do you need a saltwater aquarium to keep a porcupine puffer fish?
March 9th, 2010 | by admin |i have a tropical tank set up in my room. me and my girlfriend are a huge fan of porcupine puffer fish and on a web page on the internet it says that you need a saltwater aquarium. is this true? and if so how would i be able to change my tropical tank into a saltwater aquarium?
thanks X
Yes they need saltwater.
Saltwater aquariums are very costly and are much harder to run. Porcupine puffers need at least a 90 gallon tank. For salt-water you need to begin research I would at least research for 6 mths. there is soo much you will need to learn and understand. I would start at the library "Saltwater aquariums for dummies" good book first I’ve read about them. Then join some online forum like http://reefcentral.com/ http://aquariumpros.ca/
ask around get a feel for it, you will need various items including:
Filtrarion: many different options sump, canister, wet/dry, HOB (usually only for smaller tanks), biological (hard to use and takes a lot to be effective)
Protein Skimmer: Don’t skimp on this one looking to pay about $150-$300
Heater: Get a trustworthy heater no cheap ones (I’m mean you can get a good one for maybe $25)
Lighting: You will need strong lighting especially if you want to go into reefs or anemones or something, with just the puffer you could get away with compact florescent lighting or just florescent lights. But there are T-5, metal halide and many more options.
You will need good circulation that is created with powerheads.
You will need a crushed coral substrate or sand that keeps the pH in balance.
A good test kit NO STRIPS!! Get a good drop kit.
Live rock usually 1-3 lbs. per gallon this gets expensive it is usually $5-$9 a lb. but you can go half live half fake then the fake becomes live…
You will also need to keep everything specific to your puffer if that is what you want, they need special heaters they can’t have glass they have beaks and can bite through them all equipment has to be kept away from the fish so it doesn’t damage it. And the puffer eats many inverts and some fish….
Best of Luck
Kyle
P.S.
Doubt your still interested but you can e-mail me with any questions.
OH YEAH stay away fro large pet stores go to a local private owned fish store and get their advice. No petsmart or petco or pet supplies plus….
5 Responses to “do you need a saltwater aquarium to keep a porcupine puffer fish?”
By Kyle S on Mar 9, 2010 | Reply
Yes they need saltwater.
Saltwater aquariums are very costly and are much harder to run. Porcupine puffers need at least a 90 gallon tank. For salt-water you need to begin research I would at least research for 6 mths. there is soo much you will need to learn and understand. I would start at the library "Saltwater aquariums for dummies" good book first I’ve read about them. Then join some online forum like http://reefcentral.com/ http://aquariumpros.ca/
ask around get a feel for it, you will need various items including:
Filtrarion: many different options sump, canister, wet/dry, HOB (usually only for smaller tanks), biological (hard to use and takes a lot to be effective)
Protein Skimmer: Don’t skimp on this one looking to pay about $150-$300
Heater: Get a trustworthy heater no cheap ones (I’m mean you can get a good one for maybe $25)
Lighting: You will need strong lighting especially if you want to go into reefs or anemones or something, with just the puffer you could get away with compact florescent lighting or just florescent lights. But there are T-5, metal halide and many more options.
You will need good circulation that is created with powerheads.
You will need a crushed coral substrate or sand that keeps the pH in balance.
A good test kit NO STRIPS!! Get a good drop kit.
Live rock usually 1-3 lbs. per gallon this gets expensive it is usually $5-$9 a lb. but you can go half live half fake then the fake becomes live…
You will also need to keep everything specific to your puffer if that is what you want, they need special heaters they can’t have glass they have beaks and can bite through them all equipment has to be kept away from the fish so it doesn’t damage it. And the puffer eats many inverts and some fish….
Best of Luck
Kyle
P.S.
Doubt your still interested but you can e-mail me with any questions.
OH YEAH stay away fro large pet stores go to a local private owned fish store and get their advice. No petsmart or petco or pet supplies plus….
References :
By Phil L on Mar 9, 2010 | Reply
Unfortunatley you do. Im not too sure on how to convert your tank but ive heard its a difficult process and you have alot to manage with a salt water tank. But just ask a pet store how to change it and they walk you through step by step
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By danielle s on Mar 9, 2010 | Reply
yes because they live in the sea which is saltwater to get a salt water tank ask a pet store what things you need to use to change it to a saltwater tank
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By Greg T on Mar 9, 2010 | Reply
yeh they do but if your gonna get one watch your fingers they can bite them off
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By garethrichards35 on Mar 9, 2010 | Reply
yes they do
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