is this too inhumane

[solastsummer]

ok so i plan on getting a blue spotted puffer ( i believe its a toby) the thing is im cycling my tank right now and soon i believe i will experience the dreaded alge bloom! So my question is since i cant house my puffer with inverts would it be just horrible to buy some snails or crabs or something that will help with the alge bloom cleanup and then when i add my puffer they just become lunch? if you dont think thats despicable what certain inverts should i get? thank you!

[SpockthePuffer]

I have some hermit, shrimp and snails in with my toby and he hasn't killed them. Well, he *may* have eaten some of the hermits but I'm not sure. I've seen him go to peck at the snails but he isn't very interested in them. Its a hit or miss whether they will eat them. You could always try a few and then add more if he doesn't eat them.

[Pufferpunk]

Same here, although my large cleaner shrimp mysteriously disappeared...

[solastsummer]

so for my 60 G how many hermits/snails (am assuming tubo snails) should i put in?

Also as far as feeding i know i should feed him shrimp that are still in their shell, should i just buy some shrimp from the seafood department at a grocery store? i lack a lfs here in the middle of idaho

also while im on the habbit of asking questions, if i "were" to buy a cleaner shrimp, i would absolutly love one, what are the chances i would be flushing my money down the toilet

[SpockthePuffer]

There lots of different opinions on how many hermits and snails. I have 10 snails and I did have 9 hermits, two have "disappeared" in my 55 gallon. You can start with a small amount like that, and then get more if you want to. It all depends on how much you feed your fish and if you have enough stuff for the snails and hermits to eat. I had brown algae on my sand and within a couple days of having the hermits they ate it up.

Shrimp from the seafood department is fine.

As far as the cleaner shrimp, he might eat it, he might not. Theres no way to tell because every puffer is different. He could also be fine with one for awhile and then one day get hungry and eat the shrimp.

[solastsummer]

should i have the cleaner shrimp in there first before I add the puffer? and are snails and hermits more tolerant of not fully cycled tanks?

[DRRT]

I think you would be best getting hermit or snails because yes, they'll help your tank and could potentially feed your puffer. I would wait to add the shrimp until the tank is cycled.

[bobo]

i have 1 camel shrimp, 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 hermit and lots of snails.
ever since i got my puffer (only 2 days ago) the only thing i see less are the snails. OF course that may be the hermit (since the puffer doesnt seem to be eating yet) but overall he behaves. I guess its just about the fish personality. and they are so cute when they puff up, i saw mine at the petshop when it got netted. adorable!

** i would also like to add that if the shirmp are in there first, the puffer will not nescessarily consider them as food until he takes a bite. After you get the puffer eating anything that goes in the tank is usually food, even your fingers.

[schlecht13]

Well as far as "inhumane", thats going to vary...my personal opinion is simply this: Many puffers, tobies (Canthigaster sp.) included, commonly eay small inverts among all other kinds of things...as far as buying snails/hermits knowing that they 'may' become puffer dinner is by no means wrong to do - simply depends how much you want to keep these particular animals. I once housed an A. Hispidus (Stars/stripes puffer) with several 'black footed clowns among other fish. When I got the puffer (actually the same one in my avatar) he truly was no bigger than maybe a quarter. So he grew up with the clowns and lived happily together for about a year and all the sudden one day even though he was fed often and pleasantly plump to say the least, he ate (2) of the clowns. As upset as I was to lose the clowns ( I breed and keep many clownfish too), I was happy to know they served a good purpose - yes I know sounds mean - but thats what puffers do sometimes...its up to you - personally to me its not inhumane at all - its a quick death for those little guys and good nutrition for the puffers - not to mention it helps wear down their teeth...just my opinion

[solastsummer]

Ok that sounds good. A few more quick questions

in a 60 G aquarium am i limited to the smaller species like tobys and such? Or could i keep a porcupine or a spiny box puffer? also if i have to go with the smaller puffers is it possible to keep more than one or am i limited to just one?

Also i asked this question in another forum but I might as well ask the puffer experts. My wife wants a starfish real real bad in our tank. Could we keep one or are the puffers going to destroy it. Thank you!

[mikeosoft]

With a 60gal aquarium you are fairly limited to smaller species of puffers. I wouldn't put a Porc or Spiny Box in anything under 125gal (180+ preferably).

Most starfish should be ok, but do you research on them before buying one because they have many different feeding habbits.

[solastsummer]

With a 60gal aquarium you are fairly limited to smaller species of puffers. I wouldn't put a Porc or Spiny Box in anything under 125gal (180+ preferably).

Most starfish should be ok, but do you research on them before buying one because they have many different feeding habbits.

could i do 2 of the smaller puffers or would they fight?

[SpockthePuffer]

I think they would fight in that small of a tank. I know bonnie had a valentini and something else in her 180 but thats obviously a lot more room than a 60.

[schlecht13]

it varies so much...I have kept (4) species of Canthigsater sp. in a 72 gallon at one point. The white-spotted would occasionally nip at others fins at night but he/she eventually got over that habit. They never seemed to really pay much attention - they were all added at give/take the same time which I am sure will make a difference - add the largest (even though yes they would all be relatively small) last....Again this is just my experience. As for a porcupine or spiny - I would agree that a 60 gallon, unless the animal is rather small and you definitely plan to upgrade to a larger tank, would be too small, long term for these guys...

[solastsummer]

So im a college student and i have 2 years left. My wife already promised me a 125G as a graduation present, do you think i could have a procupine juvie in a 60 G with 2 clowns and a yellow tang until then or would it still not work?