The Puffer Forum

Found SAPs near me in the UK for the first time so I had to get one! I dont know how available they are elsewhere though. They were in Fornham Onamental Fish Farm near Bury St. Edmunds if anyones interested and theres about 6 left at £9 each.

He/She is about 3" long, no spit fins, eating well (in shop and i gave him a snail) etc. so im pleased with myself!

I'll get a pic up soon if I can find the camera cable....

Congrats on the purchase, saw a few SAP's near me the other week, can't remember the price though.

I hear people say that SAPs do well in groups, and actually school to a certain degree. Do you all agree with this? That would make a great tank: three SAPs or so and a school of tetras. (Sigh). What's the noun for a group of puffers? I vote for either "a pack", or more imaginatively, "a bumble".

I hear people say that SAPs do well in groups

Apparently so. I only got the one because thats all I can afford at the moment as I'm skint! Might get a couple more at some point though.

three SAPs or so and a school of tetras

Might be possible but it's always hit and miss with puffers as to whether the tetras get eaten.

puffers? I vote for either "a pack", or more imaginatively, "a bumble".

I vote pack, but bumble is a good one!

The science is pretty unambiguous: SAPs live in groups. I've tried this and had no problems at all. Even in small groups (two or three) they are very mellow, and at night, sleep next to each other on top of the sand. It's very sweet.

As for tetras, depends on the species. Cardinals seem to be nipped, but bleeding hearts are ignored. So I think a good rule of thumb is to pick active, fast-moving species rather than species that lurk among the plants. I've also found hatchets and glassfish work well with SAPs, and halfbeaks only show the occasional nip. Since halfbeaks attack each other most of the time anyway, I don't worry too much about them.

On the other hand, platies, mollies, Corydoras, and gobies did get nipped and had to be moved out.

Cheers, Neale

nmonks wrote:Cardinals seem to be nipped, but bleeding hearts are ignored.

I read recently (I think in Aquarium Fish magazine but could be wrong) that bettas are more likely to nip other fish that are red. I wonder if that's what happened above as well. Maybe something about red makes them like a bull in a fighting ring?

Will the SAPs nip at Angels?
My 4ft tank is an amazonian biotope... thinking of throwing them in...

I wouldnt risk it, with the angel's nice long tempting finnage.

ive found my f8's will nip anything! i wouldnt risk them at all with other fish...