Fahaka Puffer Question

[Keegan484]

I currently have a planted 75 gallon tank and at first I was planning on getting a Spotted Congo Puffer, but seeing such a steep price is hard to swallow. How long could I keep a fahaka in my 75 until I have to upgrade into presumably a 125 at minimum? Is there any precautions for compatible tank mates, I already had a SAE, L-Catfish, and 1 angle would those be ok? If not I could move them to a different tank. Would fish like rainbows work? If not what other fish could I keep in this set up. Of course I will further research the fish but I wanted to hear from someone directly about tank size and tank mates. I really want a Puffer of some sort and I'm really drawn to a Spotted Congo but with the aproxx. 200 dollars I spend on it that could go towards another tank for a fahaka. Thanks!

 

Edited March 21, 2023 by Keegan484

[Keegan484]

Never mind this is a really dumb question after looking into it more. 😹

[Lennie]

Welcome to the forum @Keegan484,

It is definitely not a dumb question. You are here to ask and learn from experiences, which is quite normal.

You probably did not receive an answer because not many people keep puffers, so people probably did not want to give a wrong advice.

Here I am tagging people that maybe can help you in this regard at least based on some puffer experience if not this species : @mountaintoppufferkeeper @Grizzly @Beardedbillygoat1975 @CJs Aquatics

 

Edited March 21, 2023 by Lennie

[Theplatymaster]

On 3/21/2023 at 6:25 AM, Lennie said:

Welcome to the forum @Keegan484,

It is definitely not a dumb question. You are here to ask and learn from experiences, which is quite normal.

You probably did not receive an answer because not many people keep puffers, so people probably did not want to give a wrong advice.

Here I am tagging people that maybe can help you in this regard at least based on some puffer experience if not this species : @mountaintoppufferkeeper @Grizzly @Beardedbillygoat1975 @CJs Aquatics

 

ill add @Preston John

[Procrypsis]

If you want a neat puffer - check out Pao palustris, Mekong River puffer.

A Fahaka would cost you  more money in food and tank than the Spotted Congo would.

And with most puffers  tank mates are food.

As with anything - do your research before committing.

Edited March 21, 2023 by Procrypsis

[CJs Aquatics]

This depends very highly on a number of factors. I believe mostly it would depend on the starting size of the puffer. Fahakas get really really big but it does take a while to achieve that truly massive size in most cases. It would depend on what size you started with as to how long it would be able to stay in 75. There are many puffer species you could also look into that can live in a 75, solo or colony setting that are really cool as well. Adequate filtration as well as layout of the tank plays a huge part in how long it would be able to remain there,  however with all this said it’s still hard to quantify without knowing some of the above factors. I currently keep dragons, peas, and Mekong’s. The Mekong’s are amazing, as are the dragons. As far as tank mates there is mixed info on that. If you look online most puffer species will say they can not be kept with anything however I find that not to be entirely true. They are a lot like dogs in regard to personality. Where some dogs like other dogs and some dogs really don’t. I’ve had success keeping them in colony settings (just their species) the ones I’ve kept at least, however I’ve heard people keep certain ones with different types of fish such as rainbows and variatus platies, it really just depends on what type as well as it’s specific personality. 

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

I’d say with a 75 you could do a large colony 10+ individuals in a well planted and scaped tank of one of the small puffers like the red eye red tails. They are rewarding and very undemanding. I’m mourning the loss of my group and someday will start again. I’ve researched Amazons as that was my second choice for my situation and I’d say the only issue really is their teeth. You’d need to feed them hard crunchy foods like snails regularly to keep their teeth down.  There’s lots of info online that even if you do that they often still need manual trimming. Dan’s Fish did a video awhile back on making blocks of food with shell mixed in to try to help with this. 

I’d let @mountaintoppufferkeepercomment on the mediums as he’s kept the Mekong and several of the ambush puffer types like the hairy and I think you can do a colony in a 75 from what I’ve read. @Preston Johnis a great resource if you change your mind on the Congo Spotted and although the price tag is high it’s not nearly as high as it was 3-5 years ago! 

Fahakas and the like live long lives and in my mind you should have their tank for life ready to go from the beginning as life has a way to get in our ways and then when you need the 125-200 g life will intercede. 
 

Have fun and no questions are dumb on the forum. We want you to succeed and enjoy the hobby! 

