The Puffer Forum

Im a cichlid guy and i have a empty 55 gallon tank and i think a puffer would be cool okay my question is are theyr any puffers that will destroy feeders and (glass bang) well im just lookin for a fish with a good personality and will eat live foods. I dont care if i have to keep a solo fish by no means what is the puffer for me?

thanks, JEff

Okay, you need to go with the Fahaka puffer. They are the coolest. I've had one for four years now and they have great personality and character. Mine eats lots of live things as well as frozen bloodworms and stuff llike that. They are aggressive to tank mates, and will make a meal out of smaller fish. Anyway, If ur thinking about the coolest puffer to keep alone and will become a companion in no time, then this is the pufferfish for you.

For a fahaka a 55 is too small unfortunately. For the size tank you have if you would be willing to work your way from fresh to high end brackish a ceylon would be amazing. I have seen them grow to be a chubby 6 inches or so long and they are very personable. Or you could do a colony of south americans with a few varied tank mates. I hear they are very active.

Congo's are pretty awesome. They bury themselves in the substrate, you can search around here on the site and see some photos of other members Congo's. It is cute.

well im not really interested in something cute more like something that looks weird and will eat other fish and chase them down.

And you want a puffer, right? cause there are plenty other vicious fish that won't get quite as big as the more aggressive puffers.

Puffers aren't really vicious. More social than anything. If you live far enough north you can get a piranha.

I'm not sure I fully understand what you are lookin' for but if you want a vicious puffer, you need a T. Suvattii. Ambush FTW! If you want a nicer species who will still eat live foods, but possibly not the rest of your tank, I'd say to go with one of the other puffers that some other people have mentioned in this thread.

I have seen these guys bite 3 - 4 inch crayfish and decent sized fish in half and then leave without eating it. So basically.. that particular T. Suvattii was a murder fiend. He knew it was 'his' tank and he wanted to keep it that way.

Good luck

-Umb

Please read the article in our Library about feeding your puffer feeders. As far as vicious--my Congo puffer made mincemeat of my finger, after showing my friend's daughter that they indeed do bite! 55g is way too small for a fahaka & a waste of a large tank for any of the smaller, more aggressive puffers.

Pufferpunk wrote:Please read the article in our Library about feeding your puffer feeders. As far as vicious--my Congo puffer made mincemeat of my finger, after showing my friend's daughter that they indeed do bite! 55g is way too small for a fahaka & a waste of a large tank for any of the smaller, more aggressive puffers.

Yea, you really don't want to feed your puffers feeder fish. On kinda the same topic... I saw a store feed a flower horn nothing but goldfish and now he has holes in his head, still not sold. So I usually stick with snails, various shrimps, crabs, worms (frozen blood and live black) and crayfish. Hard shells = good for the teeth ;D

Most puffers are not piscivores.

CoreyK wrote:Most puffers are not piscivores.

Piscivore = Animal who feeds on fish. (in case one didn't know)

well im really diggin the Green Spotted Puffers. could i use 2 in a 55 gallon or a ceylon I Do hane a 38 gallon tank i could use for one though the dem. is 36x12x21. so i wont was that bigger 55 gallon tank what do you guys think what iv read is they both are active and hunt and are brackish. so im going to do some or research. but i figured i would ask the experts what they would go with before i make up my mine thanks.
Jeff

Read the article on them in our Library.

boxhitter wrote:well im really diggin the Green Spotted Puffers. could i use 2 in a 55 gallon or a ceylon I Do hane a 38 gallon tank i could use for one though the dem. is 36x12x21. so i wont was that bigger 55 gallon tank what do you guys think what iv read is they both are active and hunt and are brackish. so im going to do some or research. but i figured i would ask the experts what they would go with before i make up my mine thanks.
Jeff

2 Baby Green Spotted Puffers should be fine in a 55G, but after they grow a little bit, they may need to be separated, depending on their individual sex and personality. I, personally, have had no trouble with the 2 GSP combo. My puffs are roughly 1 yr old.

Ceylon Puffers I am not sure about. I do not own any yet. >.<

As far as other mates for your GSP :

http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/vie ... 15#p113601

-UMB