Porcupine Puffer, Percula Clown, Tomato Clown Question

mamachicken

mamachicken

New Member
I have a 55 gallon tank that completed cycling 2 weeks ago. I bought a Porcupine Puffer, False Percula Clown, and Tomato Clown. My local pet store suggested feeding them 1/4 cube frozen Brine Shrimp 2 times a week. So I did this for the first week and about 3 days ago I noticed chunks taken out of both Clownfishes tails and they have stopped swimming around the tank and started hiding in the rocks I have. I have no live rock, all old shells and dead coral. I thought the puffer might not be getting enough food so he started attacking the clown fish. I called the pet store and they said I should increase what I feed to 1/2 cube brine shrimp 2 times a week. I just did that 2 days ago. I don't want to over feed my fish and mess up the ammonia levels, but I don't want my porcupine fish attacking my clowns either. They are to be fed again tomorrow. I did put a leaf of Romaine Lettus in the tank and the porcupine seems to be picking at it a little.
WILL THIS SOLVE MY PROBLEM? How much would you suggest feeding? Will my clownfish ever start swimming around my tank again?
Tahnks
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by Mamachicken
I have a 55 gallon tank that completed cycling 2 weeks ago. I bought a Porcupine Puffer, False Percula Clown, and Tomato Clown. My local pet store suggested feeding them 1/4 cube frozen Brine Shrimp 2 times a week. So I did this for the first week and about 3 days ago I noticed chunks taken out of both Clownfishes tails and they have stopped swimming around the tank and started hiding in the rocks I have. I have no live rock, all old shells and dead coral. I thought the puffer might not be getting enough food so he started attacking the clown fish. I called the pet store and they said I should increase what I feed to 1/2 cube brine shrimp 2 times a week. I just did that 2 days ago. I don't want to over feed my fish and mess up the ammonia levels, but I don't want my porcupine fish attacking my clowns either. They are to be fed again tomorrow. I did put a leaf of Romaine Lettus in the tank and the porcupine seems to be picking at it a little.
WILL THIS SOLVE MY PROBLEM? How much would you suggest feeding? Will my clownfish ever start swimming around my tank again?
Tahnks
Welcome to SWF
Your LFS, as most do, is giving you VERY bad advice. Your porc puffer will grow very large, far too big for a 55 gallon. Take him back to the LFS. Your clowns will be alright once he is gone. Brine has no nutritional value. It is like feeding your kids candy twice a week and nothing more. Romaine is very hard for fish to digest. Please dont feed them that. Marine fish need to be fed things that come out of the ocean. There are many frozen formula foods that combine the best of meats and sea-veggies for them. Please take the porc puffer back before it is too late for your clowns.
 
stdreb27

stdreb27

Active Member
Originally Posted by Mamachicken
I have a 55 gallon tank that completed cycling 2 weeks ago. I bought a Porcupine Puffer, False Percula Clown, and Tomato Clown. My local pet store suggested feeding them 1/4 cube frozen Brine Shrimp 2 times a week. So I did this for the first week and about 3 days ago I noticed chunks taken out of both Clownfishes tails and they have stopped swimming around the tank and started hiding in the rocks I have. I have no live rock, all old shells and dead coral. I thought the puffer might not be getting enough food so he started attacking the clown fish. I called the pet store and they said I should increase what I feed to 1/2 cube brine shrimp 2 times a week. I just did that 2 days ago. I don't want to over feed my fish and mess up the ammonia levels, but I don't want my porcupine fish attacking my clowns either. They are to be fed again tomorrow. I did put a leaf of Romaine Lettus in the tank and the porcupine seems to be picking at it a little.
WILL THIS SOLVE MY PROBLEM? How much would you suggest feeding? Will my clownfish ever start swimming around my tank again?
Tahnks
how big are your fish? Brine shrimp isn't all that healthy of a meal for your fish. But I don't think feeding is what is creating the aggression. There is a little bit more too it that adding two different types of clowns to a tank, there is size considerations as well as species. I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think your two clown are compatable. Generally speaking if you are going to have two different types of clowns you are going to need a huge tank. And depending on the size difference between your puffer and the clowns your puffer might be going after them, but porks are pretty mellow fish, so I would doubt it. The other thing is, a porky will get pretty big, way to big for a 55 gallon tank. You pretty much need to get a 125g to house one of them for life.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by stdreb27
how big are your fish? Brine shrimp isn't all that healthy of a meal for your fish. But I don't think feeding is what is creating the aggression. There is a little bit more too it that adding two different types of clowns to a tank, there is size considerations as well as species. I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think your two clown are compatable. Generally speaking if you are going to have two different types of clowns you are going to need a huge tank. And depending on the size difference between your puffer and the clowns your puffer might be going after them, but porks are pretty mellow fish, so I would doubt it. The other thing is, a porky will get pretty big, way to big for a 55 gallon tank. You pretty much need to get a 125g to house one of them for life.
Your right std, I somehow missed that there are also two different breeds of clowns in there as well. One of them should go back to the lfs.
 
