things to distribute the water more evenly) at the ends. Seems to work well for my dogface. He can swim straight up the current six inches from the nozzle without much trouble.

Puffers are much stronger swimmers than most people realize. They use the fins well to stablize.

The only time I've seen him blown around a bit is when he was fully puffed up like a balloon, which didn't surprised me a bit. Not much manuvering power when blown up.

 

[PuffDandEd]

Yes, our S&S Puffer here [violation] recently puffed up for no apparent reason. He got the size of a volley ball and was bouncing all around the tank. It was quite amusing. But to answer the question, they are very strong swimmers, especially the Arothron's. Their tail fin has plenty of muscle in it. The Diodon's probably aren't as strong but they will do fine in any standard FOWLR setup with plenty of good circulation. Just make sure there is a place for him to settle down at night so he doesn't get blasted all night by a water jet!

Good Luck!

 

[reefergeorge]

Thanks!

 

[Snausy]

lol about the S&S...Did he look like this?:

That's Carlito...he was my favorite fish ever and I came out from the shower one day to see that. Took some quick pics.

My landlady killed them all though being stupid...that was an awesome tank and he was an AWESOME fish.

 

[JustinReef]

Nice S&S! What happened to him???

 

[PuffDandEd]

Yes! You are lucky to get a photo of it! I've been trying for years to get a picture of our S&S puffed up but have always missed it! He was so huge and rolling around like a ball in a labyrinth it was so cool! The other day, ours just did it spontaneously, nothing outside the tank scared him. He's been living with the other tank mates for several years so I doubt they scared him. It was weird!

 

[Snausy]

When I was away for a week my landlady took it upon herself to bleach the walls and paint with a toxic mold killing paint without any ventilation. Didn't open teh windows or anything. Actually said she might've dripped some into the tank when she painted the ceiling. "I don't understand how anything in the air can get into the water"...*sigh*

I got back to find everything dead but the S&S who was almost dead and looking at me like "why....why"...it was heartbreaking. I did everything I could to bring him back, nothing worked.

My sister said he probably waited around to say goodbye before he died.

Needless to say I threatened a lawsuit and they gave me 1k in damages to shut me up. She didn't even ask me if she could go in my apt when I was gone.

Yeah that last picture was typical, he'd just hang out laying there watching me work on my computer all day. When I looked over at him he'd see me looking at get excited "GOT SOME SHRIMP?"

 

[PuffDandEd]

Geeze that's sad. S&S's are like pet dogs. It's a heart breaker when one passes.

 

[JustinReef]

Oh man Im sorry to hear that. Thats so sad.

 

[PuffDandEd]

Yeah, I'm bummed out now. I keep thinking about that story.