The Puffer Forum

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?

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.

My F8 eats bumblebee gobies... He also doesn't tolerate tankmates, so you might have better luck than me.

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.

Hiw big is the tank?

5ft tank with approximately 180ltr.
So far after a week no problems all getting on well

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.

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

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.

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

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!

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