The Puffer Forum

Hi

Just wondering how aggressive are the toby puffers valentini, blue spot etc.

Does one variety fin nip more than the other species?

I heard or read that valentinis are quite the fin nippers

are the blue spots less aggressive

or does it really just come down to each fish's personality


I was looking into adding it with an ocellaris and a blue damsel fish (starfish and hermit crabs too)

In my opinion, valentinis are more than fin nippers, they're killers just like most puffers. I thought I could get away with keeping a yellow watchman and a lawnmower blenny with my valentini, but no such luck. She killed them both - the lawnmower blenny, almost immediately, and the yellow watchman after several months of seemingly happy coexistence.

Don't know about the ocellaris, although the general rule is that clowns can pretty well take care of themselves. You might actually have luck with damsels, though, because I've not lost a single one that I've put into my GSP or into my Ceylon tank. Haven't tried any with my valentini, though.

Oh, almost forgot that you mentioned starfish and crabs. The hermits will eventually be killed off, although it will take a while for the ones with quicker reflexes. I don't think it would take much time at all for a starfish to get killed, though, probably in less than 24 hours unless it's toxic.

really? so even the toby's are quite aggressive

as long as they are puffers.. huh


thanks mate!

I think it depends on the puffer. I have a black saddled valentini toby and he is the most mild mannered fish in my tank. Even my clowns are more agressive then him. I actually have to take special care to feed him to make sure he's getting enough food becuase he's not agressive enough to go for it if other fish are in the way.
I have never seen him bite at or nip a fin of another fish. He will nip at snails, crabs and shrimp though. Be careful with corals too. He loves to graze on live rock.

i have a 75 with a spotted sharpnose puffer, GSP, lawnmower blenny, clownfish, damsels, i had a yellow watchman until my eel ate it the first night i put the eel in before i was about to feed him. the spotted sharpnose is easily the least aggressive fish in the tank. hes not shy with food but he has never chased anyone or nipped anyone

jus85411 wrote:i have a 75 with a spotted sharpnose puffer, GSP, lawnmower blenny, clownfish, damsels, i had a yellow watchman until my eel ate it the first night i put the eel in before i was about to feed him. the spotted sharpnose is easily the least aggressive fish in the tank. hes not shy with food but he has never chased anyone or nipped anyone

You put a clown, damsels, and a goby in with an eel? And two puffers in a 75g? Doesn't even sound like a good idea.

I agree--if he's eaten one fish...

jdak wrote:

jus85411 wrote:i have a 75 with a spotted sharpnose puffer, GSP, lawnmower blenny, clownfish, damsels, i had a yellow watchman until my eel ate it the first night i put the eel in before i was about to feed him. the spotted sharpnose is easily the least aggressive fish in the tank. hes not shy with food but he has never chased anyone or nipped anyone

You put a clown, damsels, and a goby in with an eel? And two puffers in a 75g? Doesn't even sound like a good idea.

before you bash, know i do my research and know the risks involved once i got the eel. the eel couldnt get his mouth around my finger if he wanted when i got him, he was tiny so therefore the puffers are nowhere near the size of my eels mouth. the damsels are but i knew getting the eel that he may eat a fish i have that will fit in his mouth which were quick damsels. i think he was starved at the pet store because he immediately found something that can fit in his mouth and ate it, but has been well fed since i got him. he has gotten a little fatter and even when i put food in there he looks at the other fish swimming around and looks for food but has never tried to eat any other fish, i only feed him with a bbq skewer with shrimp, clam or silversides on it. the damsels even back up to his cave, wiggle their tails in there to show their territory and the eel comes out and just sits there looking around. i saw him push at a damsel to get him out but he clearly didnt try to eat him because he easily could have. lets see the min tank size for a GSP is 30, and spotted sharpnose 25, i think the size is fine and my water quality is better than a lot of people trying to keep tanks out there. sounds like a better idea to me than someone who doesnt know what they are doing getting my puffers and killing them

jus85411 wrote:

jdak wrote:

jus85411 wrote:i have a 75 with a spotted sharpnose puffer, GSP, lawnmower blenny, clownfish, damsels, i had a yellow watchman until my eel ate it the first night i put the eel in before i was about to feed him. the spotted sharpnose is easily the least aggressive fish in the tank. hes not shy with food but he has never chased anyone or nipped anyone

You put a clown, damsels, and a goby in with an eel? And two puffers in a 75g? Doesn't even sound like a good idea.

before you bash, know i do my research and know the risks involved once i got the eel. the eel couldnt get his mouth around my finger if he wanted when i got him, he was tiny so therefore the puffers are nowhere near the size of my eels mouth. the damsels are but i knew getting the eel that he may eat a fish i have that will fit in his mouth which were quick damsels. i think he was starved at the pet store because he immediately found something that can fit in his mouth and ate it, but has been well fed since i got him. he has gotten a little fatter and even when i put food in there he looks at the other fish swimming around and looks for food but has never tried to eat any other fish, i only feed him with a bbq skewer with shrimp, clam or silversides on it. the damsels even back up to his cave, wiggle their tails in there to show their territory and the eel comes out and just sits there looking around. i saw him push at a damsel to get him out but he clearly didnt try to eat him because he easily could have. lets see the min tank size for a GSP is 30, and spotted sharpnose 25, i think the size is fine and my water quality is better than a lot of people trying to keep tanks out there. sounds like a better idea to me than someone who doesnt know what they are doing getting my puffers and killing them

Excuse me on the puffers... i was wrong. Clowns and damsels are risky. The goby just had no chance.

I have 2 canthigaster valentini (male and female) in my 350l tank. They are not ever fighting or anything or bully another fishes!

great

just a hit and miss situation I guess