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1” (2.5cm) Fahaka Puffers are sold for around $20 each and they can usually be found in most local fish stores. 6” (15cm) Fahaka Puffers will usually sell for around $50 each. 12” (30cm) Fahaka Puffers may cost anywhere between $50 and $100 each but are rarely seen on the market at this size
Over the last few years, we have seen the popularity of freshwater pufferfish rise. Whether it is down to the increase in fish-keeping YouTubers showcasing freshwater puffers, or just the fact the internet gives us all access to more species, there is no doubt more people are keeping pufferfish than ever before.
I have been keeping various freshwater puffers for over a decade now and I currently have 2 Fahaka Puffers in my fish room. For most people, the Fahaka Puffer is the biggest fish they will ever keep.
How Much Does A Fahaka Puffer Cost To Buy?
The price of a Fahaka Puffer very much depends on its size. There is a very good chance your local fish store will have 1” (2.5cm) Fahaka Puffers in stock.
Fahaka Puffers are commonly sold at this size. Your local fish store may be keeping several 1” Fahaka Puffers in a single tank, so choose your specimen carefully as some of the Fahakas may have been fin nipped by their tank mates.
It is less common to see 6” (15cm) Fahaka Puffers for sale. At 6” (15cm) you should expect to pay around $50 for a Fahaka Puffer. Fahaka Puffers of this size may have to be ordered from a specialist online retailer. It is less common to find 6” Fahaka Puffers for sale.
12” to 18” (30cm to 45cm) Fahaka Puffers rarely come on to the market. Someone selling a Fahaka Puffer this large is usually selling a pet they have had for many years. It is extremely rare to find a full-grown Fahaka Puffer for sale at a retailer or even an online store.
Adult Fahaka Puffers may be sold on eBay or AquaBid and you should expect to pay somewhere between $50 and $100.
Where Is The Best Place To Buy A Fahaka Puffer?
There are many different places where we can buy Fahaka Puffers. In my personal experience, the best place to buy a Fahaka Puffer is your local fish store. The advantage of buying from a fish store is that you can take some time to observe the fish before choosing the one you want.
If your fish store is good, they won’t mind you asking to watch the Fahaka Puffers eat before you choose which one you want to buy. If you can, always watch puffers eat before you buy. The vast majority of freshwater pufferfish available today are wild-caught. Typically, wild-caught puffers are full of internal tapeworms and sometimes they are so full of tapeworms they don’t want to eat.
If your local fish store doesn’t have Fahaka Puffers in stock, you may decide to buy from a specialist online retailer.
A dedicated online retailer may have a wider selection than your local fish store, but they are unlikely to let you go and walk around their facility. If you are buying from an online retailer, check what their live arrival guarantee is and ask if they guarantee their fish for a certain number of days after delivery.
If your Fahaka Puffer turns up and it is already at death’s door, you may not be able to save it.
My least favorite place to buy a Fahaka Puffer is eBay or craigslist. Whilst there may be a really wide selection of Puffers available from a number of different sellers, you never really know where they are coming from or the conditions they have been kept in.
eBay sellers are also unlikely to have a returns policy if you are less than satisfied with your new puffer. Buyer beware!
How Much Is A Fahaka Puffer In The UK?
The places you might buy a Fahaka Puffer from in the UK are similar to those in the US. Local fish stores will be the best source.
According to my research, a 1” (2.5cm) Fahaka Puffer will cost around £15 to £20. A 6” (15cm) Fahaka Puffer will cost about £90, and a 12” (30cm) Fahaka Puffer will be around £150.
What To Consider When Buying A Fahaka Puffer
Naturally, prices vary with supply and demand and prices will be different from one retailer to the next, but don’t just focus on cost.
The cheapest is rarely best. Before committing to buy, speak with your fish store owner about their puffer. They may charge more, but that might be because they have put time and effort into quarantining and deworming the Fahaka Puffer before selling it.
When I purchased my Fahaka Puffer, I did pay more than the prices suggested above, but the fish store had held it in quarantine for a number of weeks and had completed 3 rounds of deworming. The extra cost was worth it to me.
Don’t forget, Fahaka Puffers grow very quickly, so make sure you have a tank large enough to accommodate a growing Fahaka Puffer before you buy it.
In Conclusion
Fahaka Puffers will cost anything from $20 to well over $100 depending on size, source, and quality of fish. Speak with the seller before committing to buy and try to find out a bit about their individual puffer before making your purchase.
This fish may live in your care for 10 to 15 years, and spending a few extra dollars now may save you many more in deworming and treating diseases in the future.
