Some Help? I Want a Puffer in My 25gal

[BurntSnow]

Hi everyone! I’m completely new to saltwater tanks, tanks in general actually, and for my bar mitzvah I wanted to get a 25 gallon saltwater tank. As far as materials, I think I can figure out what I need by myself. Mainly, I want to get a puffer. This tank will hardly have any fish, but it will have coral. I know that puffers generally need a lot of space, are known to munch on coral, and should be kept with fish that they won’t eat. This is one main issue of mine, because I also wanted to get a few coral and perhaps a seahorse or some other types of fish. Which puffer should I buy? I currently know 4 types that I will be able to put in my tank- Canthigaster coronata, Canthigaster solandri, Canthigaster rostrata, and Canthigaster valentini‏. Although, this is only based off of the information from a couple of websites. If there’s anything I need to change to allow puffers to live in my tank, I’d love some advice. One more thing- it’s not a huge deal, but I also want a puffer that looks a bit like some of the bigger ones. Basically, what I’m trying to say is that I want a puffer which will recognizably look like a puffer. Thanks for reading!
-Burnt

[bertie 83]

I am not a saltwater expert but believe you will need a bigger tank for the marine puffers. But someone more qualified should be along soon

[El Scorpio]

All of the other marine puffers require tanks with triple digit displacements, so if you're getting anything less than 125 gallons then you're stuck with the Canthigaster species of pufferfish (who are commonly referred to as tobies, FYI.) Unfortunately, 25 gallons is just a little bit too small for a Canthigaster puffer. The problem is that tobies are messy eaters, and require a tank with a large enough water volume to accomodate their increased bioload. You will see ammonia and nitrite in a tank too small for a pufferfish, which will kill them quickly - puffers are more vulnerable to ammonia and nitrite than other fish because they don't have scales. I would recommend nothing smaller than a 36 gallon tank for a toby.

I have a Fiji Orangetail toby myself that I keep in a 40 gallon breeder tank which I think is perfect for them. The 40 gallon breeders are about as long as a 30 gallon, except a little wider. They have enough water to handle the bioload from them, plus enough room for them to swim and explore, as tobies are very active fish. Also, keep in mind that tobies are fiercely territorial and will attack and kill another toby in the same aquarium.

[CyberBob]

Hi everyone! I’m completely new to saltwater tanks, tanks in general actually, and for my bat mitzvah I wanted to get a 25 gallon saltwater tank. As far as materials, I think I can figure out what I need by myself. Mainly, I want to get a puffer. This tank will hardly have any fish, but it will have coral. I know that puffers generally need a lot of space, are known to munch on coral, and should be kept with fish that they won’t eat. This is one main issue of mine, because I also wanted to get a few coral and perhaps a seahorse or some other types of fish. Which puffer should I buy? I currently know 4 types that I will be able to put in my tank- Canthigaster coronata, Canthigaster solandri, Canthigaster rostrata, and Canthigaster valentini‏. Although, this is only based off of the information from a couple of websites. If there’s anything I need to change to allow puffers to live in my tank, I’d love some advice. One more thing- it’s not a huge deal, but I also want a puffer that looks a bit like some of the bigger ones. Basically, what I’m trying to say is that I want a puffer which will recognizably look like a puffer. Thanks for reading!
-Burnt

You might get by with a GSP. A 30g Long would be better and about the same cost as a 25g.
They start out FW, then slowly get to SW as they age.
You wouldn't be able to keep anything else in there, just the one GSP and even then, full grown will be a bit crowded.
Not much room for coral if that's the look you were going for.

But, you won't really be able to keep fish with any puffer. Eventually, if they can ... they will eat it.

ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Brackish/T_Nigroviridis/

You could also houe a crowned puffer if you can find one You would just barely meet the min req in a 25g.
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Marine/C_Coronata/

There are a few SQ puffers that stay relatively small. Check them out
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Marine/

This is my Favorite Puffer, but I'm waiting until I get a 200g+
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Marine/D_Holocanthus/

[Pufferpunk]

Congrats on your bat-mitzva!

I would absolutely, no way, keep a GSP in a 25g tank. There will not be nearly even 15g total water volume in that tank, after you fill it with enough LR (1.5-2lbs/g). Never mind, if you want corals, you better pretty much forget about keeping a puffer that won't take bites out of them. Even a toby needs a minimum of 30g but mine are very happy in 40+g.

Please tell us more about your previous fishkeeping experience. SW tanks (especially corals in a nano) are not for beginners.

[BurntSnow]

Thank you everyone for so many replies. Pufferpunk, I'm sorry, I made a little typo. It's actually my bar mitzvah (it's not really important to the subject, though).

