The Puffer Forum

Hello all
I have been out the puffer field a while and really need to brush up on my knowledge. Looking to get irrebescos and wondered about an alternative tank I have. It is a 160 litre, extremely well filtrated but would be a tropical community. The occupants they would be sharing with would be tetras (these are easily moved), cories and bristlenose. There is a rather large shoal of cories in there and these would be my main concern. Thanks all for any help.

Edit: Or possibility of SAPs? The tetras are easily moved it would be the cories I would be more concerned about. Thanks for your thoughts (p.s. aware of teeth trimming that is needed with SAPS)

Hi Amy, Nice to have you back with us again. Well, I am not certain that SAP's would work with that size tank, only because you would need at least 3 and preferably 5, and along with the other fish you've already got, that's not a very big tank, only about 42 US gallons. And the thing is, with irrubesco, they can be okay with other fish, but that's not a guarantee. I did have some in a tank with rasboras and cory's and they were alright, but again, that was in a fairly big tank (58-gallons) with lots of plant cover. So I think it all depends on what your tank is like. If you've got a good amount of plants and hiding places for the irrubesco, then it might work, but I just want to clarify that each situation is different, so it's not for certain that you would not have any problems.

Hello pufferpuggirl, thanks so much for the quick reply. I have had a bit of a brainwave (and a spare tank) and now would be able to dedicate the 160 litre to puffs themselves and perhaps more suitable tankmates (though wont be needed!). The tank itself it heavily planted, I need to get in there and hack at my underwater forest!

I think the moving of the fish is a good idea, would the SAPs work in that size tank in a group of 3-5 without the other fish? Im not very experienced so do apologise. I know the irrebesco a pair at least would work (though not sure more would as aggression between males might be abit much so would be looking at tank mates for these).

Thanks so much for all the help xxxx

I don't think any puffers are "community" fish. You are always taking a chance your other fish will get picked on.

Not a problem at all as the tank is being arranged so can have puffer tank only

I would recommend irrubesco puffers.

You could do 3 SAPs, and maybe something interesting and compatible - I was thinking a couple hillstream loaches, which also love "river" tanks, and are pretty innocuous. They prefer slightly colder water, but as the average temperature of the amazon basin area is 79 degrees, and with a larger day/night temperature range than seasonal, I'd say the waters in the basin run 70 to 78 degrees depending on how much flooding is occurring, so the SAP's shouldn't mind the low 70's to keep the loaches happier.

I posted here and was told that hillstream loaches were incompatible with SAPs, that's why I didn't get any. I'd absolutely love some.

I also think the tank is too small for SAPs. I don't know. With my experiences with mine I feel like they are a fish that doesn't belong in a tank. They're always pacing the glass and I've got mine in a 55gal that's heavily planted, 8x turnover in one direction (like a river flow), and feed live foods and they still display these stereotypical neurotic behaviours. Just doesn't seem right to me.

Thanks for the replies guys, may go for just the irrebescos. I have been wondering about cories, as I havea few species and they are meant to be armoured (though ...most likely not against beaks.) I havent a massive urge to mix other species with them but do wonder as I have cories anyways. Thanks so much for all the great info. I have read that about SAPs before Flutter. How many SAPs have you in total together just out of interest#?

I've got 3. They're very cute and I enjoy them but...

I've heard that cories with pigment in their fins have extra toxins or something like that. I actually have cories in with my SAPs and have never seen a single bitten fin so I've got good little fish too. Should anything happen I've got a tank set aside for just the cories if I need to.

I actually plan on getting a couple of irrubescos to go in with the SAPs. I really like them and have heard they get along well together.

Oh thanks for that Flutter. I had heard something similar of the likes too. Can I ask which cories you have in with them currently? I would have a spare home for thec ories if it didnt work out. What would you think stocking would be for just irrubescos, just SAPS or perhaps a mix of both as the 3 options? Thanks very much for the advice x

I don't know which cories actually. I made a post about it a while back, perhaps if you do a search you'll find it. I don't have time to look right now. 2 have a yellow V and black fins and the other 2 are dotty. I'm hoping to find a couple more of each species so they're happier. No luck with that yet.

I wouldn't suggest SAPs at all for that tank. I wouldn't suggest them for a tank my size either. I would recommend the irrubescos but I can't comment on the cories. I'm so excited to get a couple irrubescos If only I could find some. Since you have them I would try them together. I don't see the harm as long as you can move the cories if need be. I can't recommend numbers but I would be tempted to try a male and female irrubesco and your cories. I think that would be safe but someone with more experience would be able to give more confident numbers.

Good luck

I personally don't see why hillstream loaches and SAP's couldn't go together, as long as it was a nice big tank, long footprint and a heavy, river like current (both SAP's and hillstreams need that).

Irrubescos can be pretty nasty to each other, but if you plant heavily and give them plenty of room, you probably won't have too many problems.

SAP's are different.. I like them, but they don't remind me of "puffers", they don't do the hover and beg for food.. more frantic swim-swim-swim all the time.

The irrubescos do sound better from what im being recommended. Thanks very much both. I think I may try the cories at first when I can be about and watch though with puffs might turn at any point..

@Flutter, cant look right now but will try to identify them for you!

Small update, 3 hours last night spent rearranging the tanks and now have two irrubescos swimming around the 160 litre with not much else in there. They are extremely cute and currently shy, I think I may have two males though so will be on the look out for females. The store they were bought from just get them in unsexed and unable to order specifics so will have to keep trying them.