Porcupine Puffer Questions

[GrayJ]

I love these fish and I am now starting a Saltwater tank. I have a few questions so please help me answer them.

1 Are these Coral/Anemone safe? ( I have seen pictures and videos of them with Invertabrates but other online sources say no)

2 Will these Go with
- Dwarf angelfish
- Royal gramma
- 2 percula clownfish
- Yellow and Hippo tang
- Yellow watchmen goby

3 Can one go in a 90 gallon tank?

Thanks for your answers I look forward to hearing them

 

[oceanparadise1]

the puffer will most likey eat anything it can fit in its mouth, so i would put it with clowns that are bigger, also yes it will be fine in a 90

 

[prime311]

Not long term fine in a 90. Mines in a 125 and even thats a stretch long term. I wouldn't put one in a reef, too much trouble/risk.

 

[Mike5252]

I have one in a 210gal with 4 other fish. Definitely not reef safe. Mine will ignore any pellet or small food, but will charge at any fish trying to eat "his" krill, prawn, or silversides. He's actually bit other fish, but never killed anything.

I've had him about 4 years now. He is a very personal fish, I wouldn't trade him for anything. His name is Kip.

He's also bit me before, but I think it was a case of mistaken identity. (My pinky resembles a piece of krill maybe?). I think he was just as surprised as I was.

I think you would be OK with your fish, but a 90gal isn't enough to raise this fish to adulthood.

 

[jtreefdweller]

So first off I would like to say every puffer is different, but the majority of porcs are not invert safe. I have kept mine in a reef tank with clown fish, dwarf angel, anemones, and even feather dusters. He touched none of them. He has been great in terms of eating.....he only eats what I feed him. I doubt he will eat small fish but I can't say for sure on this. The 90gal will be fine for some time but not forever. I would not keep him in anything smaller then 120gal when he is an adult. They are actually alright in reef tanks but will sometimes rub/lay on corals.

So pretty much heres the break down....
corals/anemones - will be fine
inverts (shrimp,crabs, etc.) - will not be fine
The fish you listed - pretty sure they will all be fine
90 Gallon - only unitll he outgrows it, which he will.

 

[oceanparadise1]

i could be wrong but ive always heard that it will eat anything that can fit in its mouth

 

[tdallenkk]

No No and finally No........They eat....almost as much as groupers do!

 

[jtreefdweller]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12820874#post12820874 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oceanparadise1
i could be wrong but ive always heard that it will eat anything that can fit in its mouth

Have you heard this or had this happen with your porcupine puffer?

 

[jtreefdweller]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12821041#post12821041 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tdallenkk
No No and finally No........They eat....almost as much as groupers do!

I mean they sure are pigs but are you sure you are not confusing Diodon liturosus for Diodon holacanthus?
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/diodontpuffers.htm
^^^^Scroll down to diodon and check them both out^^^^

 

[reefergeorge]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12822217#post12822217 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jtreefdweller
Have you heard this or had this happen with your porcupine puffer?

My 6" porc ate both of my clowns. One was 1.5", and the other 2". I thought they were to large to eat, but I was wrong.
Mine leaves my corals, and inverts alone, but is a very very food aggressive during feeding .

 

[jtreefdweller]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12823048#post12823048 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefergeorge
My 6" porc ate both of my clowns. One was 1.5", and the other 2". I thought they were to large to eat, but I was wrong.
Mine leaves my corals, and inverts alone, but is a very very food aggressive during feeding .

Thanks for sharing this info. It sounds like putting him with small fish is not a good idea.

 

[laf-reef]

1 Are these Coral/Anemone safe?

mine is in a 120 with xenia, mushrooms and leathers - no issues

2 Will these Go with
- Dwarf angelfish
- Royal gramma
- 2 percula clownfish
- Yellow and Hippo tang
- Yellow watchmen goby

Maybe, depends on the individual porc. Mine is with a sailfin tang, foxface & longnose hawkfish - no issues.

3 Can one go in a 90 gallon tank?

90 is on the small side for the porc puffer. The 90 is WAY to small for the stocking list you have.

 

[GrayJ]

Thanks for your answers you've been a big help.

 

[stdreb27]

I never had problems with small fish and puffers, however it has been known to happen. I do think it is a no go with inverts and corals. However I'd definately do something larger than a 90 if you want a puffer.

 

[Pufferpunk]

With puffers & eating, it has nothing to do with mouth size. They have fused plates that tear into their food to rip off chunks of meat. Hence, their ability to eat cruataceons (their staple food). They actually must eat crunchy foods to keep their teeth from overgrowing.

100g is minimum tank size for these messy eaters & high waste producers. Adding tank mates--you'd need an even larger tank.

 

[u418936]

I've had a porcupine puffer in my reef for a couple of years, and he's never bothered any corals or clams. He will, however, eat any crab that he can fit in his mouth. He's also eaten a cardinal fish.

 

[cullens089]

i have mine with a stars and stripes puffer and had 2 clowns and well he killed one but didnt eat it but the other clown he leaves alone. but hates inverts