The Puffer Forum

so i have this theory, that no matter the tank size, no matter how much decor i have, the puffer is still going to swim up and down against the glass. na, just kidding, so now for the real theory.

yes, i've read the article on why puffers should be kept alone, however, i have this theory that if kept with a bunch of fish of similar size and temper, the gsp will not attempt to kill any of them... like if the gsp was kept with lets say two other fish, then the chances of the puffer taking a bite out of them is very likely. however, if the gsp were kept if lets say seven or eigth fish of the same species, the gsp will not attempt anything.

so, anyone ever tired this, for example with like eight mollies and one gsp?

It's not a safe bet. Chances are that over the life of the fish it will eventually turn on it's tank mates. Usually seems to happen when they get a bit bigger and are probably reaching sexual maturity and they start to establish and defend territory.

Puffers do not make good tank mates and any theory to the contrary is just trying to be a justification.

Yes, I had my GSP with a whole bunch of black lyretail mollies. He ate the youngin's and the old ones harassed him so badly that he's still very shy and skittish, even though they've been out of his tank for awhile now. I would never do that again.

Size has nothing to do with aggression and territoriality IMO. Neither size nor numbers make any difference IME with any of the species I've had.

Yeah, Boxermom brings up a good point, mollies tend to be bossy fish. Even my females harass my Figure Eights sometimes and get a much deserved nip on the tail.