Any1 ever have a Puffer in a reef?

BlueWater · 10-08-2001, 08:56 PM

I posted this in another forum, but got mixed responces...
So I thought I'd try here.

No one could really tell me if they had personal "bad" experiences.
Has anyone ever had first hand experience in this?
__________________________________________
My friend's buddy moved, and he had some fish
he needed to get rid of. So I grabbed his
smallest one, which was a 1 inch Puffer Fish.
The thing was great. I had him in there for
2 weeks before I read about them and how they
can destroy a tank. This fish didn't touch
anything in the tank during the duration of
his stay. But it was great to watch. Just
ate brine, krill and fishflakes. Has anyone
had luck keeping one in a reef?
Thnx
____________________
Im gonna miss this guy

eses · 10-08-2001, 10:28 PM

Mine was fine mostly, it did however eat every type of small worm encrusted anywhere in the tank, with the exceptions of those it couldn't get at. My population of larger pods was reduced upon introduction, but otherwise it did well with everything else until it died from a powerhead mishap.

Mine was still very small though, once they grow to adult size I could see it doing some damage.

BlueWater · 10-08-2001, 10:40 PM

Thnx for the tip.

Did you have corals, anenomes, and/or snails in the tank as well?
If so, did it touch those?

Reinhold · 10-08-2001, 11:21 PM

I had a Stars and Stripes puffer when I converted my FO tank to reef. It too started out about 1 1/2 inches long. The problem is that they grow very fast. Soon it was 5 inches long.

It ate every pod, worm, snail or other crustacean it could get its beak on. The puffer has a beak to bust up hard corals, and like a beaver, it chews on them to keep it trimmed down.

There are actually dentists who will anesthetize your puffer and file its beak down when it gets too pointed to eat properly.

BlueWater · 10-09-2001, 02:18 AM

Awesome. Welp, the man said it. First hand bad experience
is exactly what i needed to hear. No Puffer in my reef!!!

thnx 4 info guyz

Reinhold · 10-09-2001, 09:04 AM

I have had 2 puffers over the past 6 years, a Dog Face and the Stars and Stripes, and I miss having one now. They have more personality than any other fish.

What I really need is another tank!

VP · 10-09-2001, 03:56 PM

My porcupine puffer has been in my reef for 2 years and leaves most things alone. He came in as a tiny little guy and is now about 5". He likes to eat small snails and bite the heads off feather dusters just to spit them out but other than that leaves hermits, fighting conch, anemone and corals alone. JME. I have heard they can munch up everything though. I figure mine hasn't because he grew up with all the reef stuff and doesn't see it as food. He likes his big pieces of tiger shrimp, crab, lobster, clam, etc. more than anything in the tank.

BlueWater · 10-09-2001, 09:26 PM

Did your Porc Puffer grow fast since you had him?

slimsteele · 10-10-2001, 11:09 PM

Is this type of puffer a full fledged saltwater fish I have had 1 in a brackish tank for 2 years now saved him from Walmart

BlueWater · 10-11-2001, 01:53 AM

Im not sure dude.

The ones I saw at the LFS were in saltwater tanks.
I read that some puffers live in brackish water.
Perhaps they are converted or something. Do you have
a pic? And also, does it attack the stuff in your brackish tank?

slimsteele · 10-12-2001, 10:16 PM

Dont have a pic of that tank and the only thing in the tank is gravel and plastic plants

10-08-2001, 08:56 PM	#1
BlueWater Citizen Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Manhattan Beach, California Posts: 129	Any1 ever have a Puffer in a reef? I posted this in another forum, but got mixed responces... So I thought I'd try here. No one could really tell me if they had personal "bad" experiences. Has anyone ever had first hand experience in this? __________________________________________ My friend's buddy moved, and he had some fish he needed to get rid of. So I grabbed his smallest one, which was a 1 inch Puffer Fish. The thing was great. I had him in there for 2 weeks before I read about them and how they can destroy a tank. This fish didn't touch anything in the tank during the duration of his stay. But it was great to watch. Just ate brine, krill and fishflakes. Has anyone had luck keeping one in a reef? Thnx ____________________ Im gonna miss this guy

10-10-2001, 11:09 PM	#9
slimsteele Just Moved In Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Caddo Mills,Texas U.S.A. Posts: 23	Is this type of puffer a full fledged saltwater fish I have had 1 in a brackish tank for 2 years now saved him from Walmart __________________ slim

10-12-2001, 10:16 PM	#11
slimsteele Just Moved In Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Caddo Mills,Texas U.S.A. Posts: 23	Dont have a pic of that tank and the only thing in the tank is gravel and plastic plants __________________ slim

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10-08-2001, 10:28 PM	#2
eses Council Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Seattle Posts: 270	Mine was fine mostly, it did however eat every type of small worm encrusted anywhere in the tank, with the exceptions of those it couldn't get at. My population of larger pods was reduced upon introduction, but otherwise it did well with everything else until it died from a powerhead mishap. Mine was still very small though, once they grow to adult size I could see it doing some damage.

10-08-2001, 10:40 PM	#3
BlueWater Citizen Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Manhattan Beach, California Posts: 129	Thnx for the tip. Did you have corals, anenomes, and/or snails in the tank as well? If so, did it touch those?

10-08-2001, 11:21 PM	#4
Reinhold Mayor Join Date: May 2001 Location: USA Posts: 941	I had a Stars and Stripes puffer when I converted my FO tank to reef. It too started out about 1 1/2 inches long. The problem is that they grow very fast. Soon it was 5 inches long. It ate every pod, worm, snail or other crustacean it could get its beak on. The puffer has a beak to bust up hard corals, and like a beaver, it chews on them to keep it trimmed down. There are actually dentists who will anesthetize your puffer and file its beak down when it gets too pointed to eat properly.

10-09-2001, 02:18 AM	#5
BlueWater Citizen Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Manhattan Beach, California Posts: 129	Awesome. Welp, the man said it. First hand bad experience is exactly what i needed to hear. No Puffer in my reef!!! thnx 4 info guyz

10-09-2001, 09:04 AM	#6
Reinhold Mayor Join Date: May 2001 Location: USA Posts: 941	I have had 2 puffers over the past 6 years, a Dog Face and the Stars and Stripes, and I miss having one now. They have more personality than any other fish. What I really need is another tank!

10-09-2001, 03:56 PM	#7
VP Tenant Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Huntington Beach, CA USA Posts: 96	My porcupine puffer has been in my reef for 2 years and leaves most things alone. He came in as a tiny little guy and is now about 5". He likes to eat small snails and bite the heads off feather dusters just to spit them out but other than that leaves hermits, fighting conch, anemone and corals alone. JME. I have heard they can munch up everything though. I figure mine hasn't because he grew up with all the reef stuff and doesn't see it as food. He likes his big pieces of tiger shrimp, crab, lobster, clam, etc. more than anything in the tank.

10-09-2001, 09:26 PM	#8
BlueWater Citizen Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Manhattan Beach, California Posts: 129	Did your Porc Puffer grow fast since you had him?

10-11-2001, 01:53 AM	#10
BlueWater Citizen Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Manhattan Beach, California Posts: 129	Im not sure dude. The ones I saw at the LFS were in saltwater tanks. I read that some puffers live in brackish water. Perhaps they are converted or something. Do you have a pic? And also, does it attack the stuff in your brackish tank?

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