puffers

[dmarkham]

Has anyone had any luck with a puffer in a reef tank? I am looking to put a blue puffer in a 29 gallons nano reef with a yellow dottyback. I know someone that has a puffer in his reef tank and there are no problems. The book states they are not reef safe. Then the books are not always right. He has a coral banded shrimp with his puffer also. That is a not good if you listen to the book. I am just trying to see if anyone else has tried it. Also what clean up crew do you us? Puffers eat crabs and snails. The blue puffer does not get over 3.5 inches per the book. Any thoughts?

 

[bimmerzs]

@dmarkham wrote:

Hi,

There is a reason you don't see even the smaller puffers in the nice reef tanks. I had a small spotted puffer in my 45G tank when I first started off, all appeared fine except for it eating a few crabs and snails( I initially didn't mind this) after 8 months or so it's started eating my very expensive zoa's, I sold it off and within a few months I noticed a lot more life growing off the rocks and a few sps coral that never polyped out, were doing much better. I'm sure there are those that would disagree and go against conventional wisdom.

Cheers,

 

[dmarkham]

Thanks for the info. Anyone else try?

 

[kaledrina]

I have a Green Spot Puffer in my tank. I've had him for two years.. They aren't very popular to begin w/ because they're fresh water that need to be converted to SW. He's a model citizen except I've never tried decorative shrimp. He does take interest in snails, crabs but I don't really consider it much of a loss since I get most of mine from GBs. $0.50 isn't really much of a loss. Absolutely no clams though. That was a nice $30 meal for him.. :x

He doesn't care for corals at all. I can't speak about all puffers though since it can be a personal thing. One of my chiropractors has a dogface in a reef tank.

 

[dmarkham]

I do not care about the crabs or snails that much. I think they may not do bad with larger types of coral. My wife wants one and he was cheap. I am going to try to add him and see what happens. :roll: I only have one Zoa frg in the tank. It was only 7.95 @ Tranquil Scapes. I have Fogspawn, Hairy and Green mushrooms, Green Star and Daisy Polyps, as well as Green Botton Polyps, and a Gba that is about 5" now. So I will let everyone know on Monday.