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They need reasonably big tanks because they're quite aggressive. Usually people keep them alone, but I'm growing these two up together, so they shouldn't be too aggressive. They need a minimum of 75L, 150l for two, and their tanks need to have broken lines of sight if there are two, so they can get away from each other. It helps keep the aggression down.
When they're small, they can live in fresh water, but as they get older and bigger, they need to move to more and more salty water. They can live in full marine as adults. If you keep them in fresh water all their lives, they will only live maybe 5yrs max, in proper conditions, they can live 15yrs.
They're very intelligent (think puppy) and need to be kept entertained or they will literally destroy the tank. Mine (only 5cm long) have managed to move a 1.5kg big of live rock from one side of the tank to the other. They will also eat plants and anything else in the tank if they are not happy. But, if you keep them entertained by changing their tank round and giving them places to hide, they will be so fun to watch. Mine play tag (one goes in the corner, the other hides, then the one in the corner comes out and 'searches' for the one hiding. when it finds it, they swap over).
They are omnivores, so need both meat and veges. However, they can be picky with their veges, so you have to trick them into eating them (like a toddler!). They need to eat hard food like snails and crabs etc, or else their teeth grow too long and they can't eat. Then you have to cut them:o. They only need to eat every 2-3 days as adults, and overfeeding them can be really harmful. They can't be left with food in their tanks, or they will eat until they explode their stomachs (they don't have ribs, so they can eat and eat and eat). Live food (mealworms, crabs, the occasional feeder fish, shrimp etc) is good to keep them occupied, and the shells/bones help to keep their teeth healthy.
Their sharp teeth and fearlessness means that you can cop a nasty bite (I've had them bite on and have been able to lift them out of the water without them letting go!), and they're known jumpers too, so a good lid is a must. They're poisonous, but not to people, and not to their own species. They also have spikes that come out when they puff up.
Also; you should never make them puff, most of them aren't very good at de-puffing, and end up starving to death because they can't get to their food. You should learn how to burp them, because sometimes they swallow air and can't get rid of it.
I know it seems like they're a lot of hard work, but honestly, it's so rewarding coming home to have them rush up to the glass and say hello!
Let me know if you want to know anything else, they're really awesome fish!
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