The Puffer Forum

Greetings All- I just setup a 50g SW tank and it has just started cycling so awhile before putting any puffers, fish inside!

I am a huge fan of Dogface puffers and wonder, can I put this puffer in the 50g tank if he is the only fish in there??

I have read that this puffer needs approx. 100g but if he is the only one in the tank, then can I safely get away with it or is that unrealistic and unfair to the puffer??

Thanks. -Matt

I wouldn't unless you have plans to upgrade your tank. Realistically, if you got a small one and kept it as the only fish, you'd still need to upgrade eventually, but I'd give it a year or so until it's necessary.

If I remember right a 50 gallon is only 12" wide. A dogface puffer gets up to 13" long. He/she would not have room to turn or swim. Plus once it starts to get larger you would have bad water quailty. Puffers are very messy. You could put a cyleon or green spotted puffer in there. I'm sure there are other options as well.

Tobies are also good puffers. But the dogface would soon need a larger tank. At least a 75 im guessing.

thanks for all your help. if only there was a way to combine ALL my tanks into one I would not have any issues!!! hahaah

has anyone kept multiple valentini puffers in a larger tank?

I am looking to get one for my 30g tank in the next couple weeks and think that type puffer is beautiful!

maybe put a few in the larger 50g tank? Still in the preliminary stages of planning while the tank cycles.

Also, has anyone had their valentini puffers eat their CUC? My snails are pretty large (size of a nickel) so I doubt they could get a decent grap on them to break them apart.

I have experience with (spoiled!!! haha) South American Puffers that will not eat their snails UNLESS I break them up for them!

thanks for all your help!!

you could try to put two valentinis in a 50, but they tend to be agressive towards conspecies, there are always exceptions. you're better off trying to put two different looking tobies in the tank.

the larger puffers, like the dogface, would not be comfortable in a tank less than 100 gallons.

i have never had any of my tobies go after snails, but then again i never cracked them for them.

I had two in a fifteen gallon. They were both small. But yes i am sure you could keep two in a 50. It depends on the snails. My valentinis would try to open a snail shell but quickly give up.

this puffer needs approx. 100g but if he is the only one in the tank

100g is the minimum recommended tank size for a single puffer. If you wanted to add more fish, then you would have to go larger.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Now I just wait for the tank to cycle....haha

So are you going with the valentinis?

my 30g SW is just about done cycling...the CUC has been in their for almost 3 weeks and everything looks good/stable. In a few days I will test the water again and if everything checks out, I will maybe get a pair of false percs. After that, a royal gramma and THEN the VALENTINI"s!!

Either way, I will eventually get the VALENTINI'S (maybe plural)....