porc puffer reef yes or no?
- Thread starter randolph
- Start date
a_fender69
Member
No they are not reef safe! With inverts, they eat corals that have polyps. Would not recommend. Over 10 years expierance, seen it happen time and time again. Best of Luck
ophiura
Active Member
There are different opinions on what 'reef safe' means. IMO, they are not reef safe because they will consume many animals commonly kept in reef tanks. It will feed on hard shelled invertebrates, including sea urchins, snails and hermits.
But the greater issue is that they get very large, and, because they are predators, they produce a lot of waste. This is why I tend to argue against putting large predatory fish into reef tanks. They can overwhelm a DSB/LR system, because they are often overfed, and kept with other big waste producers.
You can also never judge the personality of any given fish based on the experience of a few others. The instinct of this animal is to eat shelled inverts. That is a fact. Whether yours will do this or not is not known.
But the greater issue is that they get very large, and, because they are predators, they produce a lot of waste. This is why I tend to argue against putting large predatory fish into reef tanks. They can overwhelm a DSB/LR system, because they are often overfed, and kept with other big waste producers.
You can also never judge the personality of any given fish based on the experience of a few others. The instinct of this animal is to eat shelled inverts. That is a fact. Whether yours will do this or not is not known.
broncofish
Active Member
Originally posted by a_fender69
No they are not reef safe! With inverts, they eat corals that have polyps. Would not recommend. Over 10 years expierance, seen it happen time and time again. Best of Luck
O.K. this is your third post I have seen with explicitly bad advice. You said you have ten years experiance, but I have never seen a puffer even remotely mess with a coral, that includes diving, and aquariums. they will mess with some inverts mainly crabs.
bahamianme
Member
I had a porcupine puffer that I purchased when he was approx 3" long. By the time he was 7" long, he had eaten all my snails, shrimps. MY lfs was surprised that he grew in such an alarming manner in such a small tank (29") but I lost him when I was cleaning out the small tank and starting my new 55 gal. In a way, I am glad that I don't have him anymore because I love snails and shrimps in my tank and you can't have them if you have a puffewr......Good Luck!
randolph
Member
thanks to all of you for your input, i really do appreciate it. i bought the little guy for my wife who is just in love with him/her whatever. really neat fish but looking ahead will i be needing a 220 gal tank, hmmmmmm. like some of you have said this fish can make fish keeping a chore, waste water changing etc. thanks again to all of you that have responded.
madrefkepr
New Member
I know all about the wife thing! Mine has been after me for a couple of years to get one. Can't even take her with to the LFS!
Keep in mind how large they get (LFS had one for a few years that was over 18") and they need a lot of room to swim. I think thier appetite for crustaceans has been well covered above.
Keep in mind how large they get (LFS had one for a few years that was over 18") and they need a lot of room to swim. I think thier appetite for crustaceans has been well covered above.
nightshiftman
Member
i wonder what would happen if someone acclimated a brackish puffer to a reef tank. it might be interesting to find out since they are a pretty neat puffer fish also. maybe one day i will have to try it in one of my tanks.
it might be interesting to find out since they are a pretty neat puffer fish also. maybe one day i will have to try it in one of my tanks.
chrisareston
Member
randolph
Please keep me updated, on how he does... Email me at chrisareston@albuquerque4me.com if you want. I want to get one of these guys to.... Very small one my LFS has for $10. I like the blue eyes! I have 2 perc clowns, 1 Lawnmower Blenny, 1 Jaw Fish, 1 CC star!
Please keep me updated, on how he does... Email me at chrisareston@albuquerque4me.com if you want. I want to get one of these guys to.... Very small one my LFS has for $10. I like the blue eyes! I have 2 perc clowns, 1 Lawnmower Blenny, 1 Jaw Fish, 1 CC star!
I have never had a puffer either, but would love to have one. They are reknown for being "true" fish pets, with distinctive personalities and even an "alleged" attachment to their owners.
They are not reef safe and will nip at most anything on rocks. They chew down shelled animals to eat but also to keep their teeth filed down. I have heard of hobbyists here who have run in to a lot of problems by not supplying their puffers with enough hard shell food---like your cleanup crew that you paid $75 for!
They will nip at corals.
You can have a FOWLR tank, but don't expect to keep a cleanup crew. The reason that some of you have not exp problems yet is likely because you are feeding the puffer well enough that the fish doesn't have to apply much effort to feeding self. Don't count on that continuing once the fish attains full maturity and the over 4" range. These fish are predators. And those instincts will kick in, sooner or later.
They are not reef safe and will nip at most anything on rocks. They chew down shelled animals to eat but also to keep their teeth filed down. I have heard of hobbyists here who have run in to a lot of problems by not supplying their puffers with enough hard shell food---like your cleanup crew that you paid $75 for!
They will nip at corals.
You can have a FOWLR tank, but don't expect to keep a cleanup crew. The reason that some of you have not exp problems yet is likely because you are feeding the puffer well enough that the fish doesn't have to apply much effort to feeding self. Don't count on that continuing once the fish attains full maturity and the over 4" range. These fish are predators. And those instincts will kick in, sooner or later.
chrisareston
Member
I just want someone who has had them with clowns and similar fish to tell us there experince!
eelfreakrobi
Member
arkman: I know the kind of puffers you are talking about those are very rarely sold over the stores I myself have also seen a few about to the size of 3 feet, I have a pork puffer and a sun coral and my puffer doesnt even go near it. Even though it wont affect corals I wouldnt do it, to risky for changes in water paremeters, but its all up to you.
ryebread
Active Member
From what I have seen.........
The puffers have to "taste" everything. Even if they do not like the flavor of corals and inverts.......they will still nip them just to see what they taste like. Problem is, most corals and inverts can't handle being bitten by a puffer (as innocent as the puffer bite was). Most reef keepers wouldn't want a puffer for many reasons: They get huge, they are clumbsy, they nip everything, and thier bio-load is tremendous.
Cool fish but, IMO not for a reef.
The puffers have to "taste" everything. Even if they do not like the flavor of corals and inverts.......they will still nip them just to see what they taste like. Problem is, most corals and inverts can't handle being bitten by a puffer (as innocent as the puffer bite was). Most reef keepers wouldn't want a puffer for many reasons: They get huge, they are clumbsy, they nip everything, and thier bio-load is tremendous.
Cool fish but, IMO not for a reef.
xxvietxjustinxx
Member
n0o0o0o0o0o0o0o not reef safe