The Puffer Forum

Getting a with a Dogface, need some tank mate sugestions. thanks

Please give more information for suggestions. Do you have any fish in the tank right now? How large is your tank?

edmlfc1 wrote:Please give more information for suggestions. Do you have any fish in the tank right now? How large is your tank?

Sorry, tank is going to be a 125. Still getting set up

Here are a few suggestions:
Wrasse: For eating food that the puffer did not eat.
Sailfin Blenny : Eats algae on the live rock
Tang: If you want a larger fish (tank may not be large enough) also good for eating algae.

I'm sure someone else can give you more suggestions. These are just a few that I had researched to help keep my tank clean.

Hogfish: also good for cleaning up uneaten food from the puffer.

My wife wants to add a spiney box, is there room?

edmlfc1 wrote:Here are a few suggestions:
Wrasse: For eating food that the puffer did not eat.
Sailfin Blenny : Eats algae on the live rock
Tang: If you want a larger fish (tank may not be large enough) also good for eating algae.

I'm sure someone else can give you more suggestions. These are just a few that I had researched to help keep my tank clean.

Puffer wont attack the blenny. What about a goby?

I don't know for sure about a goby, I haven't done any research on them. I'm also not sure if your tank would be large enough for a spiney box puffer. I really don't have that much experience with saltwater puffers (I'm still learning myself ). The fish that I suggested are the only fish that I have researched to put with my puffers. While doing my research I was looking for something that would be beatuiful in color, have some movement in the tank (not just lazy puffers), something that stayed small and a fish that would benefit my set up.
I'm going to let someone with more experience in saltwater tanks answer those questions for you. This is what I do know: Spiney box (70+ gallons) Dog face (100+gallons) with both puffers in the same tank it could be overstocked. I think it also depends on your filtration. If you have a large enough sump or wet/dry it may work. Again, I would rather someone with more experience comment on that before I would say yes or no. Sorry that I couldn't be more help. I'm sure someone will give you a better answer soon. You came to the right place, the people here are very helpful & knowledgeable.

Btw: Welcome to the Puffer Forum.

After a little research a goby should be ok with a dog face puffer. Just make sure the goby will have plenty of places to hide.

I have never in my puffer keeping, had a puffer attack another fish (non-puffer). They pretty much ignore any other fish that are in there, but they (puffers) have always been introduced last. I would get the smaller fish first so there isn't that "oh my lawd" moment when you drop in a new fish and they throw off that fear hormone which can make a puffer might want to taste them.
As far as a spiny box, make sure you quarantine them for at least 4 weeks because most are ridden with internal parasites and can literally destroy an entire system. Once given a clean bill of health then he will go in just fine with a dogface puffer. Just make sure to keep on the water changes as these puffers can put off huge bio-load.