Porcupine Pufferfish ( anyone had luck with them in your reef tank)

[jdthomas24]

I have seen one guy who had an adult who did not eat his shrimp and maybe snails every once in awhile. He stated that he would thumb him on the nose when he got out of line and then after awhile it did not do it anymore. Has anyone actually had any luck with these puffers in their reef tanks? My wife wants one and im not scared to lose a few snails. My large cleaner shrimp on the other hand cost me about 30 each and i would like to have them around.

 

[rssjsb]

I think your friend is pulling your leg. You can't discipline a fish out of eating a tankmate if that's what it's inclined to do. You can only offer it alternatives and hope for the best.

I love puffers, but if you're attached to your shrimp, I wouldn't do it.

 

[agreeive?fish]

I cant answer the reef part but my porc favorite food is frozen shrimp..i cant imagine a live shrimp being safe escpecially since pocs by nature like shrimp and are evening/night/early morning hunter in nature

 

[jdthomas24]

HMM, Valid point, maybe he just has a nice one that has decided not to eat his tank mates. Maybe he feeds them a lot. i know i don't want to have to worry about my other fish and such, snails,,, ahh i don't care that much but other things i do....

 

[triggerfreak]

Actually yes you can.I have done it with some of my triggers.It takes a while but they learn.Fish are not as dumb as you think.And as for a puffer in a reef.I have seen it done.Most porks will leave snails and crabs alone.As for shrimp it is iffy.You best bet would be to get a real small pork as they might of not learned to eat live shrimp or got the tast for them.

I think your friend is pulling your leg. You can't discipline a fish out of eating a tankmate if that's what it's inclined to do. You can only offer it alternatives and hope for the best.

I love puffers, but if you're attached to your shrimp, I wouldn't do it.

 

[jdthomas24]

actually yes you can.i have done it with some of my triggers.it takes a while but they learn.fish are not as dumb as you think.and as for a puffer in a reef.i have seen it done.most porks will leave snails and crabs alone.as for shrimp it is iffy.you best bet would be to get a real small pork as they might of not learned to eat live shrimp or got the tast for them.

interesting. I may take the chance then ..

 

[michealprater]

I would think as personable as a pork is, you may be ablet to catch him easily if things go south.

 

[Terra Ferma]

I have a 5" specimen in my reef - shrimp are gone as soon as he finds them. Hermits and snails are always living on borrowed time (it takes him a while to eat off them). Keep in mind that they have very powerful jaws - if he sees food (or something food like) sitting on top of a coral he can take a pretty nice chunk out of it getting to his meal.

 

[rssjsb]

Actually yes you can.I have done it with some of my triggers.It takes a while but they learn.Fish are not as dumb as you think.And as for a puffer in a reef.I have seen it done.Most porks will leave snails and crabs alone.As for shrimp it is iffy.You best bet would be to get a real small pork as they might of not learned to eat live shrimp or got the tast for them.

Just to be clear, I didn't say or mean to imply that they were dumb. They are actually pretty smart. I was reacting to the claim that his friend had physically disciplined his puffer. I think that you might be able to intervene and scare them away from harassing inverts when you're there to see it, but what about when you're not there? Most fish are constantly swimming around looking for a meal. When the meal is cooped up with them in a little box all day, I just think it's on borrowed time.

I would actually be really interested in how you managed to train your triggers.

 

[triggerfreak]

I trained my first 2 queen triggers not to touch other fish.When they got to about 8 inches they started to pick on a couple fish.I would just go in the tank and wack them a few time with my had or something else when they would go after the other fish.After a couple times they would just ignore that fish.It worked for my with two large queen triggers.And neither of them ever got a hold of any of my fish no matter what size.I also do feed heavy to curb aggression also.But i have disciplined my fish to train them what not to go after in the tank. And rssjsb i did not take any offence to your post, was just stating that it could be done.

 

[rssjsb]

And rssjsb i did not take any offence to your post, was just stating that it could be done.

Good to hear.

 

["TheChad"]

I had tried the disciplining of my red snapper and that was a "no dice" situation i guess it depends on all the variables(i.e. age, size, food, feeding schedule, temperment etc...) but i also have a porc and let me tell you for the time they spent together it was hell. The porc lost his tail twice and suffice to say i actually believe he pities the unfortunate and despite it being a food source he leaves both my fire shrimp and my cleaner alone. Now I also strongly believe that this is because of the first 3 months in the tank he was the food. I guess it may be possible, its all about the variables.