Decided differently on my 40 gallon.

[ichthyologist]

I knew the lionfish is venimous, as well as the puffers (the flesh), but I don't want to take a chance with the lionfish.
So, I am back to where I was in my last thread... Could I add a pork in with the valentini and eel?

 

[treble]

Porks get HUGE...not much else to say.

 

[ichthyologist]

I just went to the LFS and they have sold my valentini that I had on hold. But they had a new puffer in a dog face. I have decided to get a dog face instead.
So I am getting:
1 dwarf lion
1 dog face puffer
1 yellow mimic tang

 

[pufferlover]

It will take some time but be aware the Dog will also get big (and I mean BIG) for example I bought a little bitty baby Dogface Jan 10th of 98- so he is 3 years and about a half and is now about 15 inches and round as can be. As he grew he began to dine on his tank mates and after I lost 3 other fish including a falco Hawk to him I put him in solitary to which he lives in now and forever more. Now of course I could have taken him back to a lfs and at his size, color, health, and yes personality they would have relieved me of his criminal ways, but alas I like the mean sucker (he once darn near took my finger off) so the ghoul (as my wife calls him) takes up a 58 gallon Oceanic tank that cost a pretty penny and the fish only cost me about 20 bucks then (so where is the value in this- there is none). All my original Porks and the Dog are 8 inches or better so be prepared to buy a bigger tank down the road.

 

[ichthyologist]

I can't picture a puffer so sweet as the dog at my LFS even think about eating/killing another fish! My lfs petted him and let me pet him. Maybe I will do some more research on the other puffers. I am determined to find a puffer and name it Elliot!

 

[ichthyologist]

Could I keep him in the 40 by himself?
And how is you tank set up for your dog?

 

[pufferlover]

Mine is set up pretty bare due to his size (or her size) just 3 small pieces of coral CC substrate, a emperor 280 and a skilter 250 for filtration and a heater. Have one large turbo and one very large queen conch snail for algae control. Tanks need weekly cleaning and monthly water polishing (due to Puffer chewing on CC to keep his teeth pearly white), Yes mine will come over to my hand when I clean the tank and wait to have his back scratched gently then he will swim off. The One time it got me it got me good and I was very careful for next few cleanings but lately he has strated that here scratch my back pleading again. Frankly the sucker is VERY LARGE and probably the largest I have run across in a lfs was close but not nearly as fat as mine. My main reason for telling you about it was to give you a idea if you feed it well how long before you will need bigger quarters for it.
Now I have noticed that the Porks do not seem to get as full and long as the Dogs do if fed well. My 7 year old pair the male is about 10 inches and the female about 6 or 7 and they are much older then the Dog yet the Dog is huge compared to the male Pork.

 

[ichthyologist]

All the puffers are wonderful! I just can't decide... How about one of each!
Hmmm.. I might just start out with a small puffer, and then get more tanks and more puffers.

 

[pufferlover]

Well I'll tell you this I have said many times recently to my local fish buddies and my wife that if I knew then what I know now I would have been happy to have about 6 tanks with just Puffers and Hogfish and I would have been a happy (and probably richer) person. For what they cost and the enjoyment they give they are the perfect fish in my book.

 

[ichthyologist]

Right now I am still saving... Need a few more bucks to get my tank running. I will tell you what I decide when it is all said and done. Thanks for the help Elliot.
Dave

 

[pufferlover]

Always a pleasure to help a fellow Puffer person. Whatever you do it seems you have the right idea of thinking it out and believe me that will help you to do it right.