Puffer in a Reef - is it a definite no???

[dibenni]

I know that most puffers are not reef safe - but are there any that would be ok. I am posting a link to 2 types of puffers that this particular vendor says need to be monitored - rather than saying that they are not reef safe (which is does for every other type of puffer on their site).

Valentini Puffer (Canthigaster valentini)

Hawaiian Spotted Puffer (Canthigaster jactator)

Has anyone tried to keep either of these in a reef, if so how were the results? I love them - but I am not willing to take the chance that they will disturb my tank.

Thanks,

Nick

[Ninong]

Canthigaster jactator: Feeds on sponges, algae, detritus, tunicates, polychaetes, bryozoans, sea urchins, brittle stars, crabs, peanut worms, shrimps, zoanthids, fishes, amphipods and foraminiferans.

Canthigaster valentini: Feeds mainly on filamentous green and red algae, tunicates, and on smaller amounts of corals, bryozoans, polychaetes, echinoderms, mollusks, and brown and coralline red algae.

Both are safe as long as you don't plan on keeping any of the above food items in the same tank with them.

Good luck!

[weez1959]

When my daughter dismantled her tank I took a chance on her valentini puffer, a few days went by and all was well then one morning I got up and my clam had a pretty scalloped design on it's mantle ...
Then it was off the the LFS for him! He didn't mess with anything else though but maybe it was just a matter of time
Louise

[bguile]

Both are safe as long as you don't plan on keeping any of the above food items in the same tank with them.

That's funny! At least he avoided saying no.

[dibenni]

Yeah - I guess I'll be passing.

[zhenya]

Yeah - I guess I'll be passing.

Nick,

Puffers are more pain in the proverbial butt than you can imagine... Just to think that you may be required to catch them to trim their teeth( so they don't look like the sabre toothed tigers) is scaring me...

[dibenni]

Gene, I just read that in an old thread I found in a search. Plus, I didn't realize they grew so quickly - thought the type I was looking at were smaller but from other threads it looks like they grow pretty quickly and probably wouldn't be good for my 55 even if they were safe and didn't have to be brought to the dentist.

So, the question becomes - what would you suggest. I currently have a pair of false percula clowns, a pair of green chromis, and a bicolor angel in my 55. I would love to add one more fish.

I also have featherduster, brain coral, trumpet coral, galaxy, and mushrooms. The tank has about 70 lbs LR, a thin sand bed (about an inch), a prizm skimmer (which I have not read good things about but bought before I joined this site and I have never had a problem with water quality so it seems to be working for me), an aquaclear 500 (which I removed the media from and have small pieces of LR in), 3 Max-Jet 1200s.

So, what the verdict - think I can add another fish / if so, any suggestions?

[zhenya]

Nick,

Given a chance I would look into adding maybe a shrimp gobie and a pistol shrimp. A combo that is hard to beat for it;s uniquenes and endless laugh opportunities...

There are also countless choices of Gobies, maybe Dottyback?

I think adding another, potentially overgrowing fish for the aquarium size(like the tang or triggers) is out of the question here, so I would look for smaller fish to chose from. Small wrasses, blennies or gobies are all good candidates.

[dibenni]

Thanks for the input Gene - I will look into those.

I already learned the hard way that a tang doesn't belong in a 55 (once again before I found this site and listened to the LFS).

I do like wrasses - I thought that they did better in a tank with a deeper sandbed which is why I haven't gotten one.

[zhenya]

Nick,

Lots of wrasses could be trained to eat prepared foods. On occasional treat of live brine is OK but most wrasses will accept frozen fare just fine. Frozen mysis shrimp(PE brand), Rod's Food or your own home made fair. I personally love fairy wrasses, because they are zooplanktovores and they are gorgeous.
My LFS here had a pair of Cirrhilabrus temminskii for $150.00 I think, outstanding pair of fairy wrasses. One thing to remember with wrasses is that they all are potential jumpers.

[Live Rock Ricky]

how about a brazillian gramma? i have one in my 55g and its pretty cool. he does go a few rounds with my canary fang blenny though..

[SouthBayPhoto]

Nick,

Puffers are more pain in the proverbial butt than you can imagine... Just to think that you may be required to catch them to trim their teeth( so they don't look like the sabre toothed tigers) is scaring me...

News at 11....attack of the sabertoothed puffer on an entire neighborhood....

[dibenni]

Gene,

I saw the pictures of your new fairy wrasses - they are awesome.

Inspired - I picked up a solar fairy wrasse today (I should say bought it today but will be picking it up on Thursday as they just came in and the store doesn't sell anything until its had it for a week to make sure it is fine).

Not quite as nice as yours - but it has nice color and is half the price which keeps the mrs happy. I will post some pictures after I pick it up.

Thanks again for the advice.

Nick

[weez1959]

Wrasses sound like they're pretty popular these days, I have a banana wrasse in a QT for 3 weeks now, she (Chiquita) should be going into the display by next week. She's pretty funny, before emerging from the sand in the morning, she pokes out her head only and looks around for about 10-15 seconds before coming all the way out
Louise

[zhenya]

Not quite as nice as yours - but it has nice color and is half the price which keeps the mrs happy. I will post some pictures after I pick it up.

Nick,

I have solar wrasse as well, they are quite beautiful fish. Make sure to post some pics after it acclimates. And good luck with it!

Here's picture of mine, he's quite the camera hog...