The Puffer Forum

First, I'm very new to this hobby. -About 9 months ago I was given a 20gal tank w/ 3 goldfish in it (a fish "rescue"). I've enjoyed the fish and they are doing well, but my husband hates the fish tank. He says the 20gal looks cheap, so we're currently looking at upgrading to a 72gal or 155gal bow front. -The "problem" ( )with a bigger tank is that we'll need more fish, and I'd really like to move away from the goldfish and into something else, so...

My husband fell in love with a puffer in the store the other day. From what I can tell, it may have been an Amazon AKA Brazilian puffer or something that looked like it. Anyway, I'm wondering if we can include a puffer in our new tank. It sounds like the size tank won't be a problem since Amazon's only get about 5 inches long, but I want other fish besides the puffer. Previously I was thinking cichlids, and I think the puffer in the store was sharing its tank with some discus??? So, what other kinds of fish can we keep with it/them?

I've read your previous answers -many times the answer has been that it depends on the specific fish's personality, but I'm wondering if tank size or puffer selection could mean success for my new tank???

Thanks in advance for your advice,
-Erica

A big tank doesnt mean you could have success with tankmates. Cichlids can be extremely territorial and if you decided these as tankmates you could find them bullying the puffer to death or getting the puffer to the point where he has no other choice but to attack its tankmates.

I am assuming the Brazilian puffer would be the South American Puffer (SAP) they only get to about 3 inches so a small group in that size tank would go well.

Yes, from what I've seen the Amazon, Brazillian, and South American puffers all refer to the same thing (or at least LOOK like what we saw in the store).

I'm open to other suggestions on puffer type (although the "SAP's", from what I've seen, are supposed to be a less aggressive type?).

I'm also open to different kinds of tank mates.

I'm just trying to see if I could come up with a combination that I like that includes a puffer. Everything else is open to suggestion since nothing's been purchased yet.

-Erica

There aren't any other combinations that includes a puffer with other fish unfortunately. Puffers should be in species only tanks and most in solo tanks. They don't make good community fish.

Okay. I guess I'll skip the puffer for this tank, then.

Thanks for the help,
-Erica

If you read my post as don't do it that was not my intention. You would need to choose tankmates very carefully and be prepard to seperate if things start to go wrong. I believe there has been some success with keeping SAP's in a community environment, however the true test is over a long period of time and as of yet I am not aware of any long term successes.

Your reply taken with BoxerMom's = don't get a puffer.

Let's start over:
Has anyone had success with ANY puffer in a community tank with ANY non-puffer fish? If so, please post some guidance about kinds of fish, tank size, conditions, etc.

Thanks,
-Erica

Dwarf puffers and otos generally go together but not always. Also dwarves and kuhli loaches have been kept with some success. I wouldn't really call them community tanks though. I have tried various puffers in various community tanks, all failed. Usually within days at the most, the other fish would end up with shredded fins and/or dead.

I keep my SAP with a dwarf and a pair of (agressive breeding) kribensis. needlessto say the fry don't last long but the combo has worked well SO FAR.

When planning for puffers in general, plan on species tanks. They are not community fish, they are specialized predators which are extremely well-equipped with biting equipment backed with strong jaws. They require specialized diets and need good to excellent water quality.

I have never been able to keep any puffer in a "community" setup long term.

What are you going to do with the goldfish? Common goldies need a good 30 gallons each, so your big tank would just about be right for the three you already have. I realize you might not like that, but maybe if they were allowed to grow to the foot long they should get to and have a big enough tank, you might like them better (goldies are awesome fish, if treated right and allowed to be healthy).

While I'd love the idea of SAP's in a big tank, I also don't like the idea of trying to catch them in a big tank to trim their teeth every few months. Consider that, in addition to the potential tankmate problems.

As far as combining a puffer with any tankmates, I would only try it with dwarfs or SAP's.. and ONLY in an extremely heavily planted tank (live plants). Live plants are a whole nother subject, and if you aren't ready to tackle that project, I'd probably skip attempting to mix the puffers with anything.

The fish at the store are stressed and not behaving "normally", so its easier to keep mingled species there.. once they get into a good tank, get settled and start defending territories and feeling good about themselves, it can get nasty.

After my experiences, I wouldn't ever put dwarf puffers with anything other than otos. Mine have shredded much larger fish, including a dwarf gourami when they were still juveniles, and a full size SAE that they actually killed and ate part of.

Got it.
...if we want puffers, we'll get another tank and keep it/them alone.

Thanks for the help,
-Erica