More than just hot air: Is there a Pufferfish in your aquarium?

[ChrisfromBrick]

how big a tank do people keep an average sized puffer?

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

I have a Blue Spotted Toby Puffer in my 70 gallon reef tank. I have a fair amount of mixed corals and a Kole Tang, a Coral Beauty Angel, a Violet Dottyback, 3 PJ Cardinals, a Percula Clownfish, a skunk cleaner shrimp and some assorted snails and a pincushion urchin. I have had the puffer for about 6 months. I do have a couple of leather toadstools with long tentacles that look like they were eaten and a couple of zoas that got damaged. I have not seen anything eating them so I don't really know if it was the puffer or the coral beauty or the Urchin or something else??? Most of my corals are and other inhabitants are fine. Since I got the puffer, my cleaner shrimp hides more, where he used to be front and center. The puffer loves me and follows me around the room which is cool. He bites me when I put my hands in the tank, which is not cool.

they have teeth on them. Does it hurt?

 

[Beta reefs.]

How “reef safe” are they (I think reef safe is more of a spectrum)

 

[cre1024]

how big a tank do people keep an average sized puffer?

As with almost anything in this hobby, there are a lot of variables. What type of puffer, what else is in the tank, etc. My GSP is in a 55g. He's probably the smallest puffer that can be found in a reef tank, and I wouldn't really go much smaller. You could probably do a blue spotted in a similar size tank if there wasn't much else in there, but probably not advised.

 

[AydenLincoln]

they have teeth on them. Does it hurt?

Yes especially porcupine puffers lol!

 

[kdx7214]

I had a porcupine puffer in a tank by himself around 30 years ago. He was an awesome fish and had a huge personality. I miss him, but my current tank has lots of things one would munch on, so won't be able to have another... at least until I can afford a tank just for one.

 

[Beta reefs.]

Yes especially porcupine puffers lol!

Ouch. That has got to hurt.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Ouch.

Ouch is right! He sometimes likes to give what I call little love bites. But he’s so cute that I could never stay mad at him.

 

[Beta reefs.]

Fun fact all fish have teeth like structures.

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

A bit unconventional, but this green spotted puffer is the reason I have a reef tank in the first place. I got this fella for my classroom tank in 2022, when it was a freshwater tank. After learning I would be teaching Environmental Science this school year, I started transitioning the water to brackish, then eventually full marine. The tank is now doing great as a mixed-reef tank, and the GSP is still a centerpiece

I'm sorry, but is that a ray!?!?! How big is that tank! Anyway remove the fake plant lower left and it's perfect

 

[Beta reefs.]

How “reef safe” are they (I think reef safe is more of a spectrum)

Can someone please tell me.

 

[cre1024]

I'm sorry, but is that a ray!?!?! How big is that tank! Anyway remove the fake plant lower left and it's perfect

Thank you! Been a lot of hard work!

And yes, it's a ray!... but it's just the background

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

You truly haven’t experienced the joy of owning an aquarium until you get a pufferfish. They are one of the smartest most personable fish you can keep.

I'd say the two most personable/intelligent/interactive fish are puffers and, if you can get one that dosent hate you and all life on this planet, triggers. Eventually I maybe want to get a bluethroat pair for my system.


Anyway how long have you had hewbie?

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

Thank you! Been a lot of hard work!

And yes, it's a ray!... but it's just the background

You got me lol

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

Thank you! Been a lot of hard work!

And yes, it's a ray!... but it's just the background

Ah, that background is really messing with me lol, thought that puffer was actually in there and that the rockwork/tank was really that big

 

[AydenLincoln]

I'd say the two most personable/intelligent/interactive fish are puffers and, if you can get one that dosent hate you and all life on this planet, triggers. Eventually I maybe want to get a bluethroat pair for my system.


Anyway how long have you had hewbie?

Over a year now. I got him in February of last year.

 

[cre1024]

Ah, that background is really messing with me lol, thought that puffer was actually in there and that the rockwork/tank was really that big

I wish! My rockscape is still lacking in my opinion (hence the background to hide that )

 

[AydenLincoln]

I'd say the two most personable/intelligent/interactive fish are puffers and, if you can get one that dosent hate you and all life on this planet, triggers. Eventually I maybe want to get a bluethroat pair for my system.


Anyway how long have you had hewbie?

He was just a little scared nugget when I got him! Smaller than the heater he’s grown up so much!

 

[SnazzyUrchin792]

Can someone please tell me.

Depends. Depending on the species, they range from not reef safe (most puffers) to 90% chance that they won’t eat everything (valentinis and GSPs)

 

[cre1024]

Can someone please tell me.

My GSP hasn't touched any of my soft corals. Just recent got some lps and he has no interest. Snails and hermits are another story. If they flip on their backs, they're fair game. For the most part though, if his belly is filled up, he doesn't bother anyone. BUT many people have not been so lucky, as they much coral and nip fish fins indiscriminately lol.