[mountaintoppufferkeeper]

On 3/20/2023 at 9:25 PM, Keegan484 said:

I currently have a planted 75 gallon tank and at first I was planning on getting a Spotted Congo Puffer, but seeing such a steep price is hard to swallow. How long could I keep a fahaka in my 75 until I have to upgrade into presumably a 125 at minimum? Is there any precautions for compatible tank mates, I already had a SAE, L-Catfish, and 1 angle would those be ok? If not I could move them to a different tank. Would fish like rainbows work? If not what other fish could I keep in this set up. Of course I will further research the fish but I wanted to hear from someone directly about tank size and tank mates. I really want a Puffer of some sort and I'm really drawn to a Spotted Congo but with the aproxx. 200 dollars I spend on it that could go towards another tank for a fahaka. Thanks!

 

Thanks for the alert @Lennie. 

@Keegan484  would go with the species I am drawn to as my first puffer. The cost to buy is much less than the lifetime cost to feed. My general rule is any tanks with puffers are puffer tanks. The rest of the roomates are up to the puffers and all can be moved if the puffers allow it.

A few puffer species I keep in groups. All of which have been in a 75 or smaller. 

Spotted congos displaying

No idea why but this is the same puffer in both

30 seconds later

This is one in my group. This is a 43 breeder dividable custom "puffer tank" they are pretty interactive and no too big. 

 

I am of course partial to Pao palustris as @Procrypsis suggests they are a great puffer. Photos for reference. They are a bit variable on tankmates ive had success with variatus platies once they get sorted out and they stay away from the pointy end. Primarily snails, worms, and shrimp for their diet as adults. Worms bbs daphnia for my fry as they grow. 

Adult male

adult female

F1 young adults male above female below

 

I had a fahaka in a 75 until about 6" these photos are that tank. I had variarus platies for cleanup and made the mistake of adding 6 small kribs to it. The 2" or so growing kribs forced the fahaka to the corner and had to be removed. For me the fahaka was pretty skittish with movements and lights outside the tank. 

After I saw a massive fahaka in a shop in boulder Id say still doable in a 75 with a bunch of water changes. That one was basically the size of a regulation football. Bigger is probably better

 

These red tail red eye puffers (Carinotetraodon irrubesco) are fun and seem to like plants. Worms (earth and whjte) bbs, frozen brine adults, and occasional krill. (Not big on snail eating here)

Male in what I believe are dominant display colors. My group is 2 males 3 females in a 40 breeder. They seem to be possible in a group for me. 

Female below

 

And if you werent too worried i bet hairys could be done. For me they are fine in a group and more interactive as a group. These 3 have been a colony aince 2018 and remain in a 75 as a group today

 

[mountaintoppufferkeeper]

On 3/21/2023 at 10:53 AM, Beardedbillygoat1975 said:

I’d say with a 75 you could do a large colony 10+ individuals in a well planted and scaped tank of one of the small puffers like the red eye red tails. They are rewarding and very undemanding. I’m mourning the loss of my group and someday will start again. I’ve researched Amazons as that was my second choice for my situation and I’d say the only issue really is their teeth. You’d need to feed them hard crunchy foods like snails regularly to keep their teeth down.  There’s lots of info online that even if you do that they often still need manual trimming. Dan’s Fish did a video awhile back on making blocks of food with shell mixed in to try to help with this. 

I’d let @mountaintoppufferkeepercomment on the mediums as he’s kept the Mekong and several of the ambush puffer types like the hairy and I think you can do a colony in a 75 from what I’ve read. @Preston Johnis a great resource if you change your mind on the Congo Spotted and although the price tag is high it’s not nearly as high as it was 3-5 years ago! 

Fahakas and the like live long lives and in my mind you should have their tank for life ready to go from the beginning as life has a way to get in our ways and then when you need the 125-200 g life will intercede. 
 

Have fun and no questions are dumb on the forum. We want you to succeed and enjoy the hobby! 

thanks @Beardedbillygoat1975 that's a bummer about the red eyes. sorry to hear that. So far the redeyes are doing well up here. I am hoping to get a group of Carinotetraodon salivator in the future; I ask every retailer I talk to to get them in but they haven't been around for a while now.  fingers crossed those and the T.duboisi show up this year. 

