The Puffer Forum

My modestus is in a 10 gallon right now but I need to use the tank as a hospital tank. I need to move my puffer into a bigger tank anyway so I was wondering if I could put it in a 55 gal. African cichlid tank. It has 5 yellow labs and 5 Ps. acei in it already. The cichlids are still young and are about 2-3 inches. Would this work or is it a disaster waiting to happen?

Modestus are known for nipping fins and taking scales. It could turn into a disaster for your other fish.

Mine (silus actually but almost the same) chewed up everything in the tank, including EBJDs that were 3x bigger.

I think i might try and then take him out immediately if there are any problems. The only other tank I have is a 20 gal. with a rainbowfish and some neon tetras. would that tank be better?

Better still get a tank for the puffer only.

I had some guppies in the same tank as the puffer and he left them alone so I think I might just try him in my other tanks. I don't really have enough cash for another tank, especially since I just got the 55 gal.

Forgive me for asking the obvious but why by a puffer if you cannot house it?
Adding it to an African cichlid tank will benefit none of the fish, the puffer or the cichlids.

If you have to put it somewhere I would put in the 20g.

Putting it in with the cichlids will mean trouble. The puffer will nip at the africans but the africans will kill the puffer. My african tank(labs Acei and afras) has way too much aggression. The puff will be chased endlessly. the tetras and rainbows will suffer but it's the lesser of the two evils i think.

I would rehome the tetras and rainbows and then you have a nice tank for your puffer.

Most puffer-mayham can happen overnight.

My two modestus puffers leave the guppies alone in their 55 gallon home that they share...but anything bigger would be attacked mercilessly until it was dead. Modestus/silus puffers are very mean...especially when they start getting older.

I would buy a min. of a 29 gallon tank for your modestus. Like everyone else has said, none of your fish will be happy (and healthy) if you mix the modestus puffer in.

these puffers feed on fins and scales in the wild, they'd be no different in a home aquarium I bet either.

keep alone!

You can get a 10 gallon tank with everything (filter, heater, flourescent hood) for less than 50 bucks at walmart. If you have a little extra cash I would suggest that you get one and move your rainbows and tetras to that tank, this would avoid any potential problems with the puffer.

And just wondering how long you have had the 55 set up? It says that you just got it so I was curious how long ago that meant since you already have quite a few fish in it. It is VERY important to make sure that any tank you introduce a puffer to be completely cycled first.

Good luck with your little guy!