The Puffer Forum

Hi everyone!
I'm new. I have joined in hopes of getting some input before I add a "spotted puffer" to my current tank.
possibly helpful details:
owning fish is not new to me. I have had bettas, guppies, minnows, African Dwarf Frogs, and a Chinese Algae Eater. I have managed to keep all of the above alive for at least 5 years since acquiring them (don't know how old they were when I got them) and most seemed to die of age.
The only fish I currently have is the CAE- totally different from the pleco. he is a good 4" and I have included a picture below. He enjoys hiding in his "house" despite him outgrowing it. when he swims around- he is by far the fastest fish I have ever seen in my entire life, who also moves the furniture... will pick up or push the plants, rocks, large shells, his house, and gravel. (I also have 2 minnows but they are to feed to my ducks)
I have a 10 gallon tank with a good light, filter, and bubble wall bubbler. I have had the tank with frogs and/or fish in it for well over 5 years- its well established and I have not had any problems with any fish health.
My ADFs died around a year ago (they were at least 6 years old). I stopped by the petsupermarket yesterday to look at some fish stuff (regarding the ducks) and saw these beautiful little yellow fish with black spots. the store said they JUST got them in- which is why there was a paper tag underneath that had written in sharpie "spotted puffer 6.99" and I have been thinking about adding a/some fish to my tank. (they were very small at the store- MAYBE 3/4"). The fish lady said they were not very hard to care for, should be ok with a fast swimming bottom feeder, and they were indeed freshwater- though she puts a little extra water salts/softener in their tank which the CAE should be fine with.
this seems to be *the* place to get good info on puffer fish. So, MY QUESTION IS: I would like to know if it would be OK to add one (or two if they need a buddy) of these spotted puffer fish to the tank with my CAE?
Thanks so much!

SHE LIES!!!
library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/

WAIT, STOP, DON'T DO IT!
your tank was terribly overstocked as it was
the stock you lost may have been lost to poor water quality and the stress of overcrowding
your success rate thus far might not be as good as you think, particularly if you are not aware of the water parameters (by testing & measurement)
GSPs grow to 5-6" and need a tank size of 30 gal minimum for a single fish
if they do not have the opportunity to grow in a large tank, their growth will be stunted, and they too, will sicken & die
they also live in brackish-salt water, or they will not do well
if that's what she told you, the fish lady is either ignorant or greedy, or both
sadly, most fish stores will sell you any fish they can, only to sell you more crap to "solve" all the water quality issues and diseases that this kind of crowding WILL result in
glad you asked before you did it!

Poor minnows

+ 1 to all of the above responses. That store worker/owner/idiot curls my toes. That is the major problem with pet stores. No wonder so many live pets are so short lived.

Green Spotted puffers are active high personality fish and they should have lives in excess of 15 years minimum to well over 20 years. But they require good water management and should never be housed with a CAE or SAE under any circumstances.

Can't you feed your ducks duck food? I bred Indian Runners for years without giving them fish

Thank you, eieio for your comment. I think I would really love having them- due to their size, personality, and physical appearance. HOWEVER, I won't get any at this time because I can't get a 30gal tank and I will not knowingly take on an animal I cannot give excellent care to.

( Also, I would like to note the CAE is not related to ther pleco and the ADFs are NOT the big white African frogs- theyre between 1/2" to 1" and very rarely get any bigger. they are also very fish friendly. REGARDING PREVIOUS FISH CARE: I have kept all of my animals alive far past their life expectancy. I am very careful and caring with my tank- do partial water changes regularly and keep it "clean", test the water and make adjustments if nessesary (only had to do that once- its always been perfect otherwise), and I can assure everyone my tank has never been over crowded. )



to everyone that commented on the duck's minnows: ducks eat fish. to be able to survive by themselves they need to learn to catch fish. catching some minnows and putting them in their pool is a good way to do help them learn and also provides nutrition, exercise and mental stimulation. The fish are not suffering and it is not cruel or uncommon. its natural- animals eat other animals. but this was not at all the point of my post.

eieio wrote:WAIT, STOP, DON'T DO IT!
your tank was terribly overstocked as it was
the stock you lost may have been lost to poor water quality and the stress of overcrowding
your success rate thus far might not be as good as you think, particularly if you are not aware of the water parameters (by testing & measurement)
GSPs grow to 5-6" and need a tank size of 30 gal minimum for a single fish
...
sadly, most fish stores will sell you any fish they can, only to sell you more crap to "solve" all the water quality issues and diseases that this kind of crowding WILL result in
glad you asked before you did it!

So- since I will not be getting spotted puffers at this time...
does anyone have suggestions on other interesting fish? I would love to have something that's bright and/or has some personality. I always enjoyed watching my interesting fish and frogs and would like something that is fun to see. Maybe some of those neon fish or a betta?

Required to do well in: freshwater, 10gal tank, with some algae (CAE eats it), and somewhat fish friendly/tolerant. can't do African chillids or gold fish.