Porcupine Puffer or Dwarf Fuzzy lion

[hnf2k]

i want one of these 2 in my tank, i can't decide which and i know they aren't compatible with each other so maybe you guys can help me decide. i want to have a cleanup crew of snails and crabs and maybe a cleaner shrimp or two if it's possible. which one of these 2 would be a better choice to add? which has a better personality and is more fun to keep?

 

[almarktool]

i love my dwarf lion
never had a puffer so can't responed to that part of question

 

[shadow678]

A puffer will eat any shrimp or crabs it can get ahold of, so I would suggest a lion. Although, a puffer has MUCH more personality than a lion.

 

[mmslue79]

I personally would go with a porky. Though I am partial to them, and it will be one of my first fishes. Cleanup crew for a porky would be maybe snails and hermits, I was told to try one of each and go from there.
HTH

 

[hnf2k]

well i have hermit crabs and snails now. he would bother them?

 

[hnf2k]

maybe if the lfs wants to make the sale ill have them put a hermit crab and some snails in the tank with the puffer and see how he reacts.
also with the puffer. i have some book that tells all about different fish. and for the porcupine puffer it says,never let it fill itself with air. how do i stop that?

 

[mmslue79]

He might bother the snails and hermit, I like the idea of having the LFS show you if he does or not. It is almost inevetiable that he will inflate. Mostly caused by stress or a bad tank mate. It will happen, but if it happens often I would be worried and see what the cause is. Inflating puffers is very stressfull on the fish, so that is why the books says that. I had a FW puffer that puffed once that I saw, and he was fine. So no worries.
HTH

 

[shadow678]

If a puffer is agitated enough to inflate too much, air can become trapped in the alimentary tract and cause serious problems. Also, do not use a deep net to catch the fish, as it will likely inflate in the net and it will be a real PIA to get out of the net. Ask me how I know. lol

 

[hnf2k]

so is everyone saying that the puffer is a more enjoyable fish pending that he leaves my cleanup crew alone?

 

[mmslue79]

IMO yes. I have never liked any Lion, sorry Lion fans. I just would not want to see him/her get fin nipped all the time, if you have the wrong combo.

 

[fish boy]

go with a porcupine puffer i have kept both porks and dwarf lions and the puffers have a much larger personality it is like keeping a dog.

 

[fish boy]

oh also the puffer will defenilaty eat the cleanup crew and the lion would to but personaly i think having a porcupine puffer is worth not having a clean up crew

 

[supercichlid]

A dwarf fuzzy lion probably wont eat hermits.
I have a hermit with mine, but as some people on this board will know, my hermit is around 4" (his claw) and can get to 10"! Yes, the HERMIT can get to ten inches...

 

[eelfreakrobi]

take the puffer, they will recognized you and try to follow you around the tank. feeding them is also the best part since he is the first in line for food. take the puffer man, also lions are poisonous, if you touch it by accident it will be the worst thing happen to you..