Porc puffer and inverts

[AMDninjaboy]

Just wondering what inverts may be somewhat safe with a porc puffer. My LFS guy suggested conch snails. If I keep the puffer well fed will he be less likely to go after the inverts(snails, red or blue leg hermits). Im running a DSB and need something to stir up the sand bed.. I heard that nassarius snails are great for the sendbed but assume 'Spike' will eat those.. Maybe a starfish of some type? sand stirring, red or orange linkia??(sp?).. All sugestions are welcomed.

Shane.

 

[OrionGirl]

Starfish, or a cucumber. Anything in a shell is likely going to be a snack, no matter how well fed you keep him.

TBH...I wouldn't run a DSB in a predator tank.

 

[Fractalis]

if it moves
it is food to them (fingers included)

(and if it doesnt move they still may sample it)

 

[AMDninjaboy]

Its not a huge DSB, about 3" deep.. Never really thought of a porc as a 'predator'.. I am planning on a couple clowns, yellow tang, flame angel, lawnmower blenny and a few other fish, maybe some green chromis.. Wasnt really going for a predator tank...

Shane.

 

[OrionGirl]

Puffers aren't fish predators, but they most definitely are predators.

 

[AMDninjaboy]

I had another porc about 6 yrs ago in another tank I had.. I had him for 2 years and he only grew about 1".. This one has doubled in size since we got him about 3 months ago. When we first got him he just sat in the corner of the tank swimming up and down slowly looking at his reflection. Now he is the typical puffer, going crazy whenever someone walks by, he has almost spit water at me when feeding him as my old one would when I didnt feed him fast enough.. He also jumps a little bit towards my hand when im dropping his food in the tank.

Shane.

 

[Ace25]

My first porcupine puffer used to eat on average 6 fish a day.. for 7 years.. so to say they are not "fish predators" is completely false. I would be really worried about small fish like clowns in a tank with a puffer... maybe not a baby puffer, but they all grow up some time.

 

[Pufferpunk]

+1, some puffers can treat their tank mates kindly, others of the same species, can't be trusted with any tank mates.

 

[leocom2000]

they will eat smaller fish.

 

[londonloco]

Go here:

http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/

There are some there that say you can "train" them to eat only what you feed them.