New puffer tank

[roger]

So many experts here!
I am helping my 10 yo with his tank. After a heartbreaking loss of his red linkia star and 2 snails after a water and filter change, he decided he wants to get a puffer for his 40 g. He has a pink spotted goby, pj card and one remnant green chromis.
I believe he wants a blue spot puffer and lawnmower blenny. Any suggestions for additional algae control or potential problems? He has a chunk of live rock, but should he add more?

[Arctic Fox]

I see a pretty big potential problem,
When you say "Blue Spotted Puffer" do you mean, "Arothron caeruleopunctatus", or "Arothron stellatus", or "Arothron mappa", or "Arothron hispidus", or "Omegaphora cyanopunctata"???
Because all but the cyanopunctata would be totally unsuited for a 40 gallon aquarium, and even then putting a cyanopunctata would still be a stretch.
All of those puffers get very large, Arothron caeruleopunctatus gets to be 70 cm (28 inches!!!). If you put any one of those species of puffers in that tank, it would be a very unhappy critter until it died.

If your child wants puffers I would recommend a "Figure eight puffer" (Tetradon biocellulous). Most figure eights are very nice little fish that stay small and aren't as aggressive as some of the other puffers. Just make sure to acclimate him slowly to saltwater since most pet stores keep them in fresh or brakish water.

Other candidates would be about half of the Tetraodon Family because of their small size, just make sure you do some research on them because some puffers are VERY aggressive and mean. The Canthigaster family also has some likely good candidates, and there are about 3 puffers in the Arothron family that might work. All I can say is PLEASE research a puffer before you buy it, some look super cute but can be very mean!


p.s. I'd be careful about the blenny too, because many puffers will eat fish that are slower than they are, while there aren't many fish slower than puffers, a blenny would fit into that "slower than puffers" catagory.

[rogerchesapeake]

I see a pretty big potential problem,
When you say "Blue Spotted Puffer" do you mean, "Arothron caeruleopunctatus", or "Arothron stellatus", or "Arothron mappa", or "Arothron hispidus", or "Omegaphora cyanopunctata"???
Because all but the cyanopunctata would be totally unsuited for a 40 gallon aquarium, and even then putting a cyanopunctata would still be a stretch.
All of those puffers get very large, Arothron caeruleopunctatus gets to be 70 cm (28 inches!!!). If you put any one of those species of puffers in that tank, it would be a very unhappy critter until it died.

If your child wants puffers I would recommend a "Figure eight puffer" (Tetradon biocellulous). Most figure eights are very nice little fish that stay small and aren't as aggressive as some of the other puffers. Just make sure to acclimate him slowly to saltwater since most pet stores keep them in fresh or brakish water.


Other candidates would be about half of the Tetraodon Family because of their small size, just make sure you do some research on them because some puffers are VERY aggressive and mean. The Canthigaster family also has some likely good candidates, and there are about 3 puffers in the Arothron family that might work. All I can say is PLEASE research a puffer before you buy it, some look super cute but can be very mean!


p.s. I'd be careful about the blenny too, because many puffers will eat fish that are slower than they are, while there aren't many fish slower than puffers, a blenny would fit into that "slower than puffers" catagory.

It is actually a blue "DOT" puffer (canthigaster epilamprus) - The on line store said it gets to be 5" (ship size is 2") and that is one of the more peaceful of the puffers.
Like I mentioned, we have a goby, a PJ cardinal and a Blue Green Chromis that is a remnant of cycling the tank.
We had been trying to have a reef aquarium but lost a star and some snails so we thought we were over our heads and are going to back off and try a fish only. Puffers excite my son but he is not interested in a figure eight.
Any other advice would be appreciated. He has decided against the blenny - what do you think of the black and white clown to complete his tank?

[Arctic Fox]

It is actually a blue "DOT" puffer (canthigaster epilamprus) - The on line store said it gets to be 5" (ship size is 2") and that is one of the more peaceful of the puffers.

