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Figure 8 Pufferfish – Complete Care Guide

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figure 8 puffer

Figure 8 Puffer Information

Pufferfish are an incredibly unique fish and sometimes called the puppies of the aquatic world. They interact with their keepers and also have unique and curious personalities. The Figure 8 Puffer is a species of puffer that spends its time in brackish waters. Because of the brackish water requirements it is a little tougher to keep happy in captivity. It will most likely feel stressed and may not show its true nature when living in constant freshwater. Figure 8 Puffers are aggressive fish that sometimes even shows aggression to its own species. It will grow to be about 3 inches in length so it is a good size for many fish keepers. Just like all other puffers the Figure 8 has a poison that is dangerous to people when eaten. This article will go over the requirements needed to keep a Figure 8 Pufferfish.

Aquarium Requirements

Due to its size, the Figure 8 Pufferfish should be kept in aquariums that are 30 gallons or larger. Two puffers should do well together in a 30 gallon tank if it is filled with plants and other decorations. This will provide them with a natural environment and to give them places to hide in times of stress. Add an extra 15 gallons of water for each additional pufferfish in the aquarium. Aquariums prepared for Figure 8 Puffers usually start off as freshwater. They are then cycled and decorated with compatible plants (Java Fern, Anubias, Pondweed and Crypts). Lastly, slowly convert the aquarium into brackish water. Use marine salt such as Red Sea Salt Mix and a refractometer to test the salinity level of the brackish aquarium. The Figure 8 Puffer will do best in the following water parameters:

  • Temperature 75 – 82 degrees Fahrenheit
  • KH 8 – 15
  • pH 7.0 – 8.0
  • Salinity between 1.005 and 1.010 sg.

These water conditions will help provide a natural environment and assist in keeping your puffer healthy.

Food & Diet

Figure 8 Pufferfish are carnivorous animals so they require a very meaty diet. Mysis, brine shrimp, and mollusks will be perfect for them when they are small but will enjoy the addition of krill into their diet. Occasionally earthworms can be fed to your Figure 8 for some variety in diet.

Image by Till Kresslein on wikiMedia

Just like most pufferfish, Figure 8’s teeth grow and continue growing. They require food that will grind their teeth down. Foods with hard shells will be a necessity for your Figure 8. Snails can be purchased and sacrificed to puffers. Some hobbyists go into fish stores and ask to collect the store’s supply of nuisance snails off the glass. Clams on the half shell are great foods given to help grind down the teeth of Figure 8 Pufferfish. Some aquarists suggest scraping off most of the meat from the clam and giving the puffer 10 or 15 minutes to scrape and play with the shell and after the time elapses, feed the meaty remains.

Tank Mates

Due to their aggressive nature and water parameter requirements, Figure 8 Puffer do not do well with many other fish. Under good circumstances, Figure 8 puffers can be kept with more Figure 8s. The aquarium size, amount of decor, and personality of the specific puffer in the aquarium will determine that. Pufferfish are housed with:

  • Mollies
  • Bumblebee Gobies
  • Knight Gobies

On the other hand, Figure 8 Puffers should not be kept with invertebrates or slow moving fish that are intolerant to brackish water. Invertebrates will become lunch and the puffer may pick on fish. They will also succumb to the incompatible brackish waters. Add Nerite Snails into the aquarium as algae eaters only because they tolerate saline water. Unfortunately, they inevitably become lunch.

Breeding

There isn’t too much information on how to breed Figure 8 Puffers. It is mostly by sheer luck that a pair will successfully breed. When breeding occurs, the female will lay her eggs on a flat surface, such as substrate, and the male will fertilize the eggs. Once fertilized the male will guard the eggs until they hatch and become water born. The fry will need to be fed baby brine shrimp and potentially high protein flakes & pellet food that can be crushed into really small pieces.

Final Notes

Figure 8 Puffers are mostly kept in a single species aquarium and still enjoyed! Devoting a whole aquarium to one species may be a turn off for some, but for others its a very rewarding experience. They are very interesting animals and really consider keeping them as pets!

Featured image by: Till Kresslein on wikiMedia