The Puffer Forum

Hi,
I was just wondering if I could add some green spotted puffers with my dragon gobies. I currently have 3 dragon gobies (about 7-8 inches each) in my 55 gallon tank. And I wanted to buy some gsp, they're about an inch each when I saw them. I was wondering if I could put them together (gsp+dragons) and how many gsp can I put if I could? Also would the gsp bite on the dragon gobies fins?

Thanks!

Well, you can add them together but I highly recommend against it. GSP's are aggressive brackish water fish that usually don't play well with tanks mates. I have tried this and can speak from experience, the dragon gobies long dorsal fin is too tempting for GSP's to resist, my one GSP totally destroyed a mid size dragon goby (about 6-8) inches long in a 55 gallon tank in one night. Also, with 3 dragon gobies in a 55 gallon, adding a single GSP would make the tank over stocked. I keep 3 DG's in a 75 gallon and that is pushing the limit. They will grow up to 18-20 inches (I have one nearing this length) as adults and they do become territorial, especially between males. Now, I've heard F8's can be kept with them fairly peacefully.

Ok thanks.. I'll probably look for f8s then. How many could I put in?

VaNNaK z32* wrote:Ok thanks.. I'll probably look for f8s then. How many could I put in?

F8s are a bit smaller and are also known to be slightly less aggressive. You may still see some fin nipping especially since the dragon goby will probably look like a giant worm with delicious fin-like morsels attached to it. If you wanted to chance it, I'd go with an F8 over a GSP. In addition, the F8s brackish requirements are somewhere between 1.005-1.006? I think you can find more accurate info on them in the encyclopedia this site has.

On other thing to keep in mind too is the SG requirements. The F8 likes low brackish water and the DG is found all the way in to marine conditions.

I have 2 F8s with my DG & they all get along fine. I wonder if my DG hasn't grown much, since he's in a low SG?

PP, that is a very good possibility. Mine really didn't start to put on any size until they got in to the 1.012 area and then they took off. I also think that they are as sensitive to the hormones they naturally give off as puffers are. I think they may stunt just as easily.