That's good then, you had me scared at first there, Canthigaster epilamprus should be fine in that tank. I'd reccomend getting the puffer at a pretty small size, less than 2 inches. I've noticed better luck with puffers if they grow up with the other fishes, they tend to be less aggressive when they grow up together.

what do you think of the black and white clown to complete his tank?

I don't see any big problems, just make sure you add the clownfish before the puffer so he can grab a little piece of territory he can call his own.



Puffer tip: Puffers LOVE to chase down, catch and eat live shrimp. I wouldn't use freshwater ghost shrimp because their low nutrition level. If you have access to live saltwater shrimp, throw one in occasionally and watch the puffer go crazy, they will love you for it too.

Puffer tip: NEVER treat any sickness a puffer catches with copper based medicine. Copper will kill a puffer, and unfortunately, most fish medicines are copper based.

[rogerchesapeake]

That's good then, you had me scared at first there, Canthigaster epilamprus should be fine in that tank. I'd reccomend getting the puffer at a pretty small size, less than 2 inches. I've noticed better luck with puffers if they grow up with the other fishes, they tend to be less aggressive when they grow up together.



I don't see any big problems, just make sure you add the clownfish before the puffer so he can grab a little piece of territory he can call his own.



Puffer tip: Puffers LOVE to chase down, catch and eat live shrimp. I wouldn't use freshwater ghost shrimp because their low nutrition level. If you have access to live saltwater shrimp, throw one in occasionally and watch the puffer go crazy, they will love you for it too.

Puffer tip: NEVER treat any sickness a puffer catches with copper based medicine. Copper will kill a puffer, and unfortunately, most fish medicines are copper based.

Thanks, Are you talking about ornamental shrimp or are there some kind of feeder shrimp that we could get? We were thinking of putting some snails in the tank too - I saw that on a web site that puffers like them and if they don't, it would keep the tank clean....It also said we could buy frozen shrimp in the grocery store for them. Is that true? Otherwise I was going to get some frozen krill from the petstore. We are in Minnesota so no fresh seafood.
Thanks again

[Arctic Fox]

Thanks, Are you talking about ornamental shrimp or are there some kind of feeder shrimp that we could get?

I'm not aware of any specific saltwater feeder shrimp, but there really arent too many kinds of shrimp that a puffer wont eat. Personally my puffers will eat any shrimp that is too small to defend itself against them, and of course they have to be able to catch it too. Mine like hermit crabs as well, they don't seem to even bother with the hermit crabs when they are craweling around on the sand or rocks, but if I tie a string around the crab and dangle it in the water they go after it like it's the tastiest thing in the world.

We were thinking of putting some snails in the tank too - I saw that on a web site that puffers like them and if they don't, it would keep the tank clean....

It depends on the puffer, some puffers LOVE snails, they can be your puffer's favourite food. Some on the other hand do not like snails, some will only go after snails in a certain size range, some puffers will just nip and harrass the snails, but then not actually eat them. My puffers don't seem to care too much for snails except for the little antenna thingers the snails have, I've seen them go after that part of the snail, but otherwise they leave them alone.

It also said we could buy frozen shrimp in the grocery store for them. Is that true?

Yes, just be sure to wash them and leave the shells on, you may have to dangle them on a string to get the puffers interested. Don't get anything that's coloured or has chemicals in it.

Otherwise I was going to get some frozen krill from the petstore. We are in Minnesota so no fresh seafood.
Thanks again

Oddly enough, I've never had luck with krill unless I mixed it with other things. I've had good luck with Mysis Shrimp, Brine Shrimp, and basically anything with "shrimp" in the name. Frozen Mysis Shrimp are very good for sea critters to eat, I soak it in "Zoe" made by Kent before I feed it to the puffers, they love it.

Some people feed their puffers squid too, I've never been able to get my puffers to eat squid, but I've seen other puffers eat it