[Lennie]

On 3/21/2023 at 8:42 PM, mountaintoppufferkeeper said:

Thanks for the alert @Lennie. 

@Keegan484  would go with the species I am drawn to as my first puffer. The cost to buy is much less than the lifetime cost to feed. My general rule is any tanks with puffers are puffer tanks. The rest of the roomates are up to the puffers and all can be moved if the puffers allow it.

A few puffer species I keep in groups. All of which have been in a 75 or smaller. 

Spotted congos displaying

No idea why but this is the same puffer in both

30 seconds later

This is one in my group. This is a 43 breeder dividable custom "puffer tank" they are pretty interactive and no too big. 

 

I am of course partial to Pao palustris as @Procrypsis suggests they are a great puffer. Photos for reference. They are a bit variable on tankmates ive had success with variatus platies once they get sorted out and they stay away from the pointy end. Primarily snails, worms, and shrimp for their diet as adults. Worms bbs daphnia for my fry as they grow. 

Adult male

adult female

F1 young adults male above female below

 

I had a fahaka in a 75 until about 6" these photos are that tank. I had variarus platies for cleanup and made the mistake of adding 6 small kribs to it. The 2" or so growing kribs forced the fahaka to the corner and had to be removed. For me the fahaka was pretty skittish with movements and lights outside the tank. 

After I saw a massive fahaka in a shop in boulder Id say still doable in a 75 with a bunch of water changes. That one was basically the size of a regulation football. Bigger is probably better

 

These red tail red eye puffers (Carinotetraodon irrubesco) are fun and seem to like plants. Worms (earth and whjte) bbs, frozen brine adults, and occasional krill. (Not big on snail eating here)

Male in what I believe are dominant display colors. My group is 2 males 3 females in a 40 breeder. They seem to be possible in a group for me. 

Female below

 

And if you werent too worried i bet hairys could be done. For me they are fine in a group and more interactive as a group. These 3 have been a colony aince 2018 and remain in a 75 as a group today

 

Man.. great fish!

They need their own youtube channel so I can watch them chilling in their beautiful tanks.

Make it happen! 😄

[Preston John]

@Keegan484 I became a Fahaka puffer keeper back in 2019 when I came home from work and found a Home Depot bucket near my front door with two puffers in it. One was about nine inches and the other about five inches. At the time my largest tank was a 75-gallon with Cherry Shrimp. I added them in and started researching how to keep them. Luckily I had a massive snail breeding set up so feeding was easy for me. However, they ate as much as all my schoutedeni put together. They also loved eating any fish I added. I was able to find a home for the smaller one pretty quickly, but no one wanted the larger one. She was always hungry and scratched the glass of the tank with her teeth. I purchased a 180-gallon (cost is way more than a 75) and put her in there with some peacock gudgeons. She ate most of them. She was the coolest fish I had other than the baby schoutedeni. It took a few years but I was able to find her a great home. I miss her all the time, but wouldn't take her back. But it did give me the confidence to try a larger puffer. Now I have a pair of Teteraodon duboisi. 

Fahakas are not for a first-time puffer keeper in my opinion. The cost of the fish is always the smallest cost of keeping them. Plus a $300 schoutedeni that can live for 15 years is nothing in the long term. 

Here is a video of the Fahaka. Don't let her smile fool you. She wanted to eat me. 

Here is my female T. duboisi

And you cant pet the big ones. 

 

[PattysAquatics]

I have a Fahaka in a 75 gallon currently. It’s almost a year old and 10 inches. My hope is it won’t get monstrous otherwise I will get a bigger tank. Tank mates are hit or miss with mine. I have swordtails, guppies, Endler, Sae , cardinal tetras and ember tetras in the tank. It eats my adult guppies and swordtails typically so I haven’t put anymore in only they fry that are growing in the tank. I have a 306 fluval cannister filter and only do water changes a bout once a month. I struggle to get my nitrates to 40. I love the fish but if there is a certain puffer or fish you want over the other I would get that and the tank to fit if needed other than settling . I always wanted a fahaka so I decided to go for it last year and if I need a bigger tank then so be it and will get one . 

