order to add fish

[jon1985]

I am planning a 220 fish only tank. The fist list is is far from final but I have a question anyways.

I plan to put a few dwarf angels, a few butterflies,a single porc puffer and a variety of smaller fish. I want to put a niger trigger in the tank aswell. Being the only trigger can I add him when ever?

 

[shaka]

I would personally rethink the Niger Trigger and porcupine puffer as tankmates for butterflies and dwarf angels. The Niger and puffer would be better together in a more aggressive fish-only or fowlr tank. I'd recommend going with dwarf angels, butterflies and small fish ( like anthias or chromis ) as one setup OR the Niger Trigger, porcupine puffer, and maybe a large angel or large tang or large wrasse as another setup. I wouldn't mix potentially big aggressive fish with peaceful smaller fish. But that's my opinion.

 

[Dragon moray ki]

I have never had porcupine puffer but I have had a Niger a it was good for almost a year and then boom killed every fish in the tank

 

[jon1985]

yea the more people I talk to they say the niger may be an issue. Might just axe the idea of a trigger in the tank.

Didnt know butterflies and a puffer wouldnt get along though.

 

[NiTr0x911]

Puffers love to nip..Tails...fins...There are exceptions to every rule but I would stay away from mixing the two.Good Luck.

 

[jon1985]

ahhhh thats to bad. I was really hoping to have a puffer in this tank. Are there any less aggressive puffers that may be a better option?

 

[shaka]

I think puffers in general are prone to nipping fins, tails, etc. They are carnivores and their mouths ( teeth fused together) are like a beak. I believe they eat mostly crustaceans, but they'll probably sample all kinds of things. Bflies and dwarf angels are constantly foraging but their mouths are smaller than puffers. They just kind of "pick" at their food.

 

[jon1985]

hmmm maybe I wont be keeping a puffer in this tank. I guess not the end of the world, it will make room in the bio load for other fish.

 

[CuttleKid]

Ime dog faced puffers are very peaceful and laid back but it all depends on the individual animal. I was planning on a specific puffer from my LFS. It was a half gold dog faced puffer but the owner said it is a nipper and extremely aggressive. He en directed me to a different puffer that was much more peaceful and calm. I have had him for a while and he has not nipped anything, including my lion fish which are nipper magnets. If I were you I would find and LFS you trust and build up a relationship and talk with the owner to find a puffer he/she may have that they know based on it's personality would not be a threat.

 

[Dragon moray ki]

If you want a trigger get a crosshatch or a blue jaw

 

[jon1985]

I would love a crosshatch trigger, but at $500ish its a bit out of the price range.

 

[Hoyden]

While all individual situations may vary, I keep a d holocanthus (often called a porcupine puffer) with a filefish with no problems and at the National Aquarium in DC we have 6 different species of puffers on display - 5 of them in tanks with various butterflyfish without issue. I have mine at home in a 40B waiting for the puffer to grow enough to go in my 210 FOWLR. The tank sizes for the puffers at the aquarium range from about 250g up to over 1000g. YMMV.