Puffer

[angel626]

I have a 55 gallon tank that I want to add a puffer to. It is compatable with most that I want to add but I have read that many are not reef safe. I would love to have one of these fish but I don't want my crabs killed. Are there any puffers that would do well in this tank size and in a reef environment? I read that the Hawaiian Puffer can be put in a reef tank. Does anyone have experience with this fish or others in a reef tank?

[sharkmatt]

Puffer + Crustaceans = No Crustaceans :) Crustaceans are a Puffers natural diet so I don't think you're Crabs would stand much of a chance sorry.

[legendaryfrog]

hmmm..........I dont know of any reef-compatible puffers suitable for a 55g tank.

Also, like sharkmatt said, your crabs wouldnt last long with a puffer.

[angel626]

That is what I thought...but I thought I would ask.. I guess I'll have to wait until I get a bigger tank. Thanks

[sharkmatt]

No worries.

[tankanator]

Well I'm going against everybody here, I have a 55 GAL with a Valentini Puffer and I have snails and hermit crabs he does not bother them. I give him krill and sometimes buy live shrimp to feed him. I've had him for 4 years now and he has not to my knowledge bothered any of my crabs or snails.

[sharkmatt]

All fish are different, sounds like he's a pacifist puffer lol! I'd still say there's a good chance most puffers will munch crabs etc.

[Kodiak]

isnt a puffer to big for a 55g? those guys get big, unless there is like a dwarf species.

[sharkmatt]

One of the Canthigaster species (Tobies) would fit in a 55g.

[tankanator]

Yes this is a sharp nose puffer and only gets 4"to 5" long. I guess you would have to try and see,but I would say it's worth it

[sharkmatt]

You could try the saddled filefish (Paraluteres prionurus). It mimics the Valentini Puffer but has the added advantage of not munching all your inverts. Need to be wary of it with sessile inverts though.

[QuagmireMan]

I had a puffer for almost 2 years and i fed him frozen shrimp everyday. One day i did not feed him when i came home from school.... my pepermint shrimp was gone...

[angel626]

Thanks for the suggestion about the saddled filefish, I think I might get one, I've read up on them and they sound awesome. LFS will order me one when I'm ready.

QuagmireMan- did it eat the frozen shrimp whole or did you have to cut it up? what other tank mates did the puffer have?

[darthgoby]

I have a blue spotted puffer and he generally leaves my inverts alone. He's about 3-4 inches long and generally leaves my inverts alone. He sometimes goes after the nassarius snails but leaves my crabs and peppermint shrimp alone.

With the peppermint shrimp, what I think worked is that I went with the larger shrimp instead of really small ones. A couple of my peppermint shrimp are almost as long as him (longer if you include the antennas).

I feed him everything from mysis to frozen clams to clams from the store to freeze dried krill to fresh squid/octopus. He eats it all.