The Puffer Forum

hey there. i really like my green spoted puffer i have in my 30g tank and i was hoping someone here could help me find a freshwater puffer that could live in my new 150 gallon tank along with a couple of tank mates i have already picked out. i understand that they are very aggressive and that many species are too big for my tank.

his tank mates would be:
1 jag cichlid,
1 venustus cichlid
1 bumblebee cichlid
1 fire eel
1 bichir
1 jack dempsey cichlid
1 pleco



its a 150G tank

If you want to keep any of the fish you have already chosen I would not add a puffer....Even the smaller FW species can be aggressive enough to kill any tank mates.

No puffers, please. To me you already have enough incompatible or poorly compatible fish.

Wow, I didn't read that list....those fish are going to shred each other. Beautiful colors for a DT but, 100% agree with RTR, a disaster waiting to happen with out adding the puffer....

haha with that bichir it is going to be a royal rumble! Wait... got to make popcorn! Make sure you get the live cam up so we can all tune in!

haha let's toss in a Pacu just for fun

sorry I am just teasing you! others know better than I

headchangezz wrote: i understand that they are very aggressive and that many species are too big for my tank.

Then none of us can help you. Why would you want a bunch of angry, stunted fish in your tank?

headchangezz wrote:
his tank mates would be:
1 jag cichlid, [14+inches]
1 venustus cichlid [10+ inches, min. of 125g]
1 bumblebee cichlid [8+inches, min. 70g]
1 fire eel [18+ inches, 40g]
1 bichir [20-25+ inches?]
1 jack dempsey cichlid [10+ inches, 45g]
1 pleco [12+ inches, some up to 24, approx. 75g+]

These are quick numbers I pulled up... If you understand that these fish will outgrow your tank, and that they are incompatible, I don't think anyone is going to tell you about MORE fish to add... These are already very big fish to begin with. I don't think you want to add a puffer.

i see, well i guess thats why im researching lol. so does that mean only one ven will take up 125Gallons of my tank? leaving 25 spare loL?

most tanks have a "feature fish"

What in your mind would be the star of the tank? A puffer? or one of the ones listed above? Once we get to who the main attraction is, then we can narrow down a compat list

i would say the jag. but if it was a puffer what are my options?

depends on the puffer...
you might want to look into a lurker type, the Jag might chase other puffers around

oh i will listen to you guys and just do one or the other. i don't want any of the fish to be stunted or aggravated


i got a couple more what if questions if u dont mind.

1. would my tank only accommodate one puffer ?

2. if the jag was the star, and i was not going to get a puff any more, what other fish from my list would u say are OK to put in there.
are there any others you would recommend i research to possibly add to the list

3. how many large cichlids (12" roughly) is the perfect amount for a 150 gallon?

well a lurker like a congo puffer or some puff that will burry itself might be ok. South american, Dwarfs, and commons, might be harassed by the cichlid.

on the flip side puffers are usually nocternal. That's a question I can't answer. SAPS and DPs you can have in groups, but with a pack mentality ... other fish would be at risk.

How many cichlids can you have? have no idea .. more experienced members can answer that one also.

Ok. Thanks a lot J-P you have been verry helpful. im goign to look into that right now.

don't kill me if I'm wrong about the nocternal thing ... but a lurker might be ideal

Like I said earlier, most FW puffers will not tolerate tank mates, no matter lurker or not. Lurkers can be just as dangerous to tank mates because they attack from below and will gut others they see as invading their territory.