The Puffer Forum

whats the minimum sized tank for these guys were i can also inclue a picasso trigger? i really love these 2 fish and i am curious.

I wouldnt go with any thing less then a 75 (as a starter tank for a baby) The most preferable tank would be a 110 atleast. I don't think it would be bad to keep with a trigger (I have one at work [hopefully to be picked up soon, by moi]) thats with Niger Triggers

i like nigers but they are way to active and need big tanks. i think a 100 gallon with 1 picasso, 1 dogface, and a yellow tang would be cool.

Yellow tang would get its but kicked by larger triggers.

a picasso isnt a big trigger, half the size of some. If i get a 125 gallon, can i get 1 dogface, 1 picasso, 1 yellow tang, and can add some more?

I have seen some chasy Picasso's in my days of retail. I prob would stay with a Dog Face and make the habitat a basic reef.

i wouldnt risk it, there not really reef safe from what ive read.

Dog Faces are reef safe. But just to be sure, you don't want that many expensive corals in there.

dog faced puffers are NOT true reef safe fish they eat most inverts.

if they have too they will munch on hard corals and enjoy wearing their teeth down on them. however for most purposes if well fed they leave corals alone. shrimp and other non protected non poisonous inverts can be snacks.

Yeah, forgot bout inverts. Should have mentioned that along with expensive corals....

so can i do a reagal angel, a small trigger, the puffer, and a small tang?

Triggers range from semi-aggressive to tank nazi's... A niger (can get big) is on the lower end of the spectrum aggression wise, a picasso somewhat in the middle but even a laid back trigger is still a pugnacious fish. One thing about triggers...they can seem and be fine for months or even years then one day go "to the dark side" and really damage or kill their tank mates.

The only reason I have my 10" Guinea Fowl puffer (arothron meleagris) is that a private owner had her in a tank with triggers slightly smaller than her and they beat her nearly to death. She was dropped off at the LFS where my girlfriend works and we got her as a rescue case.

If you start these fish small together your chances are much better for longterm compadibility. In any event, if you do both be prepared to have a backup tank to evacuate someone to if trouble starts. A single (large) angel is usually not a problem and neither is a single tang. For tank size...55-75 for juveniles, 125-150 for adults as long as you keep up on your water changes/quality and give some hiding places.

BTW, puffers natural diet is reefy stuff and inverts so don't plan on keeping any if you have puffers. They test things (hmm...is this food?!) by biting them so bad news for coral...

Hope this helps...Lee

PS Don't get me wrong, I like triggers but I keep them apart from anything that can't kick their ***.

i could always get a more peaeful one like blue throat, white tail or pink tail. but for now i may try to get the puffer with a picasso and see how they do. what tang should i do? i like all tangs but cant pick one. i do like the regal angel alot, i will probably do that.

picassos may be related to clowns but arent that mean, they can be sometimes but they dont even compare. they are more in the middle for aggresion.

so now a 125 gallon with a dog face puffer, a yellow tang, a picasso trigger, a regal angel(maybe), and maybe 1 or 2 more like a 6 inch wrasse or something.