[Keegan484]

On 3/21/2023 at 5:58 AM, CJs Aquatics said:

This depends very highly on a number of factors. I believe mostly it would depend on the starting size of the puffer. Fahakas get really really big but it does take a while to achieve that truly massive size in most cases. It would depend on what size you started with as to how long it would be able to stay in 75. There are many puffer species you could also look into that can live in a 75, solo or colony setting that are really cool as well. Adequate filtration as well as layout of the tank plays a huge part in how long it would be able to remain there,  however with all this said it’s still hard to quantify without knowing some of the above factors. I currently keep dragons, peas, and Mekong’s. The Mekong’s are amazing, as are the dragons. As far as tank mates there is mixed info on that. If you look online most puffer species will say they can not be kept with anything however I find that not to be entirely true. They are a lot like dogs in regard to personality. Where some dogs like other dogs and some dogs really don’t. I’ve had success keeping them in colony settings (just their species) the ones I’ve kept at least, however I’ve heard people keep certain ones with different types of fish such as rainbows and variatus platies, it really just depends on what type as well as it’s specific personality. 

You mentioned that you currently keep Mekongs, just asking for some general information on them. I've look around online and they don't really seem to be kept all that often. How does their general temperament seem to be, of course I can't base it solely off this as from what everyone else has said they're like dogs so it can go either way. They interest me as a viable option, I'm really looking for a medium sized puffer and this one fits the bill perfectly.

Thanks!

[Keegan484]

On 3/21/2023 at 10:42 AM, mountaintoppufferkeeper said:

Thanks for the alert @Lennie. 

@Keegan484  would go with the species I am drawn to as my first puffer. The cost to buy is much less than the lifetime cost to feed. My general rule is any tanks with puffers are puffer tanks. The rest of the roomates are up to the puffers and all can be moved if the puffers allow it.

A few puffer species I keep in groups. All of which have been in a 75 or smaller. 

Spotted congos displaying

No idea why but this is the same puffer in both

30 seconds later

This is one in my group. This is a 43 breeder dividable custom "puffer tank" they are pretty interactive and no too big. 

 

I am of course partial to Pao palustris as @Procrypsis suggests they are a great puffer. Photos for reference. They are a bit variable on tankmates ive had success with variatus platies once they get sorted out and they stay away from the pointy end. Primarily snails, worms, and shrimp for their diet as adults. Worms bbs daphnia for my fry as they grow. 

Adult male

adult female

F1 young adults male above female below

 

I had a fahaka in a 75 until about 6" these photos are that tank. I had variarus platies for cleanup and made the mistake of adding 6 small kribs to it. The 2" or so growing kribs forced the fahaka to the corner and had to be removed. For me the fahaka was pretty skittish with movements and lights outside the tank. 

After I saw a massive fahaka in a shop in boulder Id say still doable in a 75 with a bunch of water changes. That one was basically the size of a regulation football. Bigger is probably better

 

These red tail red eye puffers (Carinotetraodon irrubesco) are fun and seem to like plants. Worms (earth and whjte) bbs, frozen brine adults, and occasional krill. (Not big on snail eating here)

Male in what I believe are dominant display colors. My group is 2 males 3 females in a 40 breeder. They seem to be possible in a group for me. 

Female below

 

And if you werent too worried i bet hairys could be done. For me they are fine in a group and more interactive as a group. These 3 have been a colony aince 2018 and remain in a 75 as a group today

 

Thanks!

I'll definitely try and stick to the congo, but if that does not pan out the Mekong looks like a good option as well.

Anything specific things I should know about them?

[Keegan484]

On 3/21/2023 at 1:07 PM, Preston John said:

@Keegan484 I became a Fahaka puffer keeper back in 2019 when I came home from work and found a Home Depot bucket near my front door with two puffers in it. One was about nine inches and the other about five inches. At the time my largest tank was a 75-gallon with Cherry Shrimp. I added them in and started researching how to keep them. Luckily I had a massive snail breeding set up so feeding was easy for me. However, they ate as much as all my schoutedeni put together. They also loved eating any fish I added. I was able to find a home for the smaller one pretty quickly, but no one wanted the larger one. She was always hungry and scratched the glass of the tank with her teeth. I purchased a 180-gallon (cost is way more than a 75) and put her in there with some peacock gudgeons. She ate most of them. She was the coolest fish I had other than the baby schoutedeni. It took a few years but I was able to find her a great home. I miss her all the time, but wouldn't take her back. But it did give me the confidence to try a larger puffer. Now I have a pair of Teteraodon duboisi. 

