SAP - Your personal experiences please - Worried

[misterlsn]

After reading up on these "Nice" Puffers I finally broke down and got one for my tank. I can't help but still be VERY worried for my other fishes because I have a GSP (by himself in his own brackish tank) and know that puffers in general are extremely dangerous to other fish.

It's still ~1" and new to the tank, a temporary 35 gallon (all fishes are small / juvenile). His tank mates are:

Featherfin pleco
Albino Bristlenose pleco
Pictus Cat
Dwarf Gourami

I'm upgrading to a 55 or 75 gal tank and want to add the following when I do (future tankmates)

Kuhli Loach (couple)
Gold Gourami
Opaline Gourami
Pearl Gourami
and depending on size of upgrade a friend or 2 for the Pictus.

I want to know what other's success/tragedy stories are with the SAP in their community tanks. Especially with the Gouramis and the featherfin pleco ... I'm not worried about the albino and Pictus as much because one is quick and the other hides himself and his fins pretty well.

Thanks!

OH!!! Also, when I got him at Aquarium Adventure, they didn't have feeder snails but they let me raid their freshwater plant tanks to remove as many of the little "pests" (little snails) that breed and overpopulate in there.

Are those little "pest" snails OK as food for him and if I drop a handful in my tank will they take over and rampage on my greenery?

Thanks again!

[purplecandle]

You should quarantine snails, because diseased snails can wipe out a tank..

And you will need a snail tank to breed snails on your own so that you can hope to keep the sap's teeth down.

here is a snail breeding article
library/feeding/basic-snail-breeding/

SAP s are labeled "the nice puffer"..but they are labeled as such because they are schooling puffers and can live with others of their own kind (most puffers cannot)....not necessarily because they can have tank mates.

[misterlsn]

You should quarantine snails, because diseased snails can wipe out a tank..

And you will need a snail tank to breed snails on your own so that you can hope to keep the sap's teeth down.

here is a snail breeding article
library/feeding/basic-snail-breeding/

SAP s are labeled "the nice puffer"..but they are labeled as such because they are schooling puffers and can live with others of their own kind (most puffers cannot)....not necessarily because they can have tank mates.

Thanks!

But... now I'm REALLY scared! I guess I just need to hope the pet shop's snails were healthy because they went in last night and I don't think I can find them once they hide in the wood...

[xrayjeeper83]

in general its a good idea to keep most puffers by themselfs, or in species only tanks

also snails dont eat your good plants, they eat algae. And I agree that you should QT them, let them breed and have free food.

And good luck on keeping the teeth down on that SAP lol

[Cuchulainn]

I currently keep two SAP's, approx. 1 1/4" long, and am planning on getting a couple, or three more as they seem to like to school. I don't see a problem with any of the fish U mentioned. For now. My SAP's seem to stay in the bottom 2/3 of the tank(except when they know snails are coming). Gouramis spend most of there tyme at the top 1/3(but are territorial of there immediate space) IMO, and various cats seem to stay at the bottom 1/3. Mind U, the SAP's I keep are still small, so I keep a close eye, and am ready to move them if they do get aggressive towards other fish, or vice versa.Thus far, I have only seen "fighting/bickering" between the two when I drop snails in the tank, but hardly cause for alarm. I've had them in two different community tanks with no problems. The first tank(70g) with German blue rams, Yoyo loaches, many various tetras, ABN plecos, and at one tyme a couple Gouramis(rescue-then given away). The second tank(120g), cycled first with a bunch O' guppies, then added the two SAP's(other tank70g got a Ghost knife so didn't want them to harass). Have various Rainbow fish(Millennium, Threadfin,Turquoise, e.t.c), in with the SAP's. Even keep a "clawless" crawfish(lost a fight) in there. The SAP's do enjoy chasing/munching on the guppy babies,(but it keeps them busy, and off the glass for the most part-so I say even trade). Like I said previously my SAP's are still small, so be prepared to move yours when they get bigger if U see any issues. Fish of all species I've kept are "opportunistic feeders", and SAP's have been said to be fin nippers. Again, I haven't noticed any problems thus far with keeping them with various species of fish. I anticipate that they may become more territorial as they grow, but thus far they stick to there own. Great fish to keep, just keep them busy by changing uP there environment!
Good luck

[Cuchulainn]

p.s.
Don't worry- be happy!

[danielh144]

I would say that a lone SAP is certainly more nervous and nippy than those kept in a group! These fish do like to shoal especially at night!

I'd say get more than one if you have the space!

[RTR]

Personally, I have never kept SAPs in a standard mixed tank, and never as singletons. I have kept groups of them with Otocinclus cats (all were planted tanks), dwarf plecos, and short-term with some other fast-swimming schooling species during their acclimation to my tanks - those were removed once the SAPs were "at home" and well settled in.

But generally I do not keep any community or mixed tank in any situation, especially where puffers are concerned, or any carnivous hunters or predators, any schooling fish, or most catfish other than highly selected suckermouth catfish - It would never include several of the fish you include as present or potential tankmates for any puffer.

I know that is not at all what you wanted to hear, but that does reflect my experiences.

[J-P]

I have re homed 3 SAPS into a 55 with a single Pleco.

I had them in a larger tank with plecos and SAEs (Siamese algae eaters) but would NOT trust them with other fish. These guys are stealth hunters and will bite!

+1 RTR's comments.. keep them in a group and enjoy.

[misterlsn]

So it looks like the majority think that it will become an issue eventually.. not the encouragement I was looking for but I'd rather hear bad news now that I can do something about it than later when my Dwarf Gourami is already missing a fin...

It's hard to let the little guy go

[RTR]

That is one way MTS (multi-tank syndromw) gets started. Beware, It is highly contagious! I have a bad case myself.

[misterlsn]

That is one way MTS (multi-tank syndromw) gets started. Beware, It is highly contagious! I have a bad case myself.

We already have 3 tanks as it is... A Saltwater, Freshwater and Brackish tank ~ LOL

Well, 4 tanks if you also add the terrarium...