Puffer And... Housing Mates?

[xander_chookeypud]

Hey guys, this is my first post here. I absolutely adore pufferfish I really want 1 or 2... or more!! The trouble is that my tank's are community and ive heard that they are fin nippers in general. However, I was wondering if there are any non-aggressive types of freshwater puffer fish that would get along fine with different types of gouramis, angelfish and hatchetfish? My LFS mention South American? but someone else has told me they are likely to be aggressive as well?! Slightly confusing, so i was wondering if anyone can offer me their expert knowledge about them If none will go in a community then i do have a 45litre tank spare to house a couple...??

Cheers for reading, Xander

 

[Fella]

The South American Puffer (Colomesus asellus) is best housed in tanks of 15 US Gallons plus. That is for a single puffer. While they are tolerant of their own species, and while some people have limited success in housing them with other community members, the risk is more than likely too great. Puffers are not community fish, and as such, shouldn't be kept with anything other than their own kind at a push. In saying that, some puffers are tolerant of tankmates, because all puffers are different and have different personalities, but, in general it is not worth the effort. Colomesus asellus is the most tolerant of all puffers however, but other particular requirements are needed for them, for instance, you will quite likely need to clip their teeth every 6 months as they grow rapidly, and this requires anaesthetising the fish.

I don't mean to put you off, but a fellow forum member on here might have to whip out his picture of a decimated tetra again, and I'm not really up for that

 

[xander_chookeypud]

Thanks for the reply Fella. Very useful info- didnt know you had to clip their teeth. I dont really fancy anaesthetising the fish to be honest, that really would be too much work. Especially as ive recently setup a marine tank as well as having a couple of community tropical tanks as it is! I get the picture about puffers but could i also trouble someone to tell me a little about the other type of puffer suggested to me by the LFS. I think they said the Pygmey Puffer? Could be wrong as to whether this fish exists! Lol!

Regards Xander

 

[Fella]

Thanks for the reply Fella. Very useful info- didnt know you had to clip their teeth. I dont really fancy anaesthetising the fish to be honest, that really would be too much work. Especially as ive recently setup a marine tank as well as having a couple of community tropical tanks as it is! I get the picture about puffers but could i also trouble someone to tell me a little about the other type of puffer suggested to me by the LFS. I think they said the Pygmey Puffer? Could be wrong as to whether this fish exists! Lol!

Regards Xander

Pygmy Puffers are Carinotetraodon travancoricus typically. The smallest commerically available puffer, they typically need 5 gallons each. They are another puffer that can typically get on with its own kind, but, not always successfully because puffers have different personalities, and some might be aggressive to tankmates.

They need heavily planted tanks typically, to break up lines of site, and like all puffers, need to be fed snails to help keep their teeth short (all snails are readily accepted, except Malaysian Trumpet Snails which can break puffer's beaks).

I haven't personally owned them, but Im sure it won't be long before someone who has dips in here, as they're very popular.

HTH

 

[Pufferpunk]

In addition, they are extremely mean for their size, taking fin-rides on fish 20x larger! There are no good puffers for a community tank.

 

[Puffer_freak]

I also have never owned them, but they will require 5 gallons of water each. This si because they are territorial and messy little fish.

Despite them being evil buggers, they're also really nice fish to keep, because each has it's own personality, and if you have the space for an extra tank, one will be fine on it's own in a single 5 gallon tank.

They prefer sand as a substrate and seem to ejoy a heavily planted set up.