puffers?

[cajundolphin]

I want to add a puffer to my 55gal and was wondering which puffers are the smallest and would be the best for my tank? I love the dogface puffer, they are so cute!!! And also need to know if I can add a puffer in with a clown and 2 peppermint shrimp. I have 2 damsels right now but am trying to get rid of them.

 

[nereef]

dwarf puffers from the toby subfamily will work in a 55. these would include: any sharpnose puffer or a valentini. any puffers will make a meal of shrimp. you'll just have to decide if you like shrimp or puffers.

 

[cajundolphin]

ok thanks for ur help. Will the puffers eat my clown?

 

[nereef]

i wouldn't think you should have that kind of problem.

 

[cajundolphin]

ok thank u again....one more prob....when i try to order one on swf.com it says my order has to be $79.00 so can u think of maybe something else i can order right now that wont be a problem to add with my puffer. Should I get another clown? Seems like everyone has two clowns so wasnt sure if they need to be paired. I dont have an anemone so I hope thats ok.

 

[azul1994]

You could do that but you may have some problems adding two of those fish at the same time, especially a puffer, he would add alot of bioload, instead of the clown you could get supplies.

 

[grabbitt]

Originally Posted by azul1994
You could do that but you may have some problems adding two of those fish at the same time, especially a puffer, he would add alot of bioload, instead of the clown you could get supplies.
Indeed. Predatory fish = lots of waste.
Definitely be cautious about spanning your introductions..

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by cajundolphin
ok thank u again....one more prob....when i try to order one on swf.com it says my order has to be $79.00 so can u think of maybe something else i can order right now that wont be a problem to add with my puffer. Should I get another clown? Seems like everyone has two clowns so wasnt sure if they need to be paired. I dont have an anemone so I hope thats ok.
Very few clowns have anemones in captivity, they're very hard to keep. (The anemones.) The SWF minimum must be livestock, can't include supplies or handling & fuel surcharge in the $79 minimum. If your tank has been set up a while and is healthy, you can easily add a couple small fish at this time. Clowns do well in pairs, but usually have to start as very young fish; depends on the type of clown. Also, I think herbivores produce more waste than carnivores; their food contains so little food value that they have to process much more, thus-more waste. Thats why tangs and cattle must graze all day. Just a suggestion;but PLEASE get rid of the damsels before you add more fish; this forum has more posts on how to get rid of damsels than any topic I can think of. There are several active threads on this topic right now. If you keep them, they will dictate every new fish decision you ever make. Pretty, hardy; but little tank wrecking,prize fish killing terrors. Anaggressive damsel can (and often do) torment and kill a fish several times its size. I sure wish lfs would stop selling these fish to help cycle or as "easy" fish for the beginner. Easy to keep alive, next to impossible to get out. (There are ways that work, some ways even let the damsel live)

 

[cajundolphin]

wow I didnt realize they were THAT bad! And yep...the lfs is why I got them. They recommended it. Well, anyway, since it has to be fish that adds to $75 what about a wrasse or something like that. Can anyone think of ANYTHING I can add now....I really want this puffer.

 

[kanicky]

A puffer will be perfectly fine with the clownfish and shrimp. I have mine (Valentini) with two Clownfish, a Canary Blenny, Mystery Wrasse, and Pygmy Angelfish, as well as a Coral-Banded Shrimp and a Cleaner Shrimp.
The Valentini does not pay any mind to either of the shrimp.
They are messy eaters and deficators, but if you have the proper filtration and flow, you will be fine.
Good luck! Puffers are so wonderful!

 

[rudedog40]

Originally Posted by cajundolphin
wow I didnt realize they were THAT bad! And yep...the lfs is why I got them. They recommended it. Well, anyway, since it has to be fish that adds to $75 what about a wrasse or something like that. Can anyone think of ANYTHING I can add now....I really want this puffer.

So do you want a small puffer, or the dogface? If it's the dogface, I believe they get pretty big, and will eventually will outgrow a 55. I have the Hawaiian Blue in mine, and he's fine with all my inverts (astro snails, hermits, CBS, green brittle, urchin).
You could always get more inverts. Go with the a Sally Lightfoot or Emarld Crab, some more snails, and maybe a pencil urchin.
What kind of lights do you have, and how established is your tank? You need adequate lighting for the anemone. Most recommend MH's, but many here have had success with a T5 fixture. Also need good flow for one.
If you want another fish, a Dwarf Coral Beauty or Flame Angel would go with a puffer. You could get a goby. I had a firefish until my SFE had him for dinner (at least I think it was him). Shrimpgobies are neat if you get them with a pistol shrimp (they can live/work together). Don't think the puffer will mess with the shrimp. Also look at the Purple Pseudochromis or Royal Gramma. Pufers won't bother either of those.

 

[cajundolphin]

I thought puffers ate shrimp and crabs? I like the dogface and porcupine puffers but yes they get big. How fast do they grow? If I put one in my 55gal how much time do i have before it would outgrow it? I plan to upgrade to 125gal in January or February.

 

[texasmetal]

Originally Posted by cajundolphin
I thought puffers ate shrimp and crabs? I like the dogface and porcupine puffers but yes they get big. How fast do they grow? If I put one in my 55gal how much time do i have before it would outgrow it? I plan to upgrade to 125gal in January or February.
Puffers LOVE eating shrimp. This other person is very lucky if they have a puffer in a tank with a shrimp. There is always an exception to the rule, each individual fish will have its own personality, but there is never a guarantee. Sometimes cats mother baby squirrels too, but most of time they eat them instead.... get my point?
Puffers eat things with hard shells to wear their teeth down, otherwise their teeth get overgrown and they starve to death.
If you need to buy more stuff to get the $79 why not get some cleanup crew snails or hermits or serpent/brittle stars, or even some pretty sponges.

 

[sk8shorty01]

Most puffers will eat hermits as well. I have a porcupine and he ate my entire hermit population, although he doesnt mess with the snails to often. Some people have had success "training" the porcupines to eat nothing but what is hand fed to them, so that is always a thought. I am on my way, as lately I have had some limited success keeping hermits (I have a few that are living) and he does come up and eat out of my hand.

 

[srfisher17]

Many puffers like cuttlebone, the kind for birds, to gnaw on. Its a natural marine product; just be sure to get the plain, no vitimins added type.

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by cajundolphin
I thought puffers ate shrimp and crabs? I like the dogface and porcupine puffers but yes they get big. How fast do they grow? If I put one in my 55gal how much time do i have before it would outgrow it? I plan to upgrade to 125gal in January or February.
If you do one of the dwarf puffers, you have decent chance that they won't eat your shrimp. A dogface or a pork will no question about it. I've had a dogface for less than a year that I got at about 2 inches really small, and now he is 7 or so inches long. And pretty big. So they grow quickly.