The Puffer Forum

Dooma, as odd as that is, there was this old school 80's movie about a cheeta living in a sub-urb house with his family. His name was dooma, and the spots reminded me of a cheeta or 'leopard' lol... Better than what I named the butterfly fish...

With the rare exceptions on specific personality quirks of individual puffers, they are considered aggresive predators, and 99% of the time will happily murder fish one by one. Sometimes immediately, sometimes after years.
Puffers are a species only type of fish. But they have more charm than a community tank IMO.

Ok, I will look for a better suitable tank within the next few days. I really like the guy and would rather house it well than return it. It's becoming a new obsession apparently.

best bet would be to hit up craigslist for a tank.

And we understand you not second guessing. The net if FULL of bad info on these guys/gals(gotta throw gals in for Bacon lol)

Haha that is where I got our current tank, ill look in the morning. I have always wanted a tank in the bedroom, relaxing, so that's why I said possibly one of those shelf tanks. Although expensive.

Thank you for coming here, and being receptive. Sounds like your puffer is in good hands.

Thank you for all the honest non-critical help. I'll follow up in a few days, I'm already online hunting.

Also, if it's just a few days, has Dooma been picking on anyone? I'd leave him be if so for a few days, over putting him in a 5 gallon. They have massive bioloads

Nah, been keeping to itself mostly, if a fish or the eel get too close just swims off instead of fighting. As to why I was gullible and believed it would live well in a community, it was stored in a 20 galling with about 20 tetras at the fish store.

Gallon, sorry.

They're not all aggresive, just most. Either way, he needs totally different water conditions. But, leave him be for now. That five gallon, he would likely poison himself in his waste.

If he seems to be on the less aggresive side, when in full marine, if his tank is at least 55 g, you could try a tomato clown for a roommate.

Puffers are a funny fish, some will kill everything quick, some let the live for awhile. But at some point 99% of them will kill their tank mates.

But if he isnt picking on anyone yet, id agree with seven and just leave him in the tank till you can get a big enough one for him and get it fully cycled.

Oh and most attacks seem to happen at night

also try to feed him some uncooked/seasoned shell on raw shrimp. Try to just put it near him with a pair of tongs or a kabob stick.

You can soak the shrimp in some Jungle Parasite Tablets, or inject it into the shrimp if you can and then feed it to him so he can be treated for IP's. Unlike the directions say, FW fish dont drink water so putting it directly into the tank does no good, they have to eat it for it to work

*unseasoned