If I have to skip corals to keep a puffer, I'd gladly do it. As I said before, though, I have little experience with tanks. In the house is a 35 gallon tank with some dwarf puffers and other fish, but I'm not the person who takes care of the tank. So I guess this is kind of like the whole, "Getting my first pet," thing, except with aquariums.
One more thing, what are tobies? Is that just a nickname for Canthigasters? I'm really not going to keep many fish together. Probably a bennetti and valentini, 2 valentinis, I wouldn't want more than 3 fish, but I don't want to get stuck with barely having enough room for 1.

[trekenk]

Hi burntsnow and welcome to The Puffer Forum. May I suggest you start doing alot of reading on the proper upkeep to a saltwater set up. Filteration is totaly different then fresh ( Live Rock/ skimmer) as are water changes. It is great that you have come here to ask first. As it stands now a 25 gallon isn't big enought for even one Canthigaster aka toby puffer. Good luck.

[CyberBob]

Thank you everyone for so many replies. Pufferpunk, I'm sorry, I made a little typo. It's actually my bar mitzvah (it's not really important to the subject, though).

If I have to skip corals to keep a puffer, I'd gladly do it. As I said before, though, I have little experience with tanks. In the house is a 35 gallon tank with some dwarf puffers and other fish, but I'm not the person who takes care of the tank. So I guess this is kind of like the whole, "Getting my first pet," thing, except with aquariums.
One more thing, what are tobies? Is that just a nickname for Canthigasters? I'm really not going to keep many fish together. Probably a bennetti and valentini, 2 valentinis, I wouldn't want more than 3 fish, but I don't wantl to get stuck with barely having enough room for 1.

If you are really wanting puffers and need to stay around 25-30 gallons. But,want more then one fish ...
About your only choice will be dwarf puffers.
I LOVE GSPs, they are just like underwater puppies. But, you could only keep one in a 25\30g
A Figure 8 would be more comfortable though and they are alot like puppies too.

I keep 6 DPs in a 30g myself. They are definetly puffers, but they only get about 1" as an adult.
You could comfortably keep 4 dwarfs in a 25 with an oto or small pleco.
Unless you are talking about one of the hexagon tanks. In that case .. you prolly only want a pair.
Each DP only needs about 5g of water.
But, I prefer to say they need about 5" of floor space. 6 DPs = 30" Floor.
Just be sure to only get one male. Or, no males.
Here is my group:

I'm not sure where spike was. But, these are his ladies.
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/C_Travancoricus/

Take a look at the PufferPedia. That will give you a good idea of the various puffers and their basic needs.
http://www.thepufferforum.com/PufferPedia/

You actually have a lot of choices if you only keep one or two puffers. But, some are very hard to find.
If you choose saltwater, you wouldn't have room for live rock though.

[BurntSnow]

As I said before, I'm getting a saltwater tank. We already have DPs.

I was mostly going by this post-
http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforums/s ... e-)-Part-3
Which said 25 would be enough for the tobies.

[CyberBob]

As I said before, I'm getting a saltwater tank. We already have DPs.

I was mostly going by this post-
http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforums/s ... e-)-Part-3
Which said 25 would be enough for the tobies.

Ahh. I must have missed that, sorry.
Yes, Toby is a nickname for Canthigasters
Bennetti or Valentini is prolly a better choice.
Species tanks are usually the way to go with puffers.
I would recommend 2 Bennetti Puffs if anything. But,I think they would be a bit crowded.
I also don't think you can easily find them.
If you go with a 30 Long, you could prolly keep them, just no live rocks.

But getting a pair of saltwater puffers will probably require at least a 50g, even for the smaller ones.
That's just my opinion. Others might have more info. I don't have experience with saltwater puffers.
I would recommend trying Brakish. It might be a better choice if you don't care about live rock.
You could keep a pair of F8's. They aren't very aggressive, so they might share the space a little easier.
Also, they are usually pretty easy to find locally and have a really pretty pattern with lots of personality.
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Brackish/T_Biocellatus/

Wish I could be more help. But, I just don't think you will be able to keep a pair of saltwater puffers healthy in a 25g.
G'Luck

[sevenyearnight]

You should never set up a marine tank without live rock .
I don't know for sure, but putting 2 tobies together might not be a good idea. Definitely not in a 25 gallon.

[BurntSnow]

Never said I wouldn't.
I'm seriously reconsidering this. I never thought keeping a 4" puffer or two in a 25 gallon tank would cause this much trouble. Thanks for all the information, but there's nothing I can do to get a bigger tank. I have space for one, 25 gallon tank. I think I'll just use my left over bar mitzvah money to buy some dwarf puffers.

[sevenyearnight]

Is a figure 8 puffer ok with you?

[Pufferpunk]

I think you really should go with a figure 8. That way you can get used to mixing salt & then when you're old enough to move out, you can get a larger SW tank.

[BurntSnow]

I agree. I was actually just thinking about that. I made a post on the brackish forums-
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=27485