Green Spotted Puffer Compatibility

[JMatthew]

We picked up an absolutely adorable Green Spotted Puffer a little over a month ago. We placed him in our tank with two Tetras, two Bala Sharks, a Pleco, two Pictus Catfish. a Dwarf African Frog and also added a 'Dragon Fish' at the same. All was well for nearly a week when the GSP decieded to start nipping down the long dorsal fin of the 'Dragon Fish.' The 'Dragon Fish' simply didn't make it and after I took him out the GSP spotting the Dwarf African Frog making his trek to the surface for air when the GSP cruised over to the froggy and chomped down on a front leg. Before I knew it he had eaten the other leg. I moved the frog to another tank and he has survived despite his obvious disability.

Since then, the GSP has not messed with ANY of the remaining fish (including the pleco - though he IS the most active pleco I have ever seen).

However, I would like to introduce a few more fish to this tank and believe the GSP may mess with new fish. In addition, I would like to start moving him into a brackish tank. I have set up a 10 gallon to move him to and had just about finished cycling, but fell for a flounder that is about 1 1/2 inches around the other day and tossed him into that tank. Now, I would still like to move the GSP into that tank (and leave just the Flounder and the GSP - no additional fish), but am not sure what he might think of the Flounder. I understand no one can completely predict how a particular fish will behave, however it would be nice to hear from anyone who may have tried to gather similiar fish and know what results they experienced.

Thanks in advance!

 

[divegirl]

Gsp's, as far as I'm aware, need a hell of a lot more that a 10g tank! On a Puffer forum I use it states 30 US Gallons. As for what fish you could keep with it ? There are a couple of threads further down this page that give some advice on tank mates.

Lisa

 

[nmonks]

As Lisa has said, GSPs will need more than 10 gallons. Even a 30 gallon tank is "adequate" rather than "generous". Don't forget, these fish get to around 15 cm/6 inches in length, excluding the tail, and they're chunky with it too! So you're after a spacious tank with a good filtration system.

Mixing puffers with flounders is risky, but might work. Here's the problem: it's in the nature of puffers to bite at anything that looks edible. Fast-moving fish usually avoid trouble with all but the most predatory puffers, but something as inactive as a flounder is an easy target. This is especially true for its eyes, which will poke out above the sand in a most enticing way! On the other hand, flounders are strictly nocturnal and need wet-frozen or live foods (bloodworms, especially) to be offered at night. The vast majority of flounders starve to death when kept in aquaria. Since puffers are day-active fish, if you offer food at night, the flounder might be okay.

Do read the pufferfish and flounder sections of my Brackish FAQ for details. Flounders especially are really, really difficult to maintain.

Cheers, Neale

 

[JMatthew]

Yeah - the 10 gallon is for now - the intention is to upgrade them as I move onto bigger tanks each time ( the Balas for instance will need more than the 55 gallon they are currently in eventually). However, I figure they won't grow overnight .

Thanks for the advice - based on the frogs arms I am a little afraid for the puffers eyes. Not sure whether I'm going to risk it or not. Will have to think it over a bit...