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View Full Version : Spiny Puffer - Does anyone have one of these?


StephenA
Sat, 19th Mar 2005, 05:36 PM
AquaTek has had one of these for a long time. I was thinking about getting him. The family has become very friendly with him. I would have to set up a tank just for him. My book says 75gal is the min.

What kind of care do one of these need? Any special needs?
BA
Sat, 19th Mar 2005, 05:42 PM
no special needs...they eat a lot of food( huge pigs) grow quickly when fed well...mine ate anything.(squid,scallops,shrimp,krill,even went around eating the brine when put in the tank) also enjoyed a snack of banana from time to time...but i do not think a 75 would be sufficient.. they do get almost a foot, try to get a bigger tank...something like a 125 maybe...
don-n-sa
Sat, 19th Mar 2005, 06:29 PM
Special needs? Yes they are like puppies, they want attention in the form of treats all day and night. They are awesome fish, lots of personality definitley one of my favorites...be careful they are very easy to overfeed. More food means more poop, which means more nutrients, then you know the rest.

Be sure that you get the porcipine puffer Diodon holacanthus

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=244


and not the spiny boxfish Chilomycterus schoepfi

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/marine/puffers/stripedburr.php

the boxfish are not near as hardy and dont puff up.


The 75g is definitely a little small for a full grown porc puffer...try to get at least a 100g so you can have a few tankmates as well.
Tim Marvin
Sat, 19th Mar 2005, 08:55 PM
They must be fed inverts or something with a shell from time to time to help keep the "beak" sanded down if the teeth get too long it can hinder them when they try to eat. They must also have pristine water or they can succumb to bacterial infections on the skin rather easily. Other than that, they usually eat well, and are VERY interesting to watch. You should be OK in a 75-80 gallon tank for a couple years providing it's small now, but if you haven't bought a tank yet go with the 125 as suggested. It isn't a good idea to scare them into puffing up either.
witecap4u
Sat, 19th Mar 2005, 11:17 PM
How do these do with corals and small reef fish. I know the snails, crabs and shrimp will be gone fast, but could these be kept in a reef tank with a pair of maroon clowns and a bicolor blenny and corals?
cs
StephenA
Sat, 19th Mar 2005, 11:21 PM
They can eat smaller tankmates.
Ed
Sun, 20th Mar 2005, 12:09 AM
They can eat smaller tankmates.

They can also be fin nippers even with the larger tank mates. :o
StephenA
Fri, 25th Mar 2005, 07:34 PM
I purchased a 75Gal Reef Ready tank today, AquaTek also found me a 3 inch spiny puffer to raise in it. I would hope the 75Gal will last him a while.
GaryP
Fri, 25th Mar 2005, 07:53 PM
A new 75 for one fish? Stephen is it time for a reefer intervention?
StephenA
Fri, 25th Mar 2005, 08:46 PM
A new 75 for one fish? Stephen is it time for a reefer intervention?

LOL

I might add a lion fish or an eel. Something that can fight back, or not fit in his mouth.

So you think it will look empty with a 3 inch fish?
Ram_Puppy
Fri, 25th Mar 2005, 10:11 PM
A puffer will de-spine the lion and eat it for dinner if it is so inclined.
StephenA
Fri, 25th Mar 2005, 10:41 PM
A puffer will de-spine the lion and eat it for dinner if it is so inclined.

Is that if you don't feed them?
Ram_Puppy
Fri, 25th Mar 2005, 10:58 PM
not sure, a while back I was researching the feasability of putting puffers and lions in the same tank, I researched here, and at reefcentral, and the general consensus in both places is it can be done, but it is very risky, more often than not fails, and even those that have had success for a time have had the puffer turn on the lion. :| I decided not to take a risk, these fish have to much personality and are easy to grow attatched to.
NaCl_H2O
Sat, 26th Mar 2005, 12:07 AM
A new 75 for one fish? Stephen is it time for a reefer intervention?

lol, that would require others that had already been reformed ... where you gonna find any of them? ;)
StephenA
Sat, 2nd Apr 2005, 09:30 AM
What suggestions do you have for setup?

Currently I have:

75Gal Reef Ready Tank
Lid!
Stand
Tunze Skimmer

How much sand and rock would you add to this tank? I only plan to have the Puffer and maybe an eel. I haven't decided on the sump yet either (plain 20 gal or a real sump).
don-n-sa
Sat, 2nd Apr 2005, 11:07 AM
1-Porcipine Puffer

1-Snowflake Moray or Picasso, Niger trigger

1-Black Anglerfish that is outgrowing my 12g mantis tank :P