Puffer Fish

[CharlieV]

Hi All,

a little intro
I currently have a Juwel Rio 125 (125 l / 31 g) and have a couple of plants and 2 male and 4 female zebra danios. I did a fishless cycle for 3 weeks, added my Danios 2 weeks ago and haven't lost one yet (phew!)

I love the look of puffer fish and was wondering if I could put one in my community?

any advice would be greatly recieved - my next fish will either be an L007 (Vampire Plec) or puffer if advice says ok to do

NH3/4 - 0
Nitrite - currently about 10-15ppm
Nitrate - same as Nitrite

thanks in advance for responses
Chaz

 

[Puffernewbee]

The question is, what kind of pufferfish? Many puffers can be quite agressive to their tank mates and do not do well in a community type tank. I know for a fact my Figure-8 eats anything in the tank with him. I have heard that dwarf puffers can sometimes live in a community tank but then i have heard that they can tend to take small taste of the other fish.
Plus, do not trust the LFS to give you good info as to whether the puffer is good for a freshwater tank. There are very few that are true freshwater species (one of which is the dwarf).
I have read of puffers doing well in a community tank, but I feel that is not so common puffer with a docile personality. Puffers are usually best in a species only tank due to their behavior.
FYI..Puffers have a good little set of teeth used for crushing snails, so they are not afraid to take on something large than them.

 

[tomm10]

Dwarf Puffers really ought to be in their own species tank. There's a pretty small list of fish that can coexist happily with them (otos being the most popular) but Danios are not on it

Of the few puffers that can live in fresh water I am only familiar in any sense with the Dwarf. Other, larger puffers may be able to live in a community but I'm not counting on it.

T

 

[CharlieV]

thanks for the info guys
looks like a plec for me then
if anyone can advise on a nice medium sized fish that would be ok on his/her own in my tank that would be great
so then 6 x danio and a puffer = one fat puffer!!!!