New Saddle Valentini Puffer in my 28G Nano Mixed Reef

[PeterBel]

I have been looking at this fish for some time and finally decided to take the risk and introduce it to my tank.

My tank

Coral:
Mostly LPS and Softies.
Torch, Hammer, Frogspawn, Mushroom, Zoa, Paly, Candy cane, Acan, Ricordia, Xenia
SPS (Accro & Montipora)

Fish & Critter:
2 x Black & White Ocellaris Clownfish
1 x Dracula Goby & Pistol Shrimp (Paired)
1 x Neon Blue Goby
Turbo snails, Nassarius, Astraea, Scarlet & Blue Hermit & some other hitchhikers.

I did a 1 hour drip acclimatization and released the Puffer to my tank. I didn't observe any stress and he looked very relax during the whole process.

Once released, it took about 10 seconds (no kidding) for him to spot the 1st hitchhiker (snail type) and took a bite at it. I never saw that hitchhiker go that fast! After the 1st bite, the puffer went to my Candy Cane and also took a bite at it. Minor damage and he left the Candy Cane alone. After 24 hours of observation (yes i did sleep), i didn't see him bite at anything else.

So far so good, i am hoping for the best. This is such a fun fish with a lot of personality and not shy at all. I fed him with pellets and Brine Shrimps and ate like a champ (will get hard shell food today). No problem with the Gobies or Clownfish and i am waiting to see how brave my Dracula Goby will be to defend the Pistol Shrimp (if needed).

It is also funny how they sleep vertically (head up) on the live rock.

Here are the first pictures of him. (Sorry only night shots for now, will get day shots today)

This one is a Full tank picture, see how he blend into the rock, took me some time to spot it this morning hehehehe

Closer Look

 

[Betta132]

I think the pistol is safe. The goby will alert it to the approaching threat, and I doubt the puffer can dig it out of its burrow.

 

[Stevenliu9]

I think the pistol is safe. The goby will alert it to the approaching threat, and I doubt the puffer can dig it out of its burrow.

+1, I think the pistol is alright too

 

[PeterBel]

Here is the little guy on day light!

 

[ffmedic]

That's awesome I'm looking at getting one myself

 

[PeterBel]

After 2 months, my puffers have not touch any of my corals, He also didn't touch my shrimp, snails and tube worm. The only thing that he seems to like are my amphipods that practically disappeared from my tank. The copepods are fines my puffer doesn't seems to be able to catch them.

 

[ffmedic]

That's good to hear

 

[ffmedic]

What other fish do you have in that tank

 

[PeterBel]

2 Clowns (black & white), 1 Dracula Gobby & Pistol Shrimp, 1 Blue Neon Gobby. A few Turbo snails, nassarius, hitchicker snail type, tube worms, and amphipods, copepods.

That's it!