The Puffer Forum

I just lost my small GSP, and now that I know more about puffers I was wondering what type I should get...

Here are some of the things I am looking for:
-Freshwater preferably
-6 in. or less preferably less
-As Hardy as possible (I'd rather not lose another one so soon)
-As even-tempered as possible
-Loves to look at humans
-Not insanely expensive!

***I currently have a common musk turtle, 5 swordtails, 1 variatus, 1 golden algae eater, a pleco, and a few random ghost shrimp, that were supposed to be food but survived. They are all in a 40 gal. breeder tank that has a rena filstar XP3 filter.

****Please help! I'd love to hear from those who know what they're talking about rather than trying to figure out which online source is reliable or not!!!!

Thanks a TON!
Ash

have you looked at the pufferpedia under the learn tab, theres some really great info about the different puffers and what their individual needs are!

Any other puffer than a Dwarf Puffer, you might be over doing it. And I think your swordtails might be in danger with any other puffer. And even then, some DP's are rambunctious enough to take a nip out of their fins. I had a DP that liked taking nips out of a molly. Puffers need space, and are quite aggressive. Have a look in pufferpedia and see if anything does meet your needs. BTW, puffers that are brackish do require marine salt, and not aquarium salt. Good luck!

I'm assuming you are looking to mix the new puffer in with your current tank?

I can't even begin to imagine a turtle and puffers together.. turtles are very dirty, so it would be hard to keep the water clean enough for puffers (very sensitive to dirty water) and the puffers would probably nip at the turtle constantly...

Thanks for your advice! I know that the swordtails might be in danger but there are a ton of hiding places. The turtle is also only about 2 inches long, and will only get 3-5 inches long. I figure one day I will only have a turtle and a puffer and an algae eater. I think I forgot to mention that I have ten tetras, I bought them the day I got the puffer, and was warned that they might be picked on or eaten, but they're all fine!

Get a SAP or DP's they are the only semi community friendly puffers that I have found that would work in your size tank. SAP's are also very cool but don't expect your swordtails to have tails if you get either puffer.

Aye, I wouldn't chance mixing Turtles and Puffers any day of the week, if only because of the amount of waste Turtles produce. Remember, puffers are scaleless fish, which means they're EXTREMELY sensitive to toxins (such as ammonia, which is created by basically every living or dying thing in a tank). Every puffer is sensitive, so there really isn't a "hardy" type, so to speak.

You could easily house an Abei puffer in that 40 gallon if he were by himself, but with any sort of tankmate, they will inevitably be eaten, and if they're not eaten, they're likely to stress out the puffer until the puffer dies of complications from that stress (happens more often than not).

So, my advice would be either to set up a second tank for the turtle or puffer (whichever), or rehome the turtle and potentially the others for the puffer(s).