can i keep two puffers in a 125g?

[syddakyd]

first of one i definitely know will be ok is a dogface (not sure which variant yet)

but the porcupine i hear conflicting things. some sites say it gets 1 foot, others, 18inches, and one said 3 feet.

can a porq. live in a 125?

are these two compatible?


if need be, i will dedicate the tank to just them two if nothing else can fit. its a standard 6ft by 18inches and i think 22 inches tall not sure on height

[Ace25]

Dogface = 300G tank, Porcupine Puffer = 200G tank, so you would need a 500G tank for 2. I have 7 years first hand experience with both types and I will tell you those are accurate tank sizes to ensure your fish are happy and healthy. Even babies grow up VERY fast so thinking "I will buy one and when it outgrows the tank bring it back", well, that will be 4-6 months on a 125G if you get a baby puffer.

You can do 2 Valentini/Saddle puffers in a 125 though.

[syddakyd]

lol you can keep a valentini in a 40g. a dogface most certainly can thrive in a 125g. even "thepufferforum.com" agrees.


Any input from anyone else?

[Ace25]

Seems even the most basic of sites will disagree with you:

LiveAquaria
Baby Dogface = 100G
Baby Porcupine = 90G



Porcupine Puffer
Minimum Tank Size (http://javascript<b></b>:popupWindow('/product/refinement_definition.cfm?rid=1', 200, 500, 400, 100)): 90 gallons Care Level (http://javascript<b></b>:popupWindow('/product/refinement_definition.cfm?rid=2', 200, 500, 400, 100)): Moderate Temperament (http://javascript<b></b>:popupWindow('/product/refinement_definition.cfm?rid=3', 200, 500, 400, 100)): Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible (http://javascript<b></b>:popupWindow('/product/refinement_definition.cfm?rid=4', 200, 500, 400, 100)): No Water Conditions (http://javascript<b></b>:popupWindow('/product/refinement_definition.cfm?rid=8', 200, 500, 400, 100)): 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025 Max. Size (http://javascript<b></b>:popupWindow('/product/refinement_definition.cfm?rid=10', 200, 500, 400, 100)): 1' 6"



Dog Face Puffer
Minimum Tank Size (http://javascript<b></b>:popupWindow('/product/refinement_definition.cfm?rid=1', 200, 500, 400, 100)): 100 gallons Care Level (http://javascript<b></b>:popupWindow('/product/refinement_definition.cfm?rid=2', 200, 500, 400, 100)): Moderate Temperament (http://javascript<b></b>:popupWindow('/product/refinement_definition.cfm?rid=3', 200, 500, 400, 100)): Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible (http://javascript<b></b>:popupWindow('/product/refinement_definition.cfm?rid=4', 200, 500, 400, 100)): No Water Conditions (http://javascript<b></b>:popupWindow('/product/refinement_definition.cfm?rid=8', 200, 500, 400, 100)): 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025 Max. Size (http://javascript<b></b>:popupWindow('/product/refinement_definition.cfm?rid=10', 200, 500, 400, 100)): 1' 1"

So, for 2 babies = 190G, even that is way to small for 2 aggressive puffers in a tank, they will fight each other. Remember those are bare minimum tank sizes for babies with no other tank mates, when full grown they will each need 3x the recommended minimum size. But sounds like you don't actually want good sound advice from someone with years of first hand experience, you want an answer that will tell you it is ok to put 50 people inside a 8'x8' room and say it is perfectly fine. Good luck in your search for bad advice. ;)

[syddakyd]

seems like you threw in the 'baby' part.

http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Marine/A_Nigropunctatus/

dogface= 100g. (thepufferforum.com)

http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Marine/D_Holocanthus/
porquipine puffer= 120g minimum (the pufferforum.com)



live aquaria=100g for a dogface.
http://liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+39+222&pcatid=222

maybe you confused the size they offered for sale with "minimum tank size for a baby?"

porquipine puffer- 90g

http://liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+39+244&pcatid=244


here is a valentini- 30g
http://liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+39+250&pcatid=250



your point could be valid in not having two aggressive puffers in a 125g, but to say it can't even house a dogface? I guess a lot of people are wrong. actually, all..but then again any fish is better off in the wild, right ;)




so not to derail my thread, does anyone have experience with these two specific fish together?

