The Puffer Forum

I thought you might enjoy this kind of odd story.

A couple days ago I picked up my new baby porcupine puffer. He's the last member of a new FOWLR tank I switched over from brackish. I few fish made the switch as well including a pair of Columbian Shark catfish and a FIgure 8. They really seem happy now in the full salt. Other tank mates include a Cowfish, Blue Spot puffer.

So, I bring the porcupine home and start to acclimatize him to the tank. All the puffer were interested in him. When I eventually let him go in the tank he had a bit of a panic attack and kept swimming back and forth across the front of the tank very fast. He started to get tired and he sat down in the front right corner of the tank. One of the sharks, who had never shown any sign of a personality before, seemed quite curious and kept coming over to check out the puffer. The puffer didn't mind and the shark caressed the puffer with her whiskers and all of a sudden the puffer calmed down.

After that the two hung out together with the shark swimming under the puffer, rubbing his belly and puff swimming over the shark petting her back. They are best friends now and even sleep together. I'm happy puffer made friends so quickly, but it is a really bizarre pair.



There is another bigger shark who keeps telling puffer friend shark to get away from him, but she always goes back to him.

That is cute, f8 should not be in marine though. What size tank do you have for these puffers?

bertie 83 wrote:That is cute, f8 should not be in marine though.

I knew you'd say that. He's doing quite well. Actually happier than he was in brackish.

I've been keeping puffers for over 20 years and have converted from brackish to marine a few times. My last marine tank was a puffer species tank with 5 different types. I moved out of state and had to leave it behind. My current tank is 65 gallon and i know that is not big enough in the long run BUT the fish in it right now are very small (no more than 3 inches long) and will do just fine until I get a larger tank set up. I understand my fish and treat them very well.

What's the survival rate you've had for a F8 in SW?

I hate to always be the Cassandra and nay-sayer, but if you do not get the Colonbian sharks out immediately unless you have approximately the water volume of an Olympic-sized pool. What a cruel death for the porc.

PP: Do we have that note available now? If not I'll resend it.

Why? Please advise.



This is the second F8 I've converted to marine. Mr.Eight is doing great and his color and attitude is better than ever. I'll update you if there is any decline.

Col sharks grow to 18" & are schooling fish.
F8's lifespan should reach close to 20 years, which is why I asked how long you were able to keep them in SW, since it's not recommended for longevity.

Pufferpunk wrote:Col sharks grow to 18" & are schooling fish.

I know that and am prepared to find them a new home when they get too large. Why is it a cruel death for the porc?

Pufferpunk wrote:F8's lifespan should reach close to 20 years, which is why I asked how long you were able to keep them in SW, since it's not recommended for longevity.

I can't give you a "how long" because I had to leave that tank along with my "past life" (Abusive relationship). I lost a lot but I'm in a better place now and starting over with my beloved puffers.

I'm proud of you! I left my alcoholic/abusive hubby 9 years ago. He'll have 9 years sober in a couple of weeks.

Yes good on you for getting out of there and rebuilding your life. I think rtr meant the f8

Yep, they will eat anything that can fit into their large mouth. Also, all that quick swimming back & forth isn't pleasant to a calm puffer. Big competition for food, too.

Within the next month or so I plan to catch the sharks and take them to the LFS. I have a really nice one nearby that will take fish and find them homes. (Preuss Pets). Right now, I want to keep them because they seem to calm the new puffer. Once he settles in, they will go.

Do you a good bottom cleaning fish that cohabitate well with puffers?

If Mr. Eight shows any signs of not feeling well, I will certainly do something to take care of him.

Sorry to say, by then his life may have already been shorten a great deal.

Aww what a cute friendship! haha

Colombian sharks are incomparable with any "normal" fish - they will totally drive them into the corners or crevasses and eat all the food and pollute the tank massively. I doubt that 50% daily partials will support sufficient water quality to keep either puffer alive for weeks, much less months.