New Porky Puff!

[templar]

Just got mwa first porky puffer today and he's just awesome. They had 3 of them at the lfs, this guy and two smaller ones but the two smaller ones looked more yellow/orangish and weren't nearly as active or friendly as this guy. He's already accustomed to eating frozen krill which is great. I won't have to ween him off of live fish now! I have him in my 46 gal all alone and was gonna add maybe a dwarf or antennata lion and that'd be it, but I just hope he doesn't get stung by the lion like I read in a recent post. I have some really good filtration for the tank so it should be kept under control. I have a canister rated for 55-125 gal, a protein skimmer and a UV filter. So all should be well. I'll keep his progress posted he's still getting use to his tank just chillin in the corner but he did eat already so he should be happy in no time.

 

[templar]

Oops I ment to post this in the aggressive forum, if it can be moved, much appreciated, sorry.

 

[pufferlover]

templar: I will move it for you. One thing tho in your size tank do not put a Lion with the Puffer no how- no way (you read the other post you said- your tank is to small for those 2). Also, if you haven't yet read the post in aggressive regarding our Puffer died today which is importnant as far as how much you feed a Puffer.

 

[pufferlover]

Ok now we are here in aggressive. By the way consider one other thing and that is the Puffer in time will get to a min of about 6 inches, so if you add another fish it has to be one that stays 4 to 6 also and that will be it for that tank. Don't fret tho that Puffer can take a one fish only tank and make it come alive. If you are really getting the Puffer bug check out my homepage (little man standing by house) and you will find lots of Puffer stuff.

 

[templar]

Hey Pufferlover actually I joined your club earlier today
And ya about the feeding I'm not even gonna let his lil grin or puffer face con me into overfeeding him
About the lion, dang, was looking forward to having one, and triggers are out of the question so hmmmmmm? Leaves me with only a few choices as a tank mate. Snowflake eel or a harlequin tusk, but wouldnt a harlequin tusk outgrow to fast? Ahhh any ideas are welcome hehe.
I can't wait to go back to the Shedd Aquarium on Friday it's been to long since I've been there, think I'm gonna go for a membership too. Thanks Pufferlover!

 

[pufferlover]

Templar; excellent on your joining I saw that (dif screenname threw me). The Shedd is great and they have a great big Pork in the front foyer round tank that I check on everytime I go (huge sucker). As far as tankmates check out one of my favorites for a mate for a Puff a Dianas Hogfish or a Coral Hogfish. Both stay under 6 and both will exist well with a Puff and yet not be intimidated by it. A snowflake with a Pork in a 46 might be a bit lacking in room when they grow (eel up to 30 inches- Pork 6 to 8). Enjoy your Porkey!

 

[templar]

Would a dragon wrasse be to small? How big will they get?

 

[pufferlover]

They get to about 5 to 6 inches but I am afraid with the flowing fins and those top antenna things the Puffer might be tempted to taste them. Consider a more streamlined wrasse (or a hogfish). Most books say wrasses with Puffs are a cautious keep but I have had them in with Puffs with no problems.

 

[templar]

Hey Pufferlover I went to the Shedd Aquarium today and looked for that puffer in the big reef tank and had no luck finding him. I thought I read one of your posts somewhere that you said they didn't have triggers in that tank, I seen a bunch of them in there. Hmm hope that puffers still in there just wish I seen him! hehe.

 

[pufferlover]

I haven't been there for a few months hope it is still there. I always make sure I look around till I find it (usually it is swimming around with the big silver fish cruising the glass. They may have added Triggers or I just never noticed them but heck it is 90000 Gallons and I am usually shoving the little kids out of my way lol. i will be going with Mrs. P one week-end day next month as my current membership is over in November and I don't know if I want to spend that much money again as they really never (in my mind) had a great salt display. Now the Baltimore aquarium has a great salt display and their room with the jelly fish is really great. By the way where in Il. are you?

 

[templar]

Ya there salt is kinda limited to the big 90000 reef and then the one ocean shore section, the tide pool is kind of cool with the corals + inverts in it. I don't know if that sea horse section is new or not but I don't remember it from last time I was there but it was decent too, I love seeing those leafy sea horses. I went back to the big reef display like 3 times and kept lookin for him but no luck. I'm over in Aurora IL, just moved from Naperville, guess I'll update my profile. And btw my pork puffer is doin good he now knows that I feed him and usually comes to the glass even spit water a few times hehe. Most of the time he still just goes up and down up and down on one side of the tank and thats pretty much 99% of his day unless I'm feeding him. He seems spazzed sometimes too but I think hes just still getting used to everything. Will he eventually swim around more or is he enjoying his up and down insanity? A flame angel I use to have did the same thing for a few days and then finally settled down...

 

[pufferlover]

My friend I hate to tell you this but the Puff will always swim up and down more then around, it is their nature. And yes they do seem to know the hand that feeds them. One of their greatest qualities is that they seem to enjoy being fussed over as much as we do fussing over them.
Told my wife about your post and told her we shall have to check for the Puffer when we go. A couple times I had to ask one of the workers if it was there as I did not see it and they would say yes it is in there. Since they remodeled that center tank I find it harder to see the fish then the old set up that was more open (less fake rocks and such).
They have had the seahorse exhibit now for a couple of years and yes the leafy horses are quite different. They have done a lot of new building lately and I hoped they would do more salt but they seem hung up on FW fish.

 

[templar]

Yes the Shedd is definitely hung up on the FW fish for some reason, even the salt tanks are surrounded by fw tanks which seemed odd, but oh well.
I swear that a porcupine puffer is the closest marine fish you'll ever see that reminds me of a little puppy dog! For some reason he also reminds me of the staypuff (or is it statepuff? forgot lol) marshmallow man from Ghostbusters!

 

[pufferlover]

Trust me it will become your favorite fish and down the road I have a sneaking feeling there will be other Puffs in your tank or tanks. I once mentioned in another post that other then one eel only my Puffs have been given names and even I can't explain why (sort of as you said the puppy or kitty type feeling they get you to have).

 

[templar]

I can't seem to find any really good LFS's around me, I've been lookin for a snowflake eel or a nice wrasse but nowhere to be found. I'm thinking I might get a medium sized picasso trigger and just keep an eye on him if he acts up take him back. What LFS do you go to Pufferlover?

 

[templar]

I just was checkin the water and have some disturbingly high levels of nitrites. I have .25 ammonia, 1.0 nitrites, and 10 nitrates, also the PH dropped since last check, it was 8.2 now it's 7.8. Is this all because of the addition of the puffer? Will they settle down in a day or so? Is it just going thru a mini-cycle? The puffer is all thats in my tank and a couple small hermits.

 

[pufferlover]

I would do a water change and check the readings again about 12 hours later and see if they settle down. Frankly the store I have used around here has been having problems with its tanks and has not been selling anything for close to a month (I give him credit for pulling the plug till things get right). Luckily I am pretty well fished out for now (no room in the inn for more fish) so it has not bothered me. There are a couple of well known good stores but it would be a hike for you. If you want info do it thru other site.