The Puffer Forum

I'm interested to know of owners experiences / learning curves of when more than one puffer is kept together and how they interact with each other. Also of when things got too aggressive.

I have two new baby schoutedenis (an inch or less in length). Due to their traumatic journey to me, I am watching them like an absolute hawk for anything and paranoid if something goes wrong.

One is much more outgoing and has been from the outset, the other being a bit shyer. Mr outgoing has more vivid markings, explores all areas and last 24 hours has chased and lunged Mr Shy (though he has done so as well). It reminds me of when I had pea puffs and they would squabble for brief moments with no real contact and then settle down again.

Aware this could be territory claiming, domination, malevmale, femalevfemale or simply their personalities.

No idea when this species matures though aware the males are meant to have more vivid markings and longer snouts.

My porky, gsp, and Ceylon are all together temporarily in a 55 for now because I’m redoing the porkys tank. My Ceylon was following my gsp around like a kid sister lol and now my gsp is doing it to my porky! It seems freshwater puffs are more aggressive towards each other to me.

I agree with heather. FW puffs are so much less compatible. My rule of thumb is this: when the instigator will not let up, it’s moving day. Fins torn or white bite marks, it’s solitary for the offender. I know what you mean about how peas squabble, and that is not uncommon at all. But when the bullying continues beyond quick chasing out of one puffs territory, or they continue to chase and constantly pester, it’s causing stress.

Thanks both for that

I've only witnessed the chasing, they both seem healthy, no missing bits or chunks taken out of them. This week only able to observe before and after work but will spend some more time over the weekend watching.

Generally it seems squabbles over food and "nope not near me please" as soon as other legs it or moves away, it's fine again. I've seen no persistent chases. Hopefully they will work out even through maturity at a later date. If not, one will have to be rehomed.

My 3 got along great, even though 2 were much larger than the 3rd. Be sure you have lots of decor & broken lines of sight.

Hi pufferpunk - thanks for that

They've settled in well now and this weekend went and got a ton of live plants and more bogwood to add more interest to the tank which think should help