Tank mates for saltwater GSPs

[melbell86]

Hey guys, i just wanted to see what tank mates you have successfully kept with your GSPs in full saltwater conditions. Im transitioning to full salt water slowly and thinking about adding something else to my tank. Just want to hear your experiences/stories!

[jmiller]

I'm afraid you're not going to like what you hear.

[Pufferpunk]

Depending on tank size (???) & the personal aggression of the puffer/s, you could add a school of damselfish or a tomato clownfish. You might be able to get away with a lot more, again depending on tank size & aggression.

[melbell86]

i know John . . .
I really really really want a clown fish. Why do cute little puffs have to be so mean?! haha. George seems pretty low on the aggression meter. He is timid and shy right now, i dont know about further down the road. He still hasnt eaten most of the ghost shrimp i put in there 2 weeks ago.

My tank is 26 gallons, dimensions 24"L x 15"W x 21"H

I would like one damsel and one clown fish. Is this overstocking for my tank? Its going to be FOWLR.
I still get confused about how to properly calculate stocking. If george needs 30 gallons to himself as an adult, does that mean i cant have any other fish in a 30 gallon with him? I know im a noob

[jus85411]

yeah that tank isnt even good for your puff as an adult by himself. i wouldnt worry about tankmates until you were to upgrade. and the longer you wait to try tankmates the less likely he will be to accept them. so either way i wouldnt try any at any point. with your current tank you will be pushing your bioload limit especially since by the time you get to full marine he will have gotten bigger/messier. unless you already have fish in there(ghost shrimp dont count cause they cant see them too well) theres really no way to tell how your puff is with aggression

[jus85411]

yeah that tank isnt even good for your puff as an adult by himself. i wouldnt worry about tankmates until you were to upgrade. and the longer you wait to try tankmates the less likely he will be to accept them. so either way i wouldnt try any at any point. with your current tank you will be pushing your bioload limit especially since by the time you get to full marine he will have gotten bigger/messier. unless you already have fish in there(ghost shrimp dont count cause they cant see them too well) theres really no way to tell how your puff is with aggression

[melbell86]

my future plans are to upgrade to a 40-50 within the next few years. I live in an apartment and attending school is costly and makes it so i move from apartment to apartment. I dont want to get a big tank and have to stress out the fish/move it around a lot. I might just try a damsel and see how it goes when i get the tank established at marine SG.

[jmiller]

I have the perfect solution,















another tank!

[Flutter]

With a 30gal you don't have room for a damsel. Leave the puffer alone until you have a larger tank.

[Pufferpunk]

I agree 100%. If you want tank mates with that fellow, go with at least a 55g.

[RTR]

Those cute little clownfish are among the nastiest fish I know. The maroons and the ephippiums are definitely among the nastiest fish I have ever kept - I had to wear stainless steel mail gloves over extra-heavy rubber dry-box gloves to work in the Ephippium tank- too bad they are such beautiful fish. At least they do not have the jaw strength of puffers, but their incisors are more than razor sharp.

Piranhas tend to be wimps, with clowns only some of the smallest species are less than really nasty.

[melbell86]

why are the cutest ones always the nastiest! I never knew that about clown fish RTR! I always thought they were so sweet and peaceful . . . i had no idea nemo was a bully haha.

[jus85411]

http://saltwater.tropicalfishandaquariu ... pium-2.jpg

those RTR? if so they are gorgeous!!