The Puffer Forum

Looking to start cycling an aquarium with live rock. I want to get a Dog Face Puffer - yet it calls for a minimum tank size of 100 gallons. True?

Would I possibly be able to get away with a tank size of 75? Or would I be better off just scratching the dog face all-together and look into a different kind of puffer? If so, what kind would be sufficient for a 55/75 gallon?

If it was pretty much the only fish in the tank and had plenty of live rock, good skimming, and denitrification, you might get away with a dog face not being unhealthy in a 75 gallon, but it would definately be happier in a 100 gallon. With the larger puffer species, especially marine, the tank size is more to give them the space to move around and not get bored or territorial than it is to deal with the bioload, so it may be possible to stock a small number of additional fish in the recommended minimum tank size with these puffers while with the smaller ones it's pretty much a minimum for a single specimen. I'd recommend getting a 110 extra tall, a 120, or a 125, where you will have a bit of slack and can perhaps add a pair of clowns or other small fish to make the tank more varied.

Wow....110 gallon high....I highly doubt that my floors would support the weight! I wouldn't want to compromise the structural integrity of my house (it's OLD). Perhaps I should stick to a 55 gallon and search for a different species of puffer that would be happy/healthy in a well-maintained aquarium. Any suggestions?

with a 55 you could do a small valentini and then add a pair of clowns (if you like them) maybe a goby and some other smaller fish, for a 55 i would stick with any of the canthigasters just stay away from the arathons and diodons, as those are the ones that will get to large.

Old houses have much stronger support beams than new houses, actually.