The Puffer Forum

Ok so i want a new puffer. Preferably a toby but i am looking into a fugu. Does anyone have expeirences with these or other species of toby excluding valentini, whitespotted, and crowned tobies?

if you want a valentini, then your looking at one thats more social and is going to know you more. you could also go witha hawaiian spotted, which are gorgeus and only get more coloor as they get older.


it depends on the type of fugu. ive seen a few and they look like pains in the asses.


just visually but they cool.

Fugu are difficult to keep and require pristine water, sub-tropical temperatures, and possibly the purchase of a chiller depending on your climate (which can be $$).
I am a big fan of the Bennetii Tobies. Very nice looking!

My Papuan puffer was a bit odd, he was always swimming around the tank very fast. He didnt really relax as much as the Valentini and wasn't as interactive. He had amazing colours though and was a bit more unusual than the Valentini. He had a terrible habit of eating any hard coral, so if you want to add corals I wouldnt recommend a Papuan.

What size tank do you have? Are you adding another puffer to your Valentini?

Its all in the clouds right now. I am planning on getting a 90+ and a 55 to 75 gallon tank, and of course a few smaller tanks. I could add another puffer such as a benneti which i am also fans of. But i feel the fugu bug biting me right now LOL. I do believe fugus are such fascinating puffers and living in colorado it may not be neccesary for me to have a chiller!

As far as I know, not all of the Takifugu species require lower temps, only the ocellarus.

That being said, I'd go with a toby. Fugus are ambush predators & hang out in the sand most of the time, where tobies are much more personable.

Ok PP. The part of the fugus hiding in the substrate is dissapointing. Perhaps maybe even a GSP would work? I like the noes with unusual markings on their backs.

i have a hawaiian blue puffer in my reef tank. he has so much personalty!

About the Fugu again they just need the normal puffer stuff and a chiller correct? Yunachin is your Fugu cool personality wise and how much was he?

Fugu need fine sand for burrowing, as to not cut themselves when they hide. They are not social puffers and spend the majority of the day in hiding. You need a very good cover because they are erratic and can jump. They do not like sudden movements and will react by swimming erratically and burrowing. Also he doesn't like much light..(he gets about 4 hours every 2 days). I bought mine for 60 dollars, but prices are different everywhere.

I went to my LFS yesterday and they had quie a few fugu's. My mom got a kick out of watching him burrow in the sand, I have to admit it was pretty cool.

Hum to bad they are such wonderful puffers but arent that puffer like if you no what i mean.