Fahakas are not for a first-time puffer keeper in my opinion. The cost of the fish is always the smallest cost of keeping them. Plus a $300 schoutedeni that can live for 15 years is nothing in the long term. 

Here is a video of the Fahaka. Don't let her smile fool you. She wanted to eat me. 

Here is my female T. duboisi

And you cant pet the big ones. 

 

Thanks for the help!

Is there anything about the Spotted Congo in specific I should know about. I've done extensive research on them but seeing as you have first hand experience with not only them but multiple types of puffers. 

I've also heard that their teeth grow slower than some other puffers? Just wondering if it were true.

[CJs Aquatics]

On 3/22/2023 at 9:25 AM, Keegan484 said:

You mentioned that you currently keep Mekongs, just asking for some general information on them. I've look around online and they don't really seem to be kept all that often. How does their general temperament seem to be, of course I can't base it solely off this as from what everyone else has said they're like dogs so it can go either way. They interest me as a viable option, I'm really looking for a medium sized puffer and this one fits the bill perfectly.

Thanks!

they are awesome! Mine are food crazy. They have great eyesight so as soon as I come into the room they are swimming erratically to the front of the glass hoping I feed them some shrimp. Very inquisitive as far as what’s going on in there tank, they like to investigate. There color appears to morph when I do water changes or when the lights turn on. They love there clay pot caves I got them. I will say I started with 3, and only have 2 left and I’m convinced they would not allow the 3rd one to live a happy life in that tank, I tried everything. Even though they came together he was never accepted, and did not make it out of quarantine essentially, but the 2 I have left get along great. Huge shout out to @mountaintoppufferkeeper he’s been somewhat of a mentor/ hero to me, he was the one who originally steered me in there direction and provided a wealth of knowledge and experience to aid in it going successfully. I would ask him any specific questions you may have about the species as he will for sure know. I will say they turned out to be a favorite in my fishroom, I can’t wait to get a few more…great medium sized puffer option with a lot of personality 

[mountaintoppufferkeeper]

@Keegan484 I defer to @Preston John on anything spotted congo.  The www.spottedcongopuffer.com site is excellent :  Freshwater Pufferfish | Spotted Congo Puffer . I would also say this is a great episode of the Aquarist podcast to take in for this species amazing stuff.

I am a newbie with spotted congos this group have only been here for a few months now but in general for me food is the key for puffers and for my congos primarily get snails i gut load with quality food and home-grown worms of different sizes. At this point i am a highly accomplished snail and worm rancher to supply the puffer tanks. 

I also occasionally feed frozen or freeze-dried krill soaked in vitachem and garlic guard. I can say that I haven't had overgrown teeth feeding ramshorns pond snails and trumpet snails regularly.

My current observations: In a smaller tank spotted congos were really combative between themselves I did a pair in a quarantined in a 20 gallon and had to use a divider to separate them. When they were moved out of QT and into about a 40 gallon there were no real issues between male and female.  

My one cautionary tale is about freshwater surface skimmers those types that at sticks inside the tank. I had a spotted congo years ago and it decided to jump in the top one day while I was at work.  Found it that evening and it was not fun. 

I prefer puffer groups myself due the interactions and different behaviors they have with themselves; the only thing that beats that is the challenge of raising clouds of puffer fry. The mekong puffers have been really fun to breed and raise.

[TheSwissAquarist]

On 3/21/2023 at 6:42 PM, mountaintoppufferkeeper said:

had a fahaka in a 75 until about 6" these photos are that tank. I had variarus platies for cleanup and made the mistake of adding 6 small kribs to it. The 2" or so growing kribs forced the fahaka to the corner and had to be removed. For me the fahaka was pretty skittish with movements and lights

Those lines on the fahaka are really nice! Remind me a bit of a saltwater reef fish. 

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

@Grizzlyits when not if you’ll need a bigger tank it’s just a matter of how big a tank. Your Fahaka has another 6-8” to grow. So whether it’s this or next year or the year after eventually a 75 g will be too small for him to comfortably turn around in and you’ll need to buy his forever tank- if it was me I’d go for a 180 that 24” width would ensure he could turn himself around when he’s 15-20” long. Have fun, no stress since he’s doing well now but eventually he’ll need that tank. 

It’s fun to have all the puffer keepers together on a thread. I always love it when these threads come up.