The Puffer Forum

I have never owned a puffer before, and I don't know too much about them, but from what I've read it seems like most puffers are brackish, and maybe a little on the aggressive side. Is this true? Is there a good freshwater community puffer out there? I'd love to have one if there is, thanks for any input!

"A little on the aggressive side" is an understatement! Some of them absolutely must be kept alone, and with the others, it's iffy.

Brackish puffers are the smallest group - there are far more FW and marine puffers.

Here's a link to quite a few species. Take a look and see what you like. ug.php/v/PufferPedia/

What fish do you already have/are you already considering, and in what size tank?

The fish I have right now are two fancy guppies, one balloon molly, a platy and a high-fin lyretail in a 30 gallon tank. I think the addition of some kind of community dwarf puffer would be awesome, if it would get along well with the other tank mates. The PH of my tap water is kind of high, 7.8ish. Any suggestions?

IMHO & IME, there is no such thing as a community puffer. Certain puffers may be kept with highly selected species of fish - which definitely does not include the live-bearers yous list -and even careful selection does not always work.

Puffers are basically carnivores. They eat mainly inverts, but a nice flowing tail or a tender youngster will not be turned down either. All puffer tankmates should be labeled "potential sushi."

Yeah, I think you need to get a species tank, or at least a species-focused tank, if you want a puffer. It would be totally worth it, though! If you really want more than one type of fish in the tank, what about dwarf puffers and otocinclus catfish? I've never heard of that combo not working. I have my DPs with otos and a few ghost shrimp, and everyone gets along splendidly. DPs are one of the puffers RTR was talking about that can be kept with "selected species of fish."

Certainly not with fish that have pretty, long fins, like guppies.

Not only would they get nipped, but their long fins get very little circulation and are prone to infection in open wounds, like from nipping.