[BadRoma1]

you checked with puffer forum and here, and still looking for god knows what answer. why don't you just put the 2 puffers together and see for yourself how it works out for you. why looking for an advice you aren't going to use? clearly, you have your own opinion on it and just looking for someone to support it.

[syddakyd]

you checked with puffer forum and here, and still looking for god knows what answer. why don't you just put the 2 puffers together and see for yourself how it works out for you. why looking for an advice you aren't going to use? clearly, you have your own opinion on it and just looking for someone to support it.


i did my research as you can see. i was really curious to see if anyone had personal experience with the two species together, not a textbook response that everyone tends to give. i am going by what all the sites are telling me as far as proper tank sizes.

perhaps i should just ask my lfs owner. his store is walking distance.

[BadRoma1]

also, try Reefcentral. there are tons of marine keepers. if you trust your LFS owner, go for it. however, don't think because they have a store they know their stuff. i personally knew one store owner who hired people with experience in marine fish because he didn't know anything, and those people were keeping marine systems running and were ordering what was needed too.

[jpappy789]

Well, you got advice based on personal experience from Ace, who is one of the more knowledgeable "salties" from what I understand.

Going off of those fact sheets seems more "textbook" than what was said, so I fail to see how that is not contradictory...oh well.

[syddakyd]

also, try Reefcentral..


I'll do that. thanks for the help.:thumbsup:

[BadRoma1]

I don't think he undestands that the size of the tank is very important if he wants agressive fish to get alone. he thinks that the size of the tank and if two puffers will get alone are two separate issues. also, puffers can be an issue with other fish and he has mixed community. i don't like aggressive fish of any type. my blenny was stressed to death by my green chromi before i finally trapped him and i really hated loosing her after over 5 years of her leaving kisses on the glass.

[Miss my puffer]

I have a dogface and a porcupine in a 90 gal for almost two years. Spike is a pig and has even fought with the snowflake for a pc of shrimp (the eel dragged him way down into the rockwork and I had to move some rocks so he could get out). Squirt (the dogface) is calm and I have not had any problems with him other than him spitting at me when I open the lid on the tank. I was going to upgrade to a 150gal. but got laid off so they are stuck in the 90 for now, although they seem to be doing great. This is the second set I have kept together, the first set was lost when the aquarium gave way. I've seen them housed in a 50 gal for almost a yr, although I would not even suggest that (they are now happy in a 180, the guy that bought them ran into the same situation I am in, luckily they were very small, but it was not a good situation). Be ready to do some big water changes (I do 30 gal every two weeks).

[rdfriend]

I have been a salty for a little over 2 years and a member of this site for a little under 2 years so still a noob in the grand scope of things. Personally I feel that Ace is one of the more informative members and I do feel that personal experience carries more weight than info from an LFS or retail website. I have a dog faced in a 125 and did so because my research led me to the belief that my tank while not huge was over the minimum for that puffer. Liveaquaria.com, (Drs F&S) says 100g. Since pricing on most sites are given for small, medium and large fish, where applicable, but only one minimum tank size I have always been under the impression that minimum tanks sizes were for the fish at maturity. I have also thought that minimum sizes for individual fish does not necessarily relate to amount of fish in a tank, i.e. dog faced = 100g = only fish in 100g tank. So now of course I am once again confused.:confused:

[dogface]

Ive had a dogface and porcupine together for over 3 years. Both were bought small and introduced together. Never had any problems with each other except fighting for food. The tank was a 110.

[AC2020x]

I totally agree that ACE knows what he's talking about, however I also think although it may not be in their best environments and more space would definitely be best, I think they can still be happy in a 125. Being that over the internet I have seen a bunch of video's of people who have both and more in a 75 and they seem very happy. They have even had them for a few years and they are still doing well. I personally think although it may not be pristine conditions, they should still be happy. I also have very minimal experience compared to ace though and this is just my own thought on the opinion.