The Puffer Forum

I have a 36g bowfront tank with one Avocado Puffer. I was wondering if I could put maybe 2 or 3 dwarf puffers in there with it. I feel like they could get away fast enough from it. I'm just throwing the idea out there, I don't plan on doing it without some expert approval.

Thanks

I wouldn't do it. Even if they could get away fast enough they're territorial and it's not only physical contact that can kill. Stress will as well. I have no experience with Avocado puffers but that's my guess.

I'm glad you asked before trying it

Ok, thanks. Still would like tos ee some imput.

I had a modestus kill another modestus & 2 SAPs overnight. I did keep him successfully for many years with a large Royal pleco.

Pufferpunk wrote:I did keep him successfully for many years with a large Royal pleco.

I sense a "but" coming...

Quite a few fish, including many puffers, tend to ignore fish which do not live in the same "world". That translates into: Many fee-swimming fish tend to ignore solidly substrate-living or nocturnal fish (Royals are both). But not all fish will do this. I would not trust DPs not to nip fish many times their own size.

But if they have large and generally erect dorsal fins and/or caudal fins, they may still get nipped or eaten. My T. mbu ate a big pajama cat (Synodontis species) with which he had been housed from day one - until 3-4 years later. He left only the pectoral girdle (with the large spines on the pectoral fins). That fish all but never raised its dorsal fin, Oh well, live and learn. A sad lesson. that fish is still not common around here, a really nice-looking critter and totally innocuous.