what kind of puffer fish would be reef safe..

[warrior28]

i am about to start my new tank soon, i would love to get a puffer fish, but i will have SPS coral as well...is this doable or should i stay away from it? id also like to get an EEL if possible...tank size is 75 gallon

 

[reefergeorge]

Maybe a burrfish, but sps may be risky.

 

[sean357]

I think some people have had success with certain tobies but with any any shrimp, crabs, etc. would get eaten. Wish there was one as I'd love to put one in my 125

 

[snorvich]

Define Reef Safe.

 

[warrior28]

i guess my view on reef safe would be if you can add the fish with out any harm to the corals...

 

[ReefTrigger]

My porcupine puffer hasn't touched any of my corals yet, he will get a snail here and there, but there are some snails that have been alive for over a year in my 125g tank

I don't have any shrimp in that tank, I might try some and see how long they last

 

[warrior28]

thats great to know!...

 

[fishfreak2009]

Never trust a Toby. mine went on a killing spree and killed two yellow tangs, an orange shoulder tang, a blue head wrasse, a green coris wrasse, a square spot anthias,a lemonpeel angel, and a coral beauty angel. He has since been relegated to the sump. never trust them ever. he went from never nipping a fish to ripping chunks out of almost all of his tankmates overnight.

 

[warrior28]

wow, that sucks what your toby did...thats exactly what im trying to avoid...lol

 

[reeferstace]

wow, that sucks what your toby did...thats exactly what im trying to avoid...lol

Unfortunately, the only way to avoid it is to keep those kind of fish out of your tank.

 

[reefergeorge]

My porcupine puffer hasn't touched any of my corals yet, he will get a snail here and there, but there are some snails that have been alive for over a year in my 125g tank

I don't have any shrimp in that tank, I might try some and see how long they last

Porc will get way too big and messy for a 75.. And to you, My porc lived with a cleaner shrimp for two years.. Worth a try, but make sure to not drop it in like food when you add it.

 

[Elem7777]

Another option are Green Spotted Puffers, you're more likely to see them listed as brackish or even freshwater fish but they do great in saltwater and as adults really should be in SW.

Like any other puffer they vary in personality and apatite from fish to fish but I've got 2 in my 90 gallon mixed reef and other than occasionally snagging a smaller snail or hermit they've been fine. Definitely wouldn't risk them with shrimp though.

 

[fishfreak2009]

Another option are Green Spotted Puffers, you're more likely to see them listed as brackish or even freshwater fish but they do great in saltwater and as adults really should be in SW.

Like any other puffer they vary in personality and apatite from fish to fish but I've got 2 in my 90 gallon mixed reef and other than occasionally snagging a smaller snail or hermit they've been fine. Definitely wouldn't risk them with shrimp though.

Have you seen what they do to slower moving fish though, especially those with longer fins? Even fish like tangs and butterflies will be nipped. I used to keep these, and I couldn't keep mine with anything but each other (and even then they always had nips in the fins).

 

[the808state]

the invisible puffer is reef safe!

Toby's are the devil... they go right for the eyes!

 

[Orm Embar]

My understanding is that no puffer/toby is truly "reef safe." Sadly . . . some tobies would be cool