Spiny Box Puffer for Reef tank?

[ReefsandGeeks]

I'm looking to add a new fish to my tank as a father's day gift from my wife and son. They took me out to a few fish stores to find a fish yesterday, but we didn't find any luck with something interesting, and also compatible with everything already in my tank.

I'm interested in a spiny box puffer, but I do have a mixed reef tank. I read that the puffer is not considered reef safe because it will eat inverts, but I don't have any shrimp, snails, or crabs in my tank. Just 2 urchins. I do have a mixture of coral including alot of zoas, hammer coral, and a couple of SPS like a birdsnest and an acro.

Fish-wise, I have a tang, pair of mature clown fish, small Picasso trigger, and a bi-color blenny.

Is there a good chance a puffer (perferably starting out small around 2" or so) would be compatible with my tank? I don't want him eating my coral, or attacking my other fish. The urchins can be relocated if needed. I like the spiny box puffer alot, but also like the porcupine and dogface puffers.

Anyone had luck in a similar situation?

 

[Cliving1]

What size tank? From what I have read, spiny's will also potentially eat coral.

 

[ReefsandGeeks]

125 gallon tank. I know some puffers can get quite large, but I'm not sure how fast they'd grow. IME, none of my fish have grown too fast. I do plan on upgrading to a 210 gallon tank in the future, but as everyone knows, those things can get pushed back, so it could be a couple of years before I pull the trigger on that. That is part of the reason I buy my fish on the smaller side. Plus I feel it's better for the fish to grow in a tank rather than be full grown before moving, and with a smaller/younger fish you'd have more time to enjoy it growing.

If the spiny puffers would eat coral, would the dogface ,or porcupine be a better choice?

 

[SnoopyDaPimp]

If the spiny puffers would eat coral, would the dogface ,or porcupine be a better choice?

My dogface is the reason I set up a separate reef tank and made his a swim tank. I can't speak for everyone but that was my experience.

 

[kimmy13x]

i've had my baby porcupine puffer in my 120 gallon reef tank for almost 2 months now and have not run into any problems. i love puffers and was willing to take the chance especially with this being a blue eyed one. He doesn't bother my corals *knocks on wood* or the crustaceans in the tank from what i have seen. He currently only eats frozen brine or mysis but i'm slowly trying to get him interested in flakes or pellets. Here's a video or him and my tank.

https://youtu.be/iAtk8CzFIm4

I can't tell you to go for it or not but the guys at my LFS assured me it really isn't that big a deal to put them in the reef. They said a lot of the info we get is from online sellers who need to protect themselves by labeling the fish reef or not reef safe. Which i can see as understandable. But hey in the end it was a sale for them sooooooo. Personally, I think it depends on the individual fish. It's risky but i love him; until he starts causing problems i'll enjoy his presence and the personality he brings to my tank.


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[kimmy13x]

p.s make sure the quality is up on the video or else it looks like it's shot on a potato haha good luck!


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[ReefsandGeeks]

i've had my baby porcupine puffer in my 120 gallon reef tank for almost 2 months now and have not run into any problems. i love puffers and was willing to take the chance especially with this being a blue eyed one. He doesn't bother my corals *knocks on wood* or the crustaceans in the tank from what i have seen. He currently only eats frozen brine or mysis but i'm slowly trying to get him interested in flakes or pellets. Here's a video or him and my tank.

https://youtu.be/iAtk8CzFIm4

I can't tell you to go for it or not but the guys at my LFS assured me it really isn't that big a deal to put them in the reef. They said a lot of the info we get is from online sellers who need to protect themselves by labeling the fish reef or not reef safe. Which i can see as understandable. But hey in the end it was a sale for them sooooooo. Personally, I think it depends on the individual fish. It's risky but i love him; until he starts causing problems i'll enjoy his presence and the personality he brings to my tank.

Great video! He for sure likes being seen, like he knows he's being filmed. I'm about 99% set on trying a porcupine puffer in my tank after hearing what everyone has to say and reading what i could find everywhere else. Live aquaria is out of stock, as are my LFSs, so I'll have to keep my eye out for one. I guess worst case senario is I have to take him back to the LFS if he is nipping at my coral. From everything I've read though I don't think that will be an issue unless I get unlucky.

Is there anything to look out for when getting a puffer? I read they are likely to have internal parasites. Is there any way to tell by looking at them? swim patterns or anything else?

 

[ReefsandGeeks]

Beautiful tank by the way as well!

Another question, are they strong enough swimmers for an SPS tank? I have a good bit of flow in my tank, and don't want the puffer too stressed from high flow. It seems like the porcupines and other bigger puffers are fine while the toby's are weaker swimmers. Thoughts?

 

[kimmy13x]

i've got two of these in my tank along with two fluval fx4 canister filters that contribute to my flow: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079GVZ1YJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_FbEkBbWHMVK9B

he seems perfectly fine with this and sometimes i think he even goes in front of them on purpose to let it blow him away a bit. lol! "” as for the internal parasites i'm not super super educated on puffers but have also read that and seen strong suggestions on quarantine before adding to display. (but you know how it is lots of people say this for any other fish- i didn't quarantine and had no issues) like you said mine is very active and even enjoys the attention that he gets when i go up to the tank i believe that's something to look for. good luck


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