The Puffer Forum

Recently got rid of some fish in my 75 gallon tank and was thinking about some puffers. Right now there is an African featherfin catfish, a six striped catfish, and an albino bristlenose pleco in the tank. The catfish hide except for when feeding so they wont really come into contact with other fish at all during non feeding times. My LFS has some puffers but I am willing to buy some on aquabid if need be.

What suggestions do yall have for stocking my 75 gallon? My filtration is at 600 gallons per hour so I can handle a good amount of bioload. I also have two extra 20 gallon tanks in case I need to move a fish or two out of the 75. I figure I can start breeding snails in my 20 gallon planted tank when I get some puffers. I would like for the puffers to have other tankmates but I dont mind having all puffers if they arent compatible with other fish.

Thanks for the advice!!!

with the other fish in the tank, Id say none.

Dwarfs would most likely get eatten by the catfish and kill both, a congo would possible eat the other fish as would most lurkers.

All in all with the stock you have I think its a bad idea.



Well maybe some south american puffers but they dont act like normal puffers.

Depending on how aggressive your catfish are, you may be able to get away with south american puffers, but it's best to have them as a species only, and no less than five as they need to be in a group. They may bother the catfish, or vise versa, they tend to be very high strung.
I'd have the snails ready ahead of time as that species has fast growing teeth.

The african featherfin is very docile and lives in a hole in one of my decorations. The only time he ever came into contact with my other fish was when he would swim upside down with my oscar I used to have(kinda like a remora and a shark lol). I can rehome the six striped catfish and put the pleco in my planted tank. So basically I will just be left with the african featherfin. I kinda feel like I have to keep him because he has been in there since the beginning. He isnt very big for what its worth. A little over 3 inches probably (grows really slow). He is kinda non existant in the tank

It could work, just be prepared to move him if need be.
In addition to a diet nearly entirely comprised of snails, be prepared to treat them for ich and internal parasites when you get them, 99.99% chance they'll have these even if not showing symptoms at first. For ich, follow this: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=28113&p=305482&hili ... lt#p305482

For IP's, you can get Jungle Parasite Clear at Walmart; don't follow the package's instructions, this medication needs to get inside them. Take a small amount of tank water, break off a piece, add that along with a pressed garlic clove. Soak the food for about an hour. Someone had good luck using market shrimp, sometimes they don't like eating the medicated food.

Thanks for the tips. So South American puffers are the only ones you recommend with the featherfin catfish?

Lets say I took all the fish out and had a 75 gallon gallon for just puffers. What are my options now in terms of type/number of puffers can I get?


Sorry about my noobness on puffers. Ive been reading different sites and there doesnt seem to be as much information about puffers as some other aquarium fish. I have always had cichlids/catfish for the most part.

If you remove all fish, you could have several, like 10, dwarf puffers, and you could have a few otos. Or one of the lurker/ambush puffers.

If you want to go low end brackish, you could try a few figure 8 puffers, but truthfully, they are more personable when kept singly, and they do live longer too.

If you don't mind high end brackish to marine, you could get a green spotted puffer. And also marine, any of the toby puffers, you may be able to keep 2 depending on their personalities.

Feel free to ask as many questions as you can think of!

I am going to keep it strictly freshwater for now.

Most action will be Dwarf puffers. 10 of sounds good.

the lurkers are neat but hit or mist if they will be active at all or literally just lay in the sand all day

I replied to your thread on TFK.

unfortunately our main resource (the pufferpedia) is down for the moment, otherwise you'd be able to browse all the different kinds.

BUT!!! What is listed and what you can get from the LFS are 2 different things. What can you get? From there the guys and gals can help you with your selection.

J-P wrote:I replied to your thread on TFK.

unfortunately our main resource (the pufferpedia) is down for the moment, otherwise you'd be able to browse all the different kinds.

BUT!!! What is listed and what you can get from the LFS are 2 different things. What can you get? From there the guys and gals can help you with your selection.

ok was wondering if my computer was acting up when i was trying to access the pufferpedia. its looking like i probably will have to buy the fish online. any idea on how long the pufferpedia will be down?


thanks for all the help again