The Puffer Forum

I have recently upgraded my fowlr tank to just over a 5X2X2 as i have always wanted a puffer and it has always been between the porcupine and the dog face puffer.
After much deliberation i chose the dog face but upon going to my LFS to order one in my wife sees the porcupine and is smitten so now i have a dilemma, I have my heart set on the dog face and she really likes the porcupine, now as all you married guys know a happy wife makes for a happy tank!
So has anyone got any experience of these 2 and a preference for either one? reasons why etc?
My LFS says that they will live happily together and i have done some research and there seems to be a few people that actually keep these 2 together but is my tank big enough? its 560 litres plus a 150 litre sump.

Any help gratefully received

That's a tough one... All porcys seem to look the same to me but their personalities are soooooo cute! There are certainly less folks who keep the DF & they seem to be more unique to me. But I say make the wife happy.

I have had both. The porcupine was way more interactive. I did have both together and there was never any issues.

I had both to and they were best of friends. They even slept next to each other every night

To the guys that have kept them together what size tank did you have and how big we're they?

I have to disagree. Tell me about the adults that have lived for 10 years together, without killing each other. I have heard nothing but sad endings with this combo.

Pufferpunk wrote:I have to disagree. Tell me about the adults that have lived for 10 years together, without killing each other. I have heard nothing but sad endings with this combo.

thanks pufferpunk these are the stories i was looking for but they seem to be harder to come by, i can find lots of "my mate dave done it for years and it was fine" etc but I'm struggling to find people who have actually kept these together long term, do people only have them when young, get bored and move them on before they mature? and no one ever seems to list the tank size they "kept" them together in

Either one will keep you happy, the porc will keep your wife happy which will keep you happier. Play the "I would have preferred the dog face but if you would really like it dear we will get the porc " card. Brownie points galore

Lol I wouldn't even think twice... A porky! if I'm ever able to get a 100+g tank, it's for a porky

Get the Porc. compromise being you get the sports channels!!!

As it happens i didn't have to choose, i got called to work in the morning so my wife went to pick the fish up, i told her to get the porky as i was happy with that choice.
She bought both, even paid! I'm not sure I'm overly happy about that especially after reading what pufferpunk has posted above, i guess i will see how it goes and if i see the slightest issue starting to arise i will have to make the decision then, or start another tank up I'm currently working on being "allowed" and 8x2x2 in the ding room but that looks like it may involve me giving up my pool table and I'm not sure I'm ready for that just yet!

Those two fish are gonna need it if you want to stand a chance of peace, she bought them so pay half each on a massive system lol

Lol! I wish my husband would be that understanding... he thinks my 5 tanks are fine and thinks I'm insane for wanting to go bigger than the 55 -.-

bertie 83 wrote:Those two fish are gonna need it if you want to stand a chance of peace, she bought them so pay half each on a massive system lol

Now that sounds like a plan to me lol

Our normal compromise is that pufferghoti buys another tank and I get both puffers.


Personally, I'd rather have the porky in preference though I have a both in seperate tanks.