Porcupine Puffer and Stars & Stripes Puffer

[aquatic mouse]

I have a Stars & Stripes Puffer (Steve) in my 180 gallon tank.

With him is:
Volitan Lionfish (Dexter)
Bird Wrasse (Jerry)
One Spot Foxface (Vixen)
Wolf Eel (Flotsam)
Snowflake Eel (Jetsam)

I'd like to add a Porcupine Puffer, would it get along with everyone else? I'm especially worried about upsetting Steve.

[J-P]

I may be wrong, but even at 180 gals that seems a little small for a Pork with other fish

ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Marine/D_Holocanthus/

[busybones]

Welcome to the forum!

Since a Stars and stripes needs 180 gallons alone it would be very unwise to add a Porcupine to the mix...they need at least a 120 gallon alone. Even if the two would get along your tank is way too small for the stock you have in it.

[aquatic mouse]

Darn about the porcupine. I didn't think it would work, but was hopeful.

I disagree about the tank being overstocked though. When everyone is full sized I'll have 95 inches worth of fish. I think that's fine. Especially since the eels are thin. Anyway, I do water changes often.

[J-P]

AFAIK there is a delicate balance between an adequately stocked and an over stocked tank. There are things the hobbiest just can't measure. It could be the case of the "straw that breaks the cammels back". That one extra fish with a slightly higher than expected bio-load could ruin everything.

When dealing with puffers we also don't use that "1 inch=10gallon" rule either. That just doesn't apply here.

[Pufferpunk]

95" of heavily-massed fish in a 180g tank is definitely overstocked.

[LilGreenPuffer]

When dealing with puffers we also don't use that "1 inch=10gallon" rule either. That just doesn't apply here.

Agreed! Heh, we don't use it at all. How long a fish is doesn't take into account its body shape, activity level, waste production, sensitivity to toxins/pollutants, etc.