Hey I recently set up my 55g FOWLR tank and I have decided what the inhabitants will be. A snowflake eel, a dwarf fuzzy lionfish, and a spiny box puffer. I know these fish will outgrow my tank soon, but when the time comes I will upgrade. My question is if possible, what inverts will survive living with these guys to control algae and perhaps clean up some scraps leftover from feeding? I know I will be already pushing it with the bioload with these messy eaters. I was thinking of having 1 large hermit crab and a couple of large snails, but I'm worried that a large hermit will add more bioload to the system rather than help it. Is there a small effective algae eating fish I can house along with these guys that is an effective algae and waste controller? How will fan worms work out with these guys? Any info will be appreciated. Thanx in advance.
cleanup crew for a spiny box puffer
- Thread starter keiferd
- Start date
I think fan worms would be expensive snacks.
You might try a serpent star. They often hide, coming out at night. They are great for picking up scraps and won't put a lot of bioload on your tank. Stay away from the green ones, they can eat fish and get very big. (I had one for over seven years.)
Try a couple medium sized hermits. I like scarlet reef hermits and have had several survive in a 55 with some predators. If they are eaten, you are out less than $10. Same with the snails. I wouldn't worry about adding huge ones, you don't need a lot of extra bioload on the tank. Add hermits and snails before the fish.
I strongly recommend you get the smallest size possible in the box puffer and the eel. There is also a chance the puffer would nip at the lionfish. Especially with the small size of the tank, if the fish have any size on them, you risk elevated aggression.
While you didn't ask for an alternative stock list, would you consider:
Green wolf eel blenny (gets ~18"- substitute for snowflake eel)
Sharpnose puffer/Green spotted puffer OR dwarf lionfish (lion and puffer not likely to be compatible)
Smaller hawkfish or another smaller predator
With a stocking list like this, you could keep the fish long-term in the 55. If you upgrade, and don't get a lion, you could add a porc or burrfish to a bigger tank, along with the fish already listed. Just an idea...
You might try a serpent star. They often hide, coming out at night. They are great for picking up scraps and won't put a lot of bioload on your tank. Stay away from the green ones, they can eat fish and get very big. (I had one for over seven years.)
Try a couple medium sized hermits. I like scarlet reef hermits and have had several survive in a 55 with some predators. If they are eaten, you are out less than $10. Same with the snails. I wouldn't worry about adding huge ones, you don't need a lot of extra bioload on the tank. Add hermits and snails before the fish.
I strongly recommend you get the smallest size possible in the box puffer and the eel. There is also a chance the puffer would nip at the lionfish. Especially with the small size of the tank, if the fish have any size on them, you risk elevated aggression.
While you didn't ask for an alternative stock list, would you consider:
Green wolf eel blenny (gets ~18"- substitute for snowflake eel)
Sharpnose puffer/Green spotted puffer OR dwarf lionfish (lion and puffer not likely to be compatible)
Smaller hawkfish or another smaller predator
With a stocking list like this, you could keep the fish long-term in the 55. If you upgrade, and don't get a lion, you could add a porc or burrfish to a bigger tank, along with the fish already listed. Just an idea...
Pufferpunk
New member
After seeing the huge adult spiny box at my LFS, I do not believe it would be happy in a 55g. This one looked like an old man--even the points of it's spines were all worn off!
Mine was a total gentleman (or lady) around the normal cleaner crew of snails, crabs & even shtrimp. Of course, you can never tell what a puffer will eat at any time.
Be sure to treat the SB for IPs--very common for this fish. Is it eating well?
Mine was a total gentleman (or lady) around the normal cleaner crew of snails, crabs & even shtrimp. Of course, you can never tell what a puffer will eat at any time.
Be sure to treat the SB for IPs--very common for this fish. Is it eating well?
aren't there several species of spiny box puffer (burrfish) that get no more than 10"? there seem to be several listed that stay relatively small:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/diodontpuffers.htm
granted, that would still be way too big for a 55.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/diodontpuffers.htm
granted, that would still be way too big for a 55.
Pufferpunk
New member
Yeah, I'd say that "old man" was about 10" long or so but really chunky. I'd imagine a huge bioload put out by that fish!
AquaKnight
Active member
Re: cleanup crew for a spiny box puffer
Then why not just do it now?
Then why not just do it now?
because my house Is old and my room is on the 2nd floor. When I first filled this 55g tank my floor made cracking sounds like crazy and I feared it would fall through the floor. If I go any bigger, my garage will look like a tsunami disaster
once I move out in a year or so I will upgrade to a larger tank.
once I move out in a year or so I will upgrade to a larger tank.