The Puffer Forum

I'm getting a couple left over tanks in a couple months when I move, I want to do one for them with a FOWLR. I'm trying to figure out what I am going to stock in it, I definitely want to get a puffer and some lions, but I'm afraid this won't work. Here's what I think so far:

1 either Papuan Toby or 1 Spotted Sharpnose,
2 Dwarf Lionfish
1 Snowflake or another type of eel.

I know there is a possibility that the puffers will nip at the other fish, but I've seen it done and they've lived together. Will the eel have any problems and which puffer would you suggest?

Important information: 55 gallon tank, still need to look into some of the types of filtration and the rest of needed material, but I was told normal florescent lights will work since there aren't any corals in the tank. Anything else I need to make sure I have? I know I need a skimmer but anything else I'm over looking? Thanks in advanced for all your help!

J-P, I'm so sorry, I accidentally edited your post & I can't get it back. I did comment on it below though.

Did you? Ha ha I've heard it from a few different places. I know about the different foods, same with the puffers and eel. Will they all get along and which puffer would you recommend?

Feeding feeder goldfish to s lionfish or any fish? This is probably the worst possible choice. Raw goldfish flesh contains thiaminase, an enzyme that causes the breakdown of thiamin. If you feed your lionfish a diet that consists only of goldfish, they may become thiamin deficient. This can result in feeding cessation, clamped fins and problems with the nervous system. Although it can be interesting to observe lionfish consuming feeder fish, feeder fish do not provide a nutritionally complete diet. It may be necessary to feed your lionfish live food initially, such as live ghost shrimp, fiddler crabs, freshwater crawfish, feeder guppies, mollies, or even cardinalfish or damselfish. Unfortunately, many aquarists feed their lionfish live feeder goldfish.

Have you ever seen an adult snowflake eel? They are as thick as your wrist & create a huge bioload. I did keep a sharpnosed toby with a dwarf lionfish.

Also see here with regard to eels and puffers: search.php?keywords=snowflake+puffer&te ... mit=Search

Jeni,
Don't worry, I wasn't planning on feeding gold fish or anything like that to the lion, I'm not sure how I feel about feeding it live food, and it will be A LOT easier to feed it frozen. I know they get big as will the lions, (not as big) and plan on moving them to a larger (120+) once that time comes. OR is there another type of eel that you would suggest instead? Someone on another site told me that I could have snowflakes and they would get along.

Corvus,
Thanks for the link will definitely check it out and adjust accordingly.

My comment about feeding feeders was in response to the accidental editing of J-P's post saying you should be feeding lionfish feeder GS, especially fat ones. These are a known cause of fatty liver disease. Corvus is our in house eel expert.

Sharpnose puffer should get along with zebra eels, which are the only moray species that does not eat a fish once in a while. However, a zebra moray (Gymnomuraena zebra) will likely prefer the 120 instead of the 55 gallon tank.

A snowflake eel appears risky for me: once they change their gender from female to male, they also change their dentition (long serrated front teeth) and can become fish eaters.

With regard to the lionfish: It has occured that puffers have nipped on the spines and fins of the lionfish. If this happens, they have to be separated.

Jeni,
I saw JP's post before it got edited, thanks!

Covus,
If I keep the other fish larger than the snowflake's mouth and keep the SF well fed will he still go after the other fish? I've heard that its much like the lion fish, if there are other smaller fish and he's hungry he'll eat them but if you keep them the same size and bigger then they'll leave them alone.

Is one of the two puffers less aggressive than the other or is there another one that would get along with an eel and lions without too much trouble? Again I know that there's a risk of nipping with any puffer but am on the search for a more docile one.

The eel is capable to take a bite out of a puffer. It can make a knot with its own body and pull its head and a ripped out part of the victim through it. An adult Echidna nebulosa definitely can eat or at least severly wound an adult Canthigaster.

The more you feed, the less "aggression" you are likely going to see. However, many captive eels are overfed and obese. People do that to keep them from eating inadequate tank mates. The result is a fatty liver and limited life span. It's a "working" route, but no desirable one in my eyes.

With these two related Canthigaster species, there is more variability with the "personality" of the fish than between the species. You can be lucky with each of them or with none. Depends on the individual... the experiences it has made, genetic disposition, maybe gender.

Pufferpunk wrote:My comment about feeding feeders was in response to the accidental editing of J-P's post saying you should be feeding lionfish feeder GS, especially fat ones. These are a known cause of fatty liver disease. Corvus is our in house eel expert.

Most lion fish keepers I know feed them gold fish MAX once per week ... any fatty fish should be used with caution. Variety!

J-P wrote:J-P, I'm so sorry, I accidentally edited your post & I can't get it back. I did comment on it below though.

DOH!! That's is IT... I'm telling DAD!!!!

J-P wrote:

Pufferpunk wrote:My comment about feeding feeders was in response to the accidental editing of J-P's post saying you should be feeding lionfish feeder GS, especially fat ones. These are a known cause of fatty liver disease. Corvus is our in house eel expert.

Most lion fish keepers I know feed them gold fish MAX once per week ... any fatty fish should be used with caution. Variety!

Feeder goldies are always chock-full of parasites, and they just have too many problems to risk it.

So I've decided to make it simply a lionfish and eel tank, not sure what kind of eel yet but that's the final decision. On the flip side in order to appease my boyfriend, I'm going to turn the 38 gallon into a puffer tank. This will probably be FW to save on costs, suggestions on puffers for that? Meanwhile off to pufferpedia...

J-P wrote:

J-P wrote:J-P, I'm so sorry, I accidentally edited your post & I can't get it back. I did comment on it below though.

DOH!! That's is IT... I'm telling DAD!!!!

Tell all you want--Dad works for me!