The Puffer Forum

Long time stroller and reader...first time thread starter.

Back around Christmas we got our 4-yr old a fish tank as part of his Christmas from mom and dad. The kid missed his calling and should have been born a fish. He loves the water and everything about it. To him going to the LFS is just as good as going to Toys R Us. (I always had tanks growing up so this isn't something I mind at all). We have a 36gal bow front and never imagined it would end up as a marine tank...but here it is as a cycled marine tank. We sadly lost the first few inhabitants to a combination of my stupidity and we aren't really sure what. The plan was to leave the tank empty for 6-8 weeks to make sure if there was any "funk" it would be out for the next fish. Few weeks later my wife is inquiring about a QT...find out that her and my son picked out and got a porcupine puffer.

He really is super cute, and I know we are going to end up with a much bigger tank, but till then they are attached and "Porky" is staying. In his QT we put some medium turbo snails (good size compared to him) and they did not make it. He knocked them over and ate them. That being said, what do I use for a CuC?

Can't have a CUC with a puffer. You could try a cucumber but I can't guarantee he won't harass it or kill it.

Can't have a CUC with a puffer. You could try a cucumber but I can't guarantee he won't harass it or kill it.

Pufferpunk wrote:
Can't have a CUC with a puffer.

Sure you can, you just have to replace them often

He/she is a terribly messy eater and I am worried that we will have a cleanup issue and not get it all and cause an amonia spike

If you cant do a CuC with the porc...how do you clean up after them and not cause the ammonia spikes

My urchin has done just fine. None of the emerald crabs or snails made it, but the urchin has been with Fat Boy for years.