Listen to advise on this Forum

[Moezy420]

I just want everyone to know no matter how unlikely you think something is understand the people who post advise know what they are talking about. I just got a Fahaka I was told by several members that my pleco could not live in the tank with this fish. I thought due to the size difference the Puffer would not have any problems with him. I was wrong I should have taken the advise from the beginning. The Puffer did not kill the pleco but that is only because of the size difference ( we are talking about a 16" pleco vs a 3 " Fahaka. I feel bad as the pleco had to endure a whole night of painfull fin losing because I thought it would not happen. Well I just got the pleco out and now tank is peacefull. So if these guys say not compatible I am going to say 99% chance they are not compatible. I now know this Fahaka is not a community fish of any sort. He chased a Jaguar Cichlid straight out of the tank with in 4 min of addition to the tank and then proceeded to attach my pleco. Thanks for the advise and I will take all of it from now on.

[Troender]

You're right.
Most people in here have very much experience with puffers, so they don't say things because they've heard it, but because they have learned it the hard way. But giving advices when it comes to puffers, is also quite difficult. Puffers from the same species, can behave very different. They have so much personality, so you never know. An example is whether palembangensis and suvatti can share a tank. Some people can't have anything together with the palembangensis, and I know that at least one person has a tank with both species, without problems. There's no absolute answers.

But on the whole, I would listen to any advice in here. Most of us (I'm not very experienced, though) have done all the wrong things, and know because of it

Good luck on you pleco! I hope he will heal and get well. Suckermouths are my biggest love besides puffers, so I wish him all good They are tough, though, so I think he will be OK

[kimmers318]

Sometimes you get lucky and end up with a mellow puffer who doesn't mind sharing, but if you wish to try it, do as you did, be very cautious! My modestus for example, shares his tank with a school of tiger barbs and a baby guppy without any issues. I realize if he gets bigger/older that could change, but I was given a barb to "please save it's life" and it needed some buddies. Shamus didn't have any issues with 1, so I added more. I have never bought any barbs prior to this since they don't always play well with others, but they seem to be the perfect match for Shamus.

[Pufferpunk]

That's what we're here for. A lot of us have kept puffers long-term & know the norm. Like I've said countless times, I have a friend who's 4" fahaka bit an 8" pleco in half. There are always exceptions to the rule but be aware, your fish may suffer mangling or death. Most happen overnight.

Add Melafix to the pleco's water & he should recover.