matt b

matt b

Active Member
man so many lfs r so messed they just sell anything and dont no what they r talking about..
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
Originally Posted by stdreb27
how big are your fish? Brine shrimp isn't all that healthy of a meal for your fish. But I don't think feeding is what is creating the aggression...
Not sure I totally agree there. Any decent porcupine, over 4" or so would go insane just eating brine!
 
mamachicken

mamachicken

New Member
Thank you guys for your help...A few more questions and comments.....When my tomato and Percula were put in the tank they got along great. They actually swam around and played together. The Perc actually was doing a sort of weird flutter around it. But I can take it back if thats the best option. What kind of fish would you recommend with the Percula that won't break my bank account?
As for the Porcupine Puffer, Is there a Puffer you would recommend for a 55 gallon tank? Valentini? The problem I run into is I am in near Lexington, KY and there are only 2 fish stores around. So having options is tough. I have also been told that buying fish from different locations could cause problems in the tank. Is this just a sales gimick?
 
stormy31

stormy31

New Member
Originally Posted by Mamachicken
Thank you guys for your help...A few more questions and comments.....When my tomato and Percula were put in the tank they got along great. They actually swam around and played together. The Perc actually was doing a sort of weird flutter around it. But I can take it back if thats the best option. What kind of fish would you recommend with the Percula that won't break my bank account?
As for the Porcupine Puffer, Is there a Puffer you would recommend for a 55 gallon tank? Valentini? The problem I run into is I am in near Lexington, KY and there are only 2 fish stores around. So having options is tough. I have also been told that buying fish from different locations could cause problems in the tank. Is this just a sales gimick?

I have bought fish and corals from many different places and there has been no problem for me. But maybe I was just lucky
 
kjr_trig

kjr_trig

Active Member
Originally Posted by Mamachicken
Thank you guys for your help...A few more questions and comments.....When my tomato and Percula were put in the tank they got along great. They actually swam around and played together. The Perc actually was doing a sort of weird flutter around it. But I can take it back if thats the best option. What kind of fish would you recommend with the Percula that won't break my bank account?
As for the Porcupine Puffer, Is there a Puffer you would recommend for a 55 gallon tank? Valentini? The problem I run into is I am in near Lexington, KY and there are only 2 fish stores around. So having options is tough. I have also been told that buying fish from different locations could cause problems in the tank. Is this just a sales gimick?
I think a Valentini would be an excellent choice for your sized tank. I would fear for the lives of your clowns as "Porky Puffer" gets big. You are fine buying from 2 different stores, and you should consider this site a great place to buy fish as well.
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by kjr_trig
I think a Valentini would be an excellent choice for your sized tank. I would fear for the lives of your clowns as "Porky Puffer" gets big. You are fine buying from 2 different stores, and you should consider this site a great place to buy fish as well.
I agree; and I'm afraid the peace between your clowns will be short-lived. Different species of clowns seldom do well together.
 
h2ointolerant

h2ointolerant

New Member
i had a porc for 7 years that just recently passed away.i feed mine a whole shrimp every other day from the super market uncooked make sure you freeze them first. thaw out in a cup of tank water,feed with the shell still on this will help keep his teeth worn down.your clown are gona be puffer food.mine ate 2 clowns, a chromis ,and believe it or not 2 clown triggers that were about 3in.don't know why i bought another one after he ate the first one expensive lesson learned.also puffers are very messy eaters as well,i had mine in a 55 for a while but he was only 2in when i bought him.(but i also had bought a 150g)hello to everyone at swf.
 
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