How do you take care of a figure 8 puffer fish?

Figure 8 puffers are warm-water tropical fish, so a temperature of around 78 degrees Fahrenheit is best for them. A substrate of crushed coral or aragonite sand is recommended to keep the pH at a steady level of around 8.

Where do figure eight puffers come from?

Tetraodon biocellatus), commonly the figure 8 puffer or eyespot puffer, is a pufferfish found in freshwater in Southeast Asia. It is known from the lower reaches of the Mekong (Cambodia), the Peninsular Malaysia as well as Borneo (Sarawak, Kalimantan).

How many Figure 8 puffers are in a tank?

Figure 8’s are a better choice for most aquarists than the GSP because their requirements are easier to meet. These puffers will only grow to about half the size of a GSP, thus they need only half the space. 15 gallons is sufficient for one puffer, with 10 gallons more for each additional puffer.

Can a figure 8 puffer live in a 5 gallon tank?

You could put a single DP in there, but you would have to keep up on yout water changes, 50% every week. A 5 gallon is recommened, but a 4 should work just fine for one.

Do Figure 8 puffers puff up?

The figure 8 pufferfish can also puff up to two or three times their original size by inflating their stomach with air or water. Puffers typically do this when threatened, although they’ve been seen puffing up in home aquariums for seemingly no reason as well; still, this behavior should not be encouraged.

What fish can go with Figure 8 puffer fish?

Ideally, figure 8 puffers should be kept alone or in a large aquarium with only a few other fish that thrive in the same partial-salinity habitat. Owners who have kept them in brackish water find that bumblebee gobies, knight gobies, and mollies are suitable companions.

Do puffer fish bites hurt?

Not venomous, mind you, they don’t bite or sting. But their bodies harbor a toxin 100 times more lethal than cyanide. Each year, dozens of adventurous human diners (and an untold number of underwater gourmands) are stricken with puffer fish poisoning.

Can a figure 8 puffer fish live in freshwater?

If you keep figure 8 puffers in freshwater, their immune systems are compromised, and it can lead to disease and early death of the fish. However, they live longer in brackish water. Since it is hard to achieve very hard freshwater, adding marine salt to the water may be best for the hobbyist.

Where can I find a figure 8 fish?

Figure 8 puffer fish is a brackish water fish. In the wild, it is commonly appear in fresh and brackish streams and estuaries of Southeast Asia in countries like the Malaysian peninsula, Borneo, Thailand, and Sumatra. Figure 8 puffers do not breed in captivity. Most of the species in home aquariums are from the wild.

How big does a figure 8 puffer tank need to be?

Origin / Habitat : Asia and India in brackish streams and estuaries. Aquarium Size : 15 Gallons recommended, 10 gallons more for each additional figure 8 puffer Puffer Tank Mates : Best kept alone, can often be kept with other figure eights.

What should the water temperature be for a figure 8 puffer?

Figure 8 Puffer Habitat and Care. Scientific data is lacking on the lifespan during captivity in fresh water. Figure 8 puffers prefer a neutral pH and tolerate soft to moderately hard water. Keep the water temperature on the warm side, around 78 F. The minimum tank size should be 15 gallons for a single specimen, more if possible.