Puffer tank mates

The forum for puffers that either live or start in brackish biotopes: GSPs, F8s, Ceylons & more.
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Puffydave
Puffer Fry
Posts: 14
Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2014 2:43 pm
Location (country): Uk

Puffer tank mates

Post by Puffydave »

I wouldn't mind 2-4 other fish with my 3 figure of 8 puffers,
I've heard bumblebee gobies are a good bet with them and will also clean up any un eaten food,
Anyone got any advise or do I just stay with puffers?
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Welch4
Fahaka Puffer
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Gender: Male
My Puffers: 1 GSP
Location (country): USA
Location: Abington,MA

Re: Puffer tank mates

Post by Welch4 »

You could try a bumblee goby if the tank is big enough. Goby are usually pretty safe from being attacked but i still wouldnt get attached.
Forget other advice about puffers you don't hear here - Pufferpunk
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G S P Freak
Green Spotted Puffer
Posts: 421
Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2012 6:58 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: Figure Eight Puffers, Binks (29G)
Dwarf puffers, named "He-Puffer" (male) and She-puffer (female) (10g)
Non-puffer:
1 Red-eared slider, Tortuga (female)(100g)
1 rubber lip pleco
Location (country): USA, Indiana

Re: Puffer tank mates

Post by G S P Freak »

My F8 eats bumblebee gobies... He also doesn't tolerate tankmates, so you might have better luck than me.
No human being, however great, or powerful, was ever so free as a fish.
-John Ruskin-
"I have to laugh when people call fish-keeping a hobby, if anything, it's a science... and for some, an obsession." - Me
Puffydave
Puffer Fry
Posts: 14
Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2014 2:43 pm
Location (country): Uk

Re: Puffer tank mates

Post by Puffydave »

Going to try the bumble bee gobie, and my local supplier has 2 on order for me,
I have 3 orange chromide's with them at the moment and they seem to be getting on well, if anything the chromide's are looking after themselves quite we'll, all fish are the same size, and sometimes happily swim around together.
I also believe that black mollies will get along just fine.
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Welch4
Fahaka Puffer
Posts: 698
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:22 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: 1 GSP
Location (country): USA
Location: Abington,MA

Re: Puffer tank mates

Post by Welch4 »

Hiw big is the tank?
Forget other advice about puffers you don't hear here - Pufferpunk
Puffydave
Puffer Fry
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Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2014 2:43 pm
Location (country): Uk

Re: Puffer tank mates

Post by Puffydave »

5ft tank with approximately 180ltr.
So far after a week no problems all getting on well
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casc
Figure 8 Puffer
Posts: 126
Joined: Wed May 29, 2013 2:24 pm
Gender: Female
My Puffers: "Juke" porcupine puffer 150G FOWLR
10G Aqua scape tank with Dwarf Puffer
~Non puff tank:
30G reef tank with Hawaiian Dwarf Peacock Lionfish
~GF tanks:
90G freshwater w/ fancy goldfish
90G freshwater w/ oscar
Location (country): USA, Vermont

Re: Puffer tank mates

Post by casc »

I have a tiny Swales Swissguard Basslet. It's the only other fish with my porcupine puff and is the only fish that has made it with him. Probably because he is a fast rock dwelling fish. He has been in there for a year now but he definitely keeps his distance. Tho I think figure eights are brackish right? I would look for something similar to that type anyway.
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hadla
Mbu Puffer
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My Puffers: 2 gsps and a big Stars and stripes
Location (country): California
Location: Sacramento, CA
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Re: Puffer tank mates

Post by hadla »

This made we wonder if sw puffs don't all tolerate living with cleaner fish... It seems like they'd understand that the fish is there to help them... Same with cleaner shrimp
Never trust big puffers. The fingers you save may be your own. -RTR
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Welch4
Fahaka Puffer
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Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:22 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: 1 GSP
Location (country): USA
Location: Abington,MA

Re: Puffer tank mates

Post by Welch4 »

Well this probably doesnt help the conversation due to all the reports of puffs being fine with other occupants for years then one day not tolerating them. But.. my gsp has been with a brown barred goby for a couple months now and getting along great. The gsp will periodically will see the goby sifting and think he can do the same. Picks up mouthfull of sand to immediately spit it back out and looks confused.
Forget other advice about puffers you don't hear here - Pufferpunk
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bertie 83
Moderator
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Gender: Male
My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
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Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis
Location (country): Brighton, England
Location: brighton , england

Re: Puffer tank mates

Post by bertie 83 »

hadla wrote:This made we wonder if sw puffs don't all tolerate living with cleaner fish... It seems like they'd understand that the fish is there to help them... Same with cleaner shrimp
But puffers have endless appetites, eat now and think later lol. My valentini has been chomping on my cleaner shrimp, I only see one now and he has no antenna. Time to move the shrimp
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
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hadla
Mbu Puffer
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Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:33 pm
Gender: Female
My Puffers: 2 gsps and a big Stars and stripes
Location (country): California
Location: Sacramento, CA
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Re: Puffer tank mates

Post by hadla »

Welch4 wrote: The gsp will periodically will see the goby sifting and think he can do the same. Picks up mouthfull of sand to immediately spit it back out and looks confused.
Rotfl!!! That is hilarious!
Never trust big puffers. The fingers you save may be your own. -RTR
DanP
Puffer Fry
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Joined: Sun Nov 23, 2014 11:47 pm
Location (country): USA

Re: Puffer tank mates

Post by DanP »

Hello Folks, my first post, thanks for all the info.

I come here to warn anyone who might mix a plecostomus hard bodied cat fish with a figure 8 puffer. I have a brackish 120 G tank that house 3 figure 8 puffers from 2-3 inches. The oldest I have kept for 3 years, all along he had a brother pleco in the tank with them. The pleco was about 6" and seemed to tolerate both the water and the puffs until last week. The darn puffers ate the pleco's eyeballs out. I promise you it was one of the those sights you wish you could erase from your brain. Nearly the most gruesome thing I have ever seen was that poor pleco swimming around with no eyeballs. like a zombie fish or an animated skeleton. Save yourselves, and save your pleco, get the pleco OUT of the puffer tank!

Looking for my mental 'delete' button.

Dan P
Cleveland, OH USA
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