Puffer fish for reef tank?

[lauriepacific]

I'm creating a 65 gal soft coral reef tank. Is there any type of Puffer fish that I could safely keep in this tank? I know some varieties eat hard coral, but are Puffer fish compatible with soft corals and/or LPS?
Thanks for any help you can give me with this!

 

[aquaknight]

My pick (cuz I have one )
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...ot_parent_id=4
Or
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...ot_parent_id=4
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...ot_parent_id=4
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...ot_parent_id=4
Basically any 'toby' puffer will work. Toby puffers are puffers in the Canthigaster genus. They only grow to about 4", and would be a good fit for a 65gal. They probably will nip at your smaller inverts. Small snails/hermits, but should leave larger shrimp alone. Mine did nip branching SPS, but left my monti caps, softies, and LPS alone. I suspect he was trying to grind his teeth down. They should be feed a meaty diet. White shrimp (raw), clams, scallops, mysis, etc.

 

[mech-a-nic]

+1 Samll inverts will start missing, Snails, hermits shrimp, ect Corals "might" be ok

 

[lauriepacific]

AquaKnight: Thanks so much for the terrific info and links! Sounds like it's the calcium of the SPS coral that the puffers gnaw on - probably to grind down their teeth. I had a hunch that the LPS and soft coral might not be as much of a problem with certain puffers such as the toby puffers. Thanks again for your help!
Mech-a-nic: Thanks for that info on the problem with snails, hermits, and shrimp!

 

[ophiura]

It will also potentially be an issue with seastars and brittlestars. Even small "nips" to these can be bad.