The Puffer Forum

I was in the pet store a few months ago buying a fish for my other sw setups when I saw a valantini puffer. I have to say it's the first time I have ever referred to a fish as cute. This led to my current project of building a new system for a puffer.

Purchased a 40 breeder tank with a 20L sump that I have been working on over the last few months. Build a custom stand for it, drilled it with an overflow and mag 7 return. Have a skimmer, ato, heater, 40 - 50 lbs of base rock seeded with some LR from another tank I have. pretty standard setup for my tanks, except for this one I decided to try start off trying bare bottom (painted the bottom black to help not reflect light and images) and an algae scrubber to see how that works.

it's finally after 2 months in the half way thru cycling stage, so I plan on adding a single blue green chromis in the next few weeks and in about 2 months purchasing my first puffer. Also plan in the future after that to add a clown fish.

My current issue - I CAN NOT decide on weather to get a toby puffer or valantini puffer. I am not sure of what the difference of each would be. Any info to help me decide would be appreciated and/or comments or my current plans.

Thanks!!

This may sound a little biased since I love my GSP's but you could consider getting a GSP as a third option. lol

Valentinis are from the Toby (Canthigaster) family. You can see several of them here: ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Marine/?g2_page=2

I love my lil Val!

Just looked up the gsp and it is really pretty, but i'm not comfortable with brackish water as I am with full sw setup. Plus I want to add 2 other sw fish with him if he doesn't have them for dinner.

At one time I would have bought that valantini puffer on the spot, but one thing i have learned is not to make rash purchases when it comes to sw. lol.

will either of these breeds do ok with a blue\green chormis and clown or is that a bad idea? I would like to add a few corals in the future also. Will have to see if he makes dinner out of them or not.

My GSP's are in fill marine as that is what is recommended as they grow into adults. But people have kept them in saltwater as babies with no trouble. However, I do understand if you have concerns for potential tankmates in a 40g tank.

Whichever puffer you ultimately choose just know that they are unlike any other fish you have ever kept and are definitely worth the time and trouble to have as pets.

sgtmyers88 wrote:they are unlike any other fish you have ever kept and are definitely worth the time and trouble to have as pets.

+100

Great to see you doing it all properly and not rushing anything