Need help choosing a fish..................

[jrossjr79]

I am having to get rid of my wife's Porcupine Puffer. I tried and tired to keep him in a reef tank, he did great in a FOWLR, but not so well in a reef. Trouble is, this is my wife's fish, she has become very attached to it.

The part I need help in, is what are some reef safe fish that have lots of personality some what close to a puffers?

This Puffer eats out of your hands, notices you when you walk in the room, swims around quite a bit, overall a good mood fish.

Is there any reef safe fish that has some of these personality traits, I know I wont find them all except in other puffers, but some I am hoping.

[Mike]

Long nose Hawk.... they are always over checking you out and what you are doing. Hawks in general. Kristy had a flame hawk that used to come perch on her hand when she had her hand in the tank. They are jumpers though, so you need a top. They will eat shrimp.

[jrossjr79]

I have a Falco Hawkfish, he doesnt show that personality. Would the two hawkfish get along? BTW, I have a canopy :)

[BBQHILLBILLY]

Hawkfish are awesome. One could argue that they may be one of the smartest fish. When I had my falco,
he would herd the cleaner shrimpss, and one day they were gone. So hawkfish had to rent another tank.
Awesome hawkfish, not sure if you can put 2 in a tank. probably not

[Mike]

We have had the long nose and the flame in the 210g for years. No problems. Some of the more aggressive hawks, that get larger, like the arc eye might be an issue.

[jrossjr79]

Any other suggestions out there?

[Mike]

My trigger has a great personality, but would eat your CUC, which I imagine your puffer does too. One if the more laid back ones. Think triggers can be hit or miss on aggression though. Have heard some horror stories and had a pink tail trigger (that are supposed to be pretty safe) that was a terror. So maybe not...

[Mike]

The fish book we have describes Picasso triggers as being "the fish for people who really want a dog" :)

[jrossjr79]

Actually, other than a bristle star wifes puffer never went after any of the CUC, including a peppermint shrimp that the Seargent Major I am getting rid of ate. Chased the Blue Damsel and Hawkfish once or twice. But has shown no other signs of aggression until I started putting coral into the tank.

Here is what Livestock I have in the tank now, other than coral:

Snails
Hermit Crabs
Brittle Sea Stars
Falco Hawkfish
Blue Damsel
Lawnmower Blenny (which has a split personality, for awhile now he has been eating krill and chopped shrimp)


Getting soon:
Clown Fish
possibly some chromis and firefish

I wanted to get more shrimp, but with the hawkfish cant really do so.

Question is with the Picasso fit in with out disturbing the current tank mates?

[alton]

Have you looked into Wrasses? I never had until my wife saw Mike and Kristy's and now I am adding a pair to our tank.

[jrossjr79]

Any of those wrasses have a personality like I described?

[Mike]

They swim around a lot and are nice splashes of color. Not much personality. The Picasso would likely eat your snails/hermits/shrimp and starfish. I keep hermits in the FOWLR as a CUC, but they slowly get eaten. They are reef safe in regards to coral. My puffer actually eats mushrooms, so is less reef safe.

[jrossjr79]

Thanks Mike. As far as my wifes puffer, never messed with the mushroom. But tore the hell out of a kenya tree in seconds. ANd made a crunchy snack out of a Brittle Star. ANd because I have 5 more all within the Pipe Organ, the puffer started messing with it. Which is why my wifes puffer is now in the sump. Trying to figure out what I am going to do.

[Mike]

Kenya trees do not last long in the FOWLR, although I was blaming the emperor angel. Could have been the puffer. No one eats Xenia or anthelia or leathers though.

[Big_Pun]

Box fish are cool, but a challenge to settle and get to eat sometimes.


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[jrossjr79]

Two things I thought about Box Fish, so please correct me if I am wrong.

1. I thought they are invertabras
2. If startled or feel threatened, dont they secrete a toxin into the water?

Again please correct me if I am wrong

[Big_Pun]

I've tried them a few times but bad luck with them. And no it's not you go "boo" and they spray toxins like a skunk would spray. As long as you don't let it sit and rot in tank no toxins are released. When looked like they where on last leg i pulled them out and flushed them(one got stuck on power head for a while, one stuck in 10 mini carpet nems, last one got ick and died in tank. they are not invertebrate , think your looking at box jelly fish info.


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[jrossjr79]

Might give a try with that then, saw a video, and seem very playful, more so than the porcupine puffer. Curious has anyone seen them here locally, the black and white spotted ones? I am sure I saw the yellow spotted box fish at Coral Cove. Dont remember seeing any over at ER though.

[alton]

The puppy dogs/fish I have owned that are/where reef safe:
Baby Clown Triggers up to 4". I had one once that slept under two Wesophyllias. Typically they create a bio load that exceeds my reef tanks when they get older. Maybe using Bio Pellets might not be a problem? It is like having an Oscar, when bored they pack crabs around but never ate one. They can get aggressive.
Copperband when I am home he will not leave the feed corner of the tank, when I clean he follows my hand begging for food. I have had him for ten years
Redsea Regal Angels - I have three, the juvenile is not as bold as the two adults, he was until I put her in my 300 with one adult. The adult in my 300 is very similar to my Copperband. The one in my 125 at work looks at me most of the time like are you going to feed me? When I had him in QT he would spit water at me until I fed him just like a trigger. Cost I only paid $100 for him at a LFS. Reef Central just sold one yesterday for $449? They come available once in a great while but just keep bugging your LFS until he gets one in. They grow very slow.
Finding the perfect fish may involve going to multiple fish stores until you find that fish that just begs for your attention.

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac237/Altonv1/th_IMG_1057_zps87f6ff57.jpg (http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac237/Altonv1/IMG_1057_zps87f6ff57.mp4)

[jrossjr79]

Thank you everyone for your recommendations, but I think I made my decision on the replacement of the puffer. :)

Will be abouty 2 -3 months before I go purchase it, I want things in the tank to get a bit more established first.

[EpicWin]

Melanarus wrasses are very friendly and have tons of personality. I've never had an issue with them picking on inverts. The best personality fish of all time is the blue spot jaw fish. Just like a dog. Hard to keep though.

[EpicWin]

U know what else are just awesome for a reef are dragon faced pipefish. A little finicky but cute and tons of personality