Puffer for a community tank.

[samsung-401]

I was just wondering if anybody knew of a puffer that I could put in a 30 gallon community tank? I've been having trouble finding one.

 

[LittlePuff]

They don't exist.


Kim

 

[SirMinion]

What kim said.

There are a few that can be kept with large fish, but they'd still get fin-nipped.
Possibly the only exception is the Mbu which can co-exist with cichlids much smaller that the puffer.

But an Mbu puffers- would need a 12 foot tank as they grow beyond three feet long. 40g isn't going to cut it.

One the whole, Puffers of any species are not community fish.

 

[jsescher25]

if you still want to try a bleeding heart puffer would be ok with some danios and in my brackish tank my puffers are fine with gobies BUT i would not recemend just putting them in with other long fin fish or any fish that is slower than the puffers. you will find that your fish have either dissapered or are missing fins.

 

[Puffer_freak]

I heard Collemesus are quite gentle. But I may have read/heard wrong, mind you, I've heard this from lotsa differetn sources...oh well, SirM is usually right...

 

[LadyMinion]

I heard Collemesus are quite gentle. But I may have read/heard wrong,

Collomesus are indeed one of the "gentler" puffers, but for a puffer, gentle means "won't kill tankmates".

When people talk about what is and what isn't a gentle puffer they generally don't mean which can be kept in community tanks. All puffers are aggressive and even the gentlest will fin nip.

There are always a few that never harm another tankmate in their lives, but this should be regarded as the exception and never the rule. People that own such puffers are very lucky indeed.

It seems that puffers have become increasingly popular of late and everyone wants one. Despite how common they have become, it is important to remember the predatory nature of these fish and make adequate plans for keeping them. Also, I think many people feel that puffers are a "safe" predatory fish to keep because they generally are quite small. This is not the case and one should consider the effects of puffer ownership in the same way they (hopefully) would a piranha/cichlid/snakehead etc.

Gosh I'm rambling.. sorry. )

 

[Puffer_freak]

Oh, thanks LadyM, that cleared me up a little! You're so good with puffers, you and SirM amaze me sometimes!

 

[LadyMinion]

Oh, thanks LadyM, that cleared me up a little! You're so good with puffers, you and SirM amaze me sometimes!

LOL, I try

I was worried I'd started sounding like I was going off on a tangent.

 

[Puffer_freak]

Nah! Your great! Well done! And your always so helpful too!

Wow, soon I'll be starting a fan club, so I'll shut up now!

 

[LadyMinion]

Nah! Your great! Well done! And your always so helpful too!

Wow, soon I'll be starting a fan club, so I'll shut up now!

) ) ) ) )

*is speechless*

 

[Puffer_freak]

O.K, look at my sig! Though, of course, I'm sure SirM will come and take over my job!

 

[appleblossom]

I have just got my second figure eight puffer for my community tank. Once again, I seem to have had impeccable luck as all is going well.

However, I am aware that as the puffer matures he may not be so gentle towards his tank mates, and I was also aware that things may not go well from the start.

The figure eight needs brackish water at maturity so a back up tank is ready and waiting in case something does go wrong in the community, and for him to move into at maturity.

Maybe a puffer in a community tank is something you can try but you will need to keep a close eye on him and have a back up plan in case things dont go as well as you hoped....

 

[LadyMinion]

O.K, look at my sig! Though, of course, I'm sure SirM will come and take over my job!

LOL!!!

So am I officially a puffer nerd?

appleblossom - I'm happy you've been so fortunate in finding such docile puffers and it's good to hear you have a backup tank ready and understand the needs of your figure eights.

Such a shame more people don't take the time to learn before they buy.

 

[Puffer_freak]

It is. I have two young GSPs that are very docile. I mean what other puffers play with each other? And don't worry, I have checked for aggressiveness, and there isn't any. I also check that they don't get naughty when I'm not in the room, by peeking round the doorframe, and they are more peaceful than ever. And just float around the tank.