Do porcupine puffers and spiny box ouffers need more than 40 gallons?

Discussion in 'ASAP' started by spinyboxspike, Aug 25, 2008.

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  1. spinyboxspike

    spinyboxspike Plankton

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    Keep losing my spiny box puffers and porcupine puffers but nothing else. I have a 41 gallon tank and I know thats a little too small for them. However the puffers are not big when I buy them. They last a few days and thats it. Today I woke up to my spiny box sitting perfectly upright but dead and a dark brown color had overcome his whole body.[​IMG]

    Everything else in the tank is fine, including 3 starfish so I know its not a water problem/tank problem.

    I am upgrading to a 120 gallon here soon so I may just hold off on the puffers now until then.

    What do you guys think?
     
    spinyboxspike, Aug 25, 2008
    spinyboxspike, Aug 25, 2008
    #1

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  2. Iraf

    Iraf Snowflake Eel

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    can you post the water parameters? just to give us an idea on what may be going on
     
    Iraf, Aug 25, 2008
    Iraf, Aug 25, 2008
    #2
  3. spinyboxspike

    spinyboxspike Plankton

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    0 ammonia,0 nitrates, 0 nitrites, water temp is 76, ph is 8.2
     
    spinyboxspike, Aug 25, 2008
    spinyboxspike, Aug 25, 2008
    #3
  4. missionsix

    missionsix Super Moderator Staff Member

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    Are you bringing home healthy specimens that have eaten at the store? Are they getting/have ick? Besides water parameters, these would be my next guess. Puffers seem to be susceptible to bad eating habits and ick.
     
    missionsix, Aug 25, 2008
    missionsix, Aug 25, 2008
    #4
  5. Jason McKenzie

    Jason McKenzie Super Moderator

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    YES 40G just isn't enough
     
    Jason McKenzie, Aug 25, 2008
    Jason McKenzie, Aug 25, 2008
    #5
  6. spinyboxspike

    spinyboxspike Plankton

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    Would a 120 be sufficient?
     
    spinyboxspike, Aug 25, 2008
    spinyboxspike, Aug 25, 2008
    #6