The Puffer Forum

My LFS has a fat 3.5" orange Miurus that's swimming all over the place in a tank with a couple of blue rams-- whose fins are pristine... is that only temporary? I've got a 46 that I'm using as a growout tank-- a few 2.5" dats and some endlicheri bichirs, and I'd love one of these-- I've got $50 in store credit and it costs $50, so it seems so easy just to go with it, even though the species is piscivorous...

Could this be a friendly puffer? Can it have tankmates at all? I could also move things around and put a 7" ornate bichir and a couple of 4.5" friendly leopard bush fish with it...

Any thoughts? I can pick up another tank if needed... How about something like a 20L or a 29g?

Thanks!

I've heard stories of a Miurus tearing apart a pleco (double its size?) over night... so in a way i would say its probably not worth risking it with tankmates, especially ones your fond of since as with any piscivore, another fish could look more like a potential snack/meal...

So imho, if you really want the Miurus, then it might be a good idea to setup a 29G to house him alone

Yeah I agree with Homer

I think you should defenatly get it and set up a 30g for itself, especially since it's a nice bright orange one

I'm sure Pufferpunk had to wait a few years before she found her bright red one (the one in the Pufferpedia pix)

Get it! Get it! Get it! PICCYS x

When a puffer is in the lfs, it's not home, they are not settled and don't show their true personality. Once you get the puffer in a tank with decor and it settles in and makes the new place home, it's personality will start to show. Just because the lfs has it with Rams and it hasn't eaten them yet, it dosen't mean that it won't be a killer when you bring it home. If you want the puffer get it, also get another tank to put it in. Or be prepared to loose a few fish.

edmlfc1 wrote:When a puffer is in the lfs, it's not home, they are not settled and don't show their true personality. Once you get the puffer in a tank with decor and it settles in and makes the new place home, it's personality will start to show. Just because the lfs has it with Rams and it hasn't eaten them yet, it dosen't mean that it won't be a killer when you bring it home. If you want the puffer get it, also get another tank to put it in. Or be prepared to loose a few fish.

Hmmm... didn't think of that. Great food for thought!

I would get it but i have heard that they can be agressive and take out tankmates, with your current stock i wouldnt risk it. But setup a tank for it and id say you be fine

Don't try to keep him with other fish- will wake one morning to a massacre. MIne will eat fish up to his size (3in). Great fish though- has personality. Get one but keep him alone. Have mine in a 29g and is doing fine.

So if everyone's warning him not to get it, then how come there are 6 yes votes? I already told you my opinion.

Pufferpunk wrote:So if everyone's warning him not to get it, then how come there are 6 yes votes? I already told you my opinion.

Unless people mean yes get it, but not for that tank

edmlfc1 wrote: If you want the puffer get it, also get another tank to put it in. Or be prepared to loose a few fish.

Yeah, what I said.

Bah. Got sold last night. Another may come in a couple weeks, but for now, I'll just get a tank ready...

Thanks for all the advice!

Pufferpunk wrote:So if everyone's warning him not to get it, then how come there are 6 yes votes? I already told you my opinion.

Well the poll is up at the top so you see it first, and maybe like some others, my reaction was "Of course you should get a miurus!" because I want one so bad myself - so I immediately voted yes. But then like you say, you read down and go "Oops."

I personally didn't vote, since like every thing else we buy, its gotta be something that the person buying it has to want/like or else one must ask the question, why am i buying it right?

I didn't vote because it would be misleading either way.
To vote yes would be irresponsible. Even though they are really cool, it needs it's own cycled tank and unless you have that (now), I would not suggest getting this fish.
To vote no would be hypocritical. I know if I found a miurus, I would be quick to bring it home. It would be a shame to miss out on a great opportunity. Difference is, I have tanks I can shuffle so that this puffer has it's own personal tank.
In the end, I think the tank should always come before the fish...