Puffer and Shrimp

[OzziChris]

So, I am very new to this hobby. I actually started because I purchased a 13 gallon fluval evo aquarium for my eight year old. We have gone through a lot over the last few months in the way of fish. My latest odd experience was adding a tiny puffer fish to the tank. We had two shrimp. A cleaner and fire shrimp. I'm not sure but I think the puffer killed both of them? Is the puffer fish typically this aggressive? Should I take him back to the fish store. I'm worried about him going after the damsel fish and clown fish next.


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[FinnCole]

Which puffer species is it most of them get over a foot long the tobys are the smallest species needing 20 to 30 gallons and most of them will eat and kill shrimp but sometimes tobys dont kill shrimps if it's a toby you have you should be fine in that small tank for a while but eventually you will need to upgrade if it's one of the other larger puffers there are 2 options rehome it or setup a larger tank 125 gallons would be recommended if you don't know which species your puffer is please post a picture also most large puffers will eat clowns and damsels but not tobys

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[tommyntina1117]

Depending on what you want to do, if I read that right, first not reef safe most will eat coral if not feed right but that's in my experience some say they are fine but they will eat all your snails just can't stop it well I couldn't and some will not eat shrimp or snails they do have different personalities anyway I would say they will eat shrimp and snails

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[FinnCole]

Depending on what you want to do, if I read that right, first not reef safe most will eat coral if not feed right but that's in my experience some say they are fine but they will eat all your snails just can't stop it well I couldn't and some will not eat shrimp or snails they do have different personalities anyway I would say they will eat shrimp and snails

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My grand parents have a toby puffer in a reef with shrimps snails and everything

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[OzziChris]

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[OzziChris]

Just posted a picture of the little puffer. He is so tiny. Maybe 1" long. I didn't think he would eat two shrimp as big as him. My son is devastated.


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[tommyntina1117]

Is that a fresh or saltwater tank looks a lot like a green spotted puffer which is fresh. there is some reef safe puffers and some have good luck with keeping any puffer just Remember to give them hard food like snails n claims there teeth grow and need to keep them down some

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[emilese]

Looks like a Green Spotted Puffer to me. If it is, then yes, they are aggressive and will eat shrimp. Sorry for your loss. Puffers are great fish with a ton of personality but, most will snails, shrimp, and crabs.

Not trying to criticize, just advice to avoid future heartache or problems but, it's good practice to always research any fish, invert, or coral before purchasing.

Miles

 

[emilese]

Is that a fresh or saltwater tank looks a lot like a green spotted puffer which is fresh. there is some reef safe puffers and some have good luck with keeping any puffer just Remember to give them hard food like snails n claims there teeth grow and need to keep them down some

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Actually, green spotted puffers require brackish to full saltwater. They are commonly mistakenly labeled as freshwater fish.

 

[keddre]

The green spotted puffer is what brought me into the hobby. They start off needing brackish ~1.016 when young but need full strength sea water when adults. That aside, they are aggressive to inverts; back when I had mine, I would feed him live shrimp


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[FinnCole]

Ok so the green spotted puffer is sometimes reef safe if you get a nice one. I have a green spotted puffer who used to eat ghost shrimp (I had him in with a frogfish) my puffer I have had for 2 years in October. when I got him He was about 1.5 inches now He is 2.5 they can stay is smaller tanks when there younger (mine is in a small tank right now it's 24 gallons) but you will need to upgrade eventually they need 30 gallons minimum but 55 is recommended

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[FinnCole]

Sorry for double post it said my last post had not been posted so I made another

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[Valentini89]

I would suggest keeping a valentini or saddled toby puffer with other fish in a small tank (25+ g) I have 2 tobies in a 26 gallon and they present no problem in the mixed reef aside from an occasional nip at a soft coral and they did destroy a feather duster lol. But they are picky with inverts. They will leave my emerald crab alone, and only occasionally peck at snails. I feed them brine shrimp almost daily so they stay satisfied.

 

[FinnCole]

I would suggest keeping a valentini or saddled toby puffer with other fish in a small tank (25+ g) I have 2 tobies in a 26 gallon and they present no problem in the mixed reef aside from an occasional nip at a soft coral and they did destroy a feather duster lol. But they are picky with inverts. They will leave my emerald crab alone, and only occasionally peck at snails. I feed them brine shrimp almost daily so they stay satisfied.

Tobys are great I want to get one do you thing one would do better in a 185 gallon fish only with large fish or a 24 gallon nano

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