The Puffer Forum

Has anyone ever kept a single SAP/Amazon puffer in a community tank? I just read an article from a guy who wrote a book on puffers and he said they barley ever get lonely...id like to know what yall think about lonely puffers and if yours is a single puff in its tank or ever was the single puff in its tank and how it did?

Sap's do best in groups rather than single specimens. They are a shoaling puffer so that is the best way to keep them happy.

+1

Who's this guy that wrote a book on puffers? What book?

I would agree with the posts above, I had two SAP's and after one unfortunately passed, the other seemed very lonely without his companion.

Most are great as singletons, but from what I have read the SAPS should be kept in groups. Things like lurkers, dwarf and giant species of puff all do great as singletons from what I have read and experienced.

Probably talking about the "Alone but not Lonely" article.

That does apply to MOST puffers, but SAP's are not like most other puffers. They are a species that is very nervous and timid and needs to be in a group to be happy and healthy. Alone they tend to get stressed out, which lowers their immune system, and they get sick easily.

Idk but in the article it had a section specifically about SAP's and it said they would be fine.

Seems like you're at the point of either going with the general opinion, and from everything I've read the consensus, that SAPs do best in a small group of their own kind or with whatever this article is. You 'can' keep any fish in any tank, but there is a big difference between what is physically possible and what is important for raising and keeping a healthy fish.

heartagramette wrote:Idk but in the article it had a section specifically about SAP's and it said they would be fine.

From "Alone but Not Lonely" article:

Another freshwater Puffer that has been kept with conspecifics successfully is the South American Puffer (Colomesus asellus). In large tanks, at least 55 gallons, South American Puffers can be kept in small groups.

See: library/puffers-in-focus/sap/

I would think a single SAP would be a very nervous and unsure puffer. You know the saying - "safety in numbers", well I think that definitely applies to the South American puffer. They feel safer and more secure in a group, and it's unfair to take a fish that needs the safety of the group and make it live alone. Doubt it would be very healthy and most likely very unhappy.

my sap is alone at the momment. i cant find any others... i want to give him a buddy or 2 but nobody has them in stock.

At least you WANT to get tankmates for your SAP, which is different from just getting and keeping one. When I started out, because at the time SAP's were a bit expensive, I only bought one the first week, but by the 2nd week I had gone back and gotten 2 more. In fact, the man at the LFS said he preferred not to sell to me because I was only getting one and I had to give him my promise that I'd be back to get more. I thought that was very thoughtful of him. I didn't understand at the time, but now I appreciate his concern.