The Puffer Forum

We recently acquired 2 dragon puffers from our local fish store.

They said that for the most part they’re lazy fish, and don’t do much. They also said that it will eat other fish, but due to the whole lazy thing it shouldn’t be an issue in a community tank (ours is 160 gallons).

I’ve read up a bit on the puffer but there are quite a few mixed answers of what they will/won’t do.

I know shame on us for not doing much research prior to bringing them home. If anyone has info or suggestions on this it would be greatly appreciated. They’re super cool fish but if they’re going to eat everything in the tank I need to either get another tank or bring them back. TIA

(Tankmates currently are clown loaches, cichlids, sevrums and feeders)

You're going to need 2 more tanks for those 2 fish or you're going to have a lot of dead fish, including the 2 puffers. Feeders don't belong in a tropical community tank, either.

You're going to need 2 more (40g) tanks for those 2 fish or you're going to have a lot of dead fish, including the 2 puffers. Feeders don't belong in a tropical community tank, either.

We’ve never had an issue with feeders in the tank. Lots of plants and hiding places. The 2 puffers were together at the aquarium in what appeared to be a 40gallon tank.

Do you think they’d actually be able to take fish 2x their size out?

Pufferpunk wrote: ↑Thu May 24, 2018 4:16 pm
You're going to need 2 more (40g) tanks for those 2 fish or you're going to have a lot of dead fish, including the 2 puffers. Feeders don't belong in a tropical community tank, either.

Yeahhhhh sorry. They may be slow, but they can strike extremely quickly at passing fish. You COULD possibly see about 2 tank dividers tho

Julievanam wrote: ↑Thu May 24, 2018 7:55 pm We’ve never had an issue with feeders in the tank. Lots of plants and hiding places. The 2 puffers were together at the aquarium in what appeared to be a 40gallon tank.

Do you think they’d actually be able to take fish 2x their size out?

Yes, 1 bite at a time. Goldfish are extremely dirty fish that live in cold water.

Even with aggressive fish living with them? The rest of the tank are also live feeders, we got these guys because our cichlids took out my buddies the bumblebees. Obviously we should’ve done research .... hopefully we can figure out a way to setup a 3rd and 4th tank (we have a separate feeder tank), but it’s sounding like we will have to return them.

Like others have said they're a no go in a community. I've seen people keep them together in a bigger tank, but that was luck of the draw with a pair formed. They also get bigger than you realize ive seen some way over what's been stated as the max size....most murders go down when the lights go out.

If you like true lazy lurkers then they're well worth their on tank.

Aggressive & predatory are 2 different animals. One will push other fish around, sometimes to their demise, the 2nd will eat chunks out of other fish which will surely end in their deaths.

These guys are too cool, one actually hangs around during the day. We have decided that we are unfortunately going to have to return them. Not enough space for more tanks at this time. Really bummed out about it, but again, should’ve done my research before hand. Thanks everyone for the info.

Please do educate the store you got them from, so that this doesn't keep happening to these fish!