The Puffer Forum

I'm considering delving into a SW puff! I'll have a 50g open soon, that is holding 100lbs of LR in it now. As soon as I get the 90g tank finished for the upgrade of my 55g, the LR will be distributed between the 2 tanks & I'd like to have a few interesting creatures in the 50g. I definitely want a Dusky jawfish, for the bottom. I had one previously & found it fascinating & humorous, how it took all the rubble to line it's lil cubbyhole. Named him "Barney".

I was considering a dwarf lionfish but was told they just lay around a lot. So now, I'm thinking of the sharp nosed puffers. I saw a valentini for sale on Craigslist near here. Just wondering if I could trust him w/a few zoanthids or not--also w/the jawfish. The fellow that has him says he lives w/a tomato clown & a snowflake eel but beat the crap out of a sailfin tang (hmmm... or was that a blenny? I forgot now...). Any recommendations? I'd really like a colorful one. Also any other recommendations of cool fish I could keep in there, if not the puffer.

Valenti are fin nippers. Mine killed my Green Chromis.

What about some Clown Fish, wrasses, or small angels?

Since you have LR you could consider some Mandarins. LR is on their menu though.

My valentini is a darling, my solandri is nasty.
I have my val with chromis, a royal gramma, and others, and no problems at all. My solandri bit the face off one of my GSP's within days of introduction (she's ok now though!).

What about corals--zoas, especially?

It's really up to the puffer as in most cases. Their mouths are made for picking. My soladri does not eat corals or zoas, but picked at a bubble coral, and the val doesn't tough anything. I think it's best to test in QT before risking your best zoas.

lisalisa wrote:My valentini is a darling, my solandri is nasty.
I have my val with chromis, a royal gramma, and others, and no problems at all. My solandri bit the face off one of my GSP's within days of introduction (she's ok now though!).

I guess you picked out a good Valentini. Mine was very aggressive and territorial before it died. I am wondering if it was a male due to the way it was very dominant.

It goes to show that puffers are so variable.

wonder if a Valentini would be compatible with my Boxfish? I did like how colorful it was. I'm a little scared to try because of the first one I had.