Puffer ?

newbie 67

Member
I want to know if any puffer is reef tank safe? My daughter loves them and wants to add one in our tank. It's a 35 hex no coral yet with 3 damsels, clown, brittle stab, cleaner shrimp, hermits and snails. Thanks for any and all help.
 

dawman

Active Member
There is no puffer that is reef safe or that can go in your tank . A Saddle Valentini can go in a 35 but not a hex tank . All other puffer species require 50+ gallons depending on the species .
 

dragonzim

Active Member
Pretty much every puffer out there feeds on shrimp and other inverts in the wild, so while they will not bother coral in a reef tank they will eat your clean up crew.
 

rudedog40

Member
I have a Spotted Hawaiian Puffer in my 55, and the only thing he's ever attacked are my narcariuss snails. He liked their antennae that they probe with. He doesn't mess with my astro/turbo snails, hermits, sally lightfoot, emarald crabs, or my coral banded shrimp. My coral banded popped him one the other day fighting over a piece of shrimp. Not sure how big they get, but mine's only around 2" long. They're not as animated as a dog face or porky puffer, but he does have an attitude.
 

kanicky

Member
I'm glad I don't have issues with my Valentini munching on coral. He's MUCH more interested in ambushing the hermit crabs and snails... doesn't bother our CBS either, but then again, our CBS can hold is own pretty well.
Not sure if the Valentini or Spotted Sharpnose would do well in a hexagon tank, although a regular 35 gallon would be fine. You could ask the "guru's" at WWM.
 

nycbob

Active Member
i "had" a porcupine pupper once. he was like 3-4 inches long. he ate all the inverts that could fit in his mouth. he was well fed too.
 

kjr_trig

Active Member
Originally Posted by nycbob
i "had" a porcupine pupper once. he was like 3-4 inches long. he ate all the inverts that could fit in his mouth. he was well fed too.
I was dumb enough to take the thermometer out of my sump because I was having trouble seeing it, my porky broke it into many pieces, glad the glass didn't hurt him.
 

arod268

Member
Originally Posted by Dawman
There is no puffer that is reef safe or that can go in your tank . A Saddle Valentini can go in a 35 but not a hex tank . All other puffer species require 50+ gallons depending on the species .
why cant you put a puffer in a hex tank
 
Top