Puffer in a Community tank?

[ophiura]

moved at request of OP

 

[bjoe23]

Ok, thanks for moving it. Im not getting the angel because he will nip at corals. So if i minus the angel I might be able to get him? REally like puffers, they really are like a pet, following you outside a tank. See bigger ones at LFS

 

[teresaq]

Ive had a valintini and a hwaiian saddle back toby puffer. The valintini didnt bother anything, but the hawiaan ate my snall nass snails. I just bought then buy bulk, and he stayed well fed.

 

[dischirm]

I wish you were in Sacramento, I would GIVE you mine. I had noticed that I had no snails in the tank anymore (and tank was getting lots of algae) and few hermits, so I stopped at LFSs and picked up some snails. The second I put them in, My Hawaaiian puffer went over there and started picking them up and shaking them like a dog.
Keep that in mind!

 

[en_pissant]

My hermits disappeared when I put the Valentini in. He's a cool fish, doesn't eat my corals, and gets along with other fish. Some of my smaller snails have disappeared, but the bigger ones are still there.

 

[bjoe23]

Thanks for the info people, will he eat my cleaner shrimp?
And he would be fit in a 29 right?

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by bjoe23
Thanks for the info people, will he eat my cleaner shrimp?
And he would be fit in a 29 right?
they feed on inverts. so it is a distinct possibility. They may get along for a while, then one day, bam no more cleaner shimp.

 

[bjoe23]

Originally Posted by stdreb27
they feed on inverts. so it is a distinct possibility. They may get along for a while, then one day, bam no more cleaner shimp.
So I would by hermits so it could it eat?

 

[puffer32]

I just had to take my 2 clams out of one of my tanks and put them in my other tank cause me valanti was seriously picking on them to the point they stopped opening much.

 

[kanicky]

You don't have to feed them strictly hermit crabs or snails. They just happen to hunt them, both in the wild and in our aquariums, so we're just warning you that whatever puffer you wind up getting probably will nip at the least.
I feed my puffers: krill, clams, shrimp, Emerald Entree, Mysis Shrimp and Spectrum Pellets. They have yet to meet a food that they do not like

 

[bjoe23]

Originally Posted by puffer32
I just had to take my 2 clams out of one of my tanks and put them in my other tank cause me valanti was seriously picking on them to the point they stopped opening much.
Will a Hawaiian spotted do that?
Thanks for the adivse Kanicky, wont have problems feeding it I guess

 

[puffer32]

Originally Posted by bjoe23
Will a Hawaiian spotted do that?
Thanks for the adivse Kanicky, wont have problems feeding it I guess
There is no way to tell for sure. With puffers, theres always a risk of it nipping at things. And they all are different. Others stated theirs eat anything, mine has only eaten micro stars and my clams,hasn't touched any frozen foods I put in, but is very fat, picks off my rocks all day devouring the stars.

 

[bjoe23]

Originally Posted by puffer32
There is no way to tell for sure. With puffers, theres always a risk of it nipping at things. And they all are different. Others stated theirs eat anything, mine has only eaten micro stars and my clams,hasn't touched any frozen foods I put in, but is very fat, picks off my rocks all day devouring the stars.
So, its a coin toss on, what they will eat, reef safe, and what they will nip at?

 

[puffer32]

Originally Posted by bjoe23
So, its a coin toss on, what they will eat, reef safe, and what they will nip at?
Yep, like angels you can't know for sure.

 

[bjoe23]

Originally Posted by puffer32
Yep, like angels you can't know for sure.
Ya, ok, thanks

 

[krautburner]

I was talking to the guy at my LFS about puffers for my tank,
I mentioned the Valentini and the spotted hawian
he said I'd be better off with a Porcupine Puffer
SWF.com says "reef safe: No"
any opinions here?

 

[aquaknight]

I have an Hawaiian Blue in my 125. Great fish, somewhat reef safe, my poor Acan colony didn't stand a chance between him and my B/F angel. Other softie and SPS corals are safe. Haven't noticed him mess with my snails/hermits, though I have golfball +sized snails.

I would have a hard time putting him in a 29gal. I QT'ed him in a 55gal and he became space stressed. I think maybe cause mine is the biggest one I've seen, near 4". They are also really passive, and he was bullied by my B/F angel. If he is the 'top dog' a 29gal, it may work. Definitely not an angel (dwarf or not).
A Porcupine puffer is more coral safe, but ANY inverts are doomed. Instead of picking at their feet/etc, the Porcupine will just crush them, shell and all.

 

[bjoe23]

I dont think i will get one because im starting to put corals in my tanks and i dont want it to eat them. There are other fish in sea