Stocking a 92-gallon with a Dogface Puffer

[Sharkie136]

Hi everyone, I am brand-new on here"¦. just joined. So far, all I've had is a Nano cube since 2013, which is doing great, but I am about to take the plunge into the 92-gallon fish-only set-up. I'd like a yellow-bellied dogface puffer and a lunar wrasse. I also of course don't want to overload/overcrowd the tank. Just wondering if you have suggestions for a third tank mate, and also, a suggestion as to which order to add these fish? Is 3 too many? Would like all to get along as well as possible, and am open to all suggestions. Also, is it common to put damsels in soon after cycling the tank? I've seen others mention that. if so, will the wrasse and the puffer kill the damsels if the damsels are present first? Thanks in advance for the friendly advice. I'm new on here and new to a big tank, so kindness is appreciated. Thank you!

 

[E.intheC]

Welcome to RC. I would not use damsels to cycle a tank. Look into fish-less cycling methods as an alternative. Additionally a 92 gallon tank will be too small for a dog faced puffer. They get huge and eat a lot. I haven't kept many wrasses so I cannot offer any help with the lunar.

Smaller puffers like a Toby would be an excellent alternative as they stay smaller.

 

[BigBlueTang]

Hi everyone, I am brand-new on here"¦. just joined. So far, all I've had is a Nano cube since 2013, which is doing great, but I am about to take the plunge into the 92-gallon fish-only set-up. I'd like a yellow-bellied dogface puffer and a lunar wrasse. I also of course don't want to overload/overcrowd the tank. Just wondering if you have suggestions for a third tank mate, and also, a suggestion as to which order to add these fish? Is 3 too many? Would like all to get along as well as possible, and am open to all suggestions. Also, is it common to put damsels in soon after cycling the tank? I've seen others mention that. if so, will the wrasse and the puffer kill the damsels if the damsels are present first? Thanks in advance for the friendly advice. I'm new on here and new to a big tank, so kindness is appreciated. Thank you!

Welcome to RC. I would not use damsels to cycle a tank. Look into fish-less cycling methods as an alternative. Additionally a 92 gallon tank will be too small for a dog faced puffer. They get huge and eat a lot. I haven't kept many wrasses so I cannot offer any help with the lunar.

Smaller puffers like a Toby would be an excellent alternative as they stay smaller.

What he said.

I understand you are not a complete newbie, but read the setting up sticky on the new to the hobby subforum. It's like a very very detailed book, except it's free! It'll tell you all you need to know about fishless cycling.
I'm also guessing the 92 gallon is a cube, which sadly, rules out both of the fish you want. It also rules out tangs..

If you are completely set on having a dogface puffer(Which is an excellent choice) and a Lunar Wrasse(Which get big as well and have not yet bought the tank, I would go get a 125. You can get them on your local craigslist for cheap. Make sure you see it with water inside of the tank before buying. Everything else you need to set up the tank you can find from the setting up sticky.

a 125 is still borderline for a dogface, but is an excellent size for other fish. A lunar wrasse will be fine in a 125.

However, if you have already bought the 92, I would recommend Fairy Wrasses or Flasher Wrasses. Also wrasses of the Haliocheres sp.

Good luck!

 

[McPuff]

If you've got the space, I'd definitely say go for a 6ft tank. You'll find so many of them on craigslist and it'll be half the price of new... probably even less than that. A 180 would be just about perfect (6x2x2). You could potentially put 2 puffers in something like that.