The Puffer Forum

I'm kinda thinking about the (very distant) future, and I would really like to have clownfish one day, as well as a porc. I haven't heard too much about porcs being aggressive. I know that they're not reef-safe, but I assume that they wouldn't try to eat an anemone, at least not more than once! Also, from what I hear, clownfish can genrally hold their own. So, would a small school of clownfish (any species that doesn't get too large, maybe six of them, max) be compatible with a porc, so long as they had their space?

One day... one day... when I'm a famous stage manager in a lucrative position at a reputable youth theatre company... yeah, right, lucrative... After the Amazon biotope, of course. Well, I can dream, can't I?

Clowns can get along with puffers but unless you get all 6 clownfish juveniles then you may have a problem with aggression. Pufferfish could turn and eat the clownfish as well. You will need a pretty large tank for all those fish as well. As far as puffers and anemones...they are very curious creatures and I have seen some very nasty damage done to curious puffers that have gotten too close to anemones.

Clownfish don't necessarily need anenomes for hosting. My clowns host in fake silk plants, under the filter intake, and in caves. If you want to keep the puffers and clowns together, you don't have to have an anenome.

One of the reasons I like clownfish is that they're so neat to watch when they host in the anemone.

I could do things seperately, I suppose, and take tanks one at a time. Anyway, this is all hypothetical for now. First step: get a house.

The reason some people believe that clownfish need anemones is because that is where they live in the wild. I would say 90% of the clownfish we see in the industry now are tank reared and have never even seen an anemone. That doesn't mean the urge isn't still there though. It's like a child having a lovey so to speak. It is something for comfort.
Clownfish use anemones in the wild to protect themselves from dangerous predators. Most will only stray a few inches from them. Now in our tank habitat, which is usually a planned and non violent environment for them, they have confidence to explore the tank and do not need the safety of anemones for protection. Like Idontknow said, his are happy to host in his silk plants or on a pump. Mine host on rocks. They will host in basically anything, almost like our puffers making a bed. It can still provide comfort but doesn't need such a high security factor.

My hope is that one day, I can have the most realistic biotopes I can create. Besides, the anemones are just so cool-looking!

Yeah, I totally can understand your feelings. I want to get some anenome too.

But, I have gsps which tend to bite everything to taste it. I had some really cool hitch hikers on live rocks like a tiny sea cucumber, mushroom coral, and some unknown corals that have been bitten in half by my puffers. I think they wanted to see if it was edible. Plus they keep eating all the purple coraline algae off my live rock.

I wasn't trying to discourage you at all. I hope I didn't come off that way.
I love the ideas of biotopes. I have seen several anemone/clown ones and they are gorgeous.

I had a porc+maroon clownfish for almost 5 years together, no problems. However, I don't recommend keeping anemones in anything but species tanks.

Thanks. That's something to think about. I know that maroons are positively vicious, so I can see it holding its own against a puffer!

Myaj has Paris in with a Maroon. I think her puffer is scared yellow from it.

I heard that they'll actually push other fish out of the tank!

They will. And they are hard to breed because females have a tendency to kill anything in sight.

Yes, Paris and Sally have lived together for over a year now with no major issues.. they threaten each other ocassionally but Sally is smart enough to get out of Paris's way when she's REALLY hungry.

Another thing about anemones, they are very delicate animals.. so many people try to keep them just because they think a clownfish "needs" one, and kill it just because they don't realize its a living creature that needs specified care. If you ever do decide to try one, really do your research and make sure you can provide for it.

Research will always be step 1!