Hello!
I was wondering about putting a South American Puffer in a 50 gallon community tank. The tank would consist of :
Gold Barbs
Redline Torpedo Barbs
Odessa Barbs
Long-fin Rosey Barbs
Clown Loaches
Zebra Danyos
Siamese Algae Eaters
Would any of those fish be at risk with a SAP puffer in the tank?
SAPs in a community tank?
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xrayjeeper83
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Re: SAPs in a community tank?
I would say yes
Ive learned on here that SAP's are better off in a species only tank
Ive learned on here that SAP's are better off in a species only tank
RTR wrote:Fahakas do not have tank mates, they may have swimming food reserves.
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RTR
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Re: SAPs in a community tank?
Puffers in general are very poor choices for mixed tanks. Even the only good schooling species, the SAPs, is far better off in a tank of its own kind.
Beyond that fact,the proposed stocking list looks to me a bit much for only a 50. Barbs are also schooling fish, as are the related Danios, as well as the clown loaches. The list is too many fish to have even a smallish school of each listed fish. The clowns will quick outgrow a 50, and/or be stunted.
Perhaps you would do better to have a more realistic number each of a much smaller list of species, each occupying its own niche?
Beyond that fact,the proposed stocking list looks to me a bit much for only a 50. Barbs are also schooling fish, as are the related Danios, as well as the clown loaches. The list is too many fish to have even a smallish school of each listed fish. The clowns will quick outgrow a 50, and/or be stunted.
Perhaps you would do better to have a more realistic number each of a much smaller list of species, each occupying its own niche?
Where's the fish? - Neptune
Re: SAPs in a community tank?
+1
It is absurd to talk of one animal being higher than another. We consider those, when the cerebral structure/intellectual faculties most developed, as highest. A bee doubtless would when the instincts were.
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Charles Darwin
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pufferpuggirl
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Re: SAPs in a community tank?
Also SAP's need to be in groups to be happy, so having just one is not a good idea no matter what tank you want to put them in. SAP's can also be nervous puffers, so another reason why they don't do well with other fish. They also have specific requirements (strong current to swim in).
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Myaj
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Re: SAPs in a community tank?
Fully agreed with RTR.
The clown loaches will get way too huge for that size of a tank, barbs are notoriously nippy, danios are hyper active and their constant zipping around will probably make SAP's even more jumpy and nervous than they already can be. Not to mention, the loaches would eat every snail in sight and not give the SAP's a chance to get at them, leading to some major dental problems in your future.
I would leave the clown loaches and the SAP out of the equation.. there are many smaller loaches that would work nicely in that tank though. No matter what, with the barbs and the danios, it will be a very active tank, so keep that in mind, don't get nervous, jumpy fish that will be stressed out by all the activity.
The clown loaches will get way too huge for that size of a tank, barbs are notoriously nippy, danios are hyper active and their constant zipping around will probably make SAP's even more jumpy and nervous than they already can be. Not to mention, the loaches would eat every snail in sight and not give the SAP's a chance to get at them, leading to some major dental problems in your future.
I would leave the clown loaches and the SAP out of the equation.. there are many smaller loaches that would work nicely in that tank though. No matter what, with the barbs and the danios, it will be a very active tank, so keep that in mind, don't get nervous, jumpy fish that will be stressed out by all the activity.
Re: SAPs in a community tank?
We've changed our plans. We now have a Pea Puffer swimming happily in a 10gallon tank with a couple of guppies for tankmates. You are correct about the barb tank being very active. On a related note, apparently one of the species of barbs eats snails as well. We're trying to determine the culprit, as nothing I've read indicates that any of the fish in the tank (no loaches yet as they are in quarantine) are supposed to eat snails, yet our pest snail problem has suddenly vanished excepting a couple that are hiding above the waterline.
The SAPs will have to wait for us to get a much larger tank *if* my wife stays facinated by them (the Pea - named Penelope - might just meet her puffer needs).
The SAPs will have to wait for us to get a much larger tank *if* my wife stays facinated by them (the Pea - named Penelope - might just meet her puffer needs).
Re: SAPs in a community tank?
They should be divided, if they are not compatible with other schools.