SAP Comparability

[McCool]

So I am in the prices of cycling my 55 gallon tank, and I plan on doing SAPs. I was wondering, Howe many can I have? I already have a ton of plants and plan on putting in a lot of holy rock. What other fish can go with them? Any recommendations? I was thinking about doing tiger barbs because they are fast and don't have long fins. I was also wondering about clown loaches. I have had them In the past, and they are one of my favorites, but do you think the puffers would pick on them?

Thanks in advance for the help!

[bertie 83]

A lot of rock will displace a lot of water. I don't know minimum requirements of saps. I do know the owner will need to trim teeth at some point tho. Puffers should be kept either alone, or in species tank in this case as they school, I don't think 55g will be enough for a school of these bad boys. You could have an awesome dp setup there tho, or go for the red eye species. It's your choice tho

[CoCoPuffs]

SAP's are pretty docile except during feeding time.

[McCool]

If I won't have room for barbs or anything, or if you think they will get picked on to much, I'll just leave them out. Im willing to trim their teeth, and have already watched several videos on it and researched it. Do yall think they would pick on a clown loach? From what I have read, I'll probably have 3-4 puffers.

[CoCoPuffs]

If I won't have room for barbs or anything, or if you think they will get picked on to much, I'll just leave them out. Im willing to trim their teeth, and have already watched several videos on it and researched it. Do yall think they would pick on a clown loach? From what I have read, I'll probably have 3-4 puffers.

My saps don't do boo to anything. You could put anything in there, aside from the obvious, piranha, wolf fish....as long as the size is relative....

[McCool]

Yeah, I have heard they are pretty peaceful, but I have also heard they are nippy and wasn't sure if they would nip at the loach. I'll just stick to things with shorter fins, and will take the loach back if they get picked on. thanks!

[Pufferpunk]

55g isn't large enough for adult GLs.

[Pufferpunk]

55g isn't large enough for adult CLs.

[McCool]

XD I honestly don't know how it slipped my mind that they got so big. Any other loaches yall would recommend that wouldn't get picked on? Anyone have any info on the Hillstream Loaches? Recommendations are welcomed! If I get something that doesn't work out, I have another tank I can move them to and a LFS that will take in fish.

[Pufferpunk]

I wouldn't keep them with anything sedentary.

[McCool]

Alright. Anything you would recommend that go well with them?

[RTR]

That tank really is not large enough for SAPs and other fish in the same niche, especially anything which also would compete for food (loaches). That is really asking for trouble.

[CoCoPuffs]

The worse thing, imo, would be the water quality. Lots of fish can take moderate water quality where puffers cannot...

[RTR]

IMNSHO, "moderate water quality" = pollution. If I cannot do it right, I'd not abuse fish or other critters by "moderate water quality" - I just would not do it at all.

[bertie 83]

+1 to rtr. Moderate water quality is no where near good enough for any living thing