Blenny Aggression...And A Brackish Puffer In A Marine Tank - 01/10/07
Hi there!
<<Hello!>>
I have looked online and consulted with various people I work with (a large public aquarium) and cannot seem to find a solution to my problem so maybe you can help, or have a different perspective.
<<Let's see what I can do...>>
I have a bicolor blenny, a red firefish, and a figure-eight puffer in a 20 gallon, as well as a decorator crab but I doubt he figures into this equation.
<<Something to mention here...Tetraodon biocellatus is a "slightly brackish water" species and will not fare well in the long-term in a full-strength marine environment.  This species is also best kept as single individuals (it will eventually bite/kill its tankmates), and though a small species (to less than three inches) it likes having some room to roam with minimum recommended tank size being 30-gallons.  You can find much more information re this species by perusing our articles and FAQs.  A good place to start is here, following the associated links in blue:  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/fig8pufffaqs.htm >>
And yes, I know the figure eight is usually brackish...
<Not usually...is>>
All that considered here is my question.  The blenny is getting aggressive with my firefish.  It is not at feeding times, so I doubt the theory that he isn't getting enough to eat.  I thought it could be a territorial/spatial issue.
<<Very likely this "is " the issue>>
I had one big pile of live rock, so I split it into two piles thinking that maybe the blenny would pick one to call his own, but no luck.
<<This tank is too small...does not afford enough "separation">>
He swims between the two like he owns it all. :)
<<Indeed...these blennies generally occupy relatively small territories on the reef (sometimes smaller than a square meter...but still larger than a 20-gallon tank) and will defend vigorously from perceived invaders>>
I have thought about splitting it into three piles, but not sure if this would help.
<<probably not>>
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
<<I'm afraid your best option is to remove one or the other>>
And just as a side note, no one else in the tank is involved in this dispute.
<<Not surprising...only the blenny and the firefish would compete for the same food items/occupy the same niche on the reef.  Nemateleotris magnifica is a peaceful (conspecifics aside) almost timid fish that can be difficult to keep under the best of conditions.  The continued aggression from the blenny will likely result in its demise>>
Thanks a lot!
Robin
<<A pleasure to share, Eric Russell>>

Figure 8 Puffers
Will figure 8 puffers get on well with these fish. If I get two fish, will they bother each other instead of the other fish?
Sucking loach
Red tailed black shark
Dwarf Gourami
Kuhli (Eel) loach
Bronze Catfish
Neon tetra
Zebra Danio
Guppies
Flame tetra >
>
No... these fresh to brackish puffers are "nippy", and will outright eat the Neons and guppies... and bite the other fishes as they can approach them...
Bob Fenner

Re: Figure 8 Puffers
Are there any other types of freshwater puffer that will get along with these fish?
Thanks
Tim Jeffree >
IMO not really... even the truly freshwater species from the Africa and South America are fin nippers... Best kept with other similarly "mean" fish livestock.
Bob Fenner

Figure 8 Puffers--A Brackish Water Puffer  9/12/04
Dear Crew
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
Over the past eight months, we had fish as pets, learning new stuff, and one day we finally found puffer fishes and we ended up setting up a new tank for them.  So far so good, but we have three of them and one I guess, is trying to setup dominance over the others, so I called Petco, where I got them and they suggested feeding them everyday so they will stop nipping each other, but it seems like the dominant one always nip the others after feeding... :( I do not want them to keep getting stressed and die, so please help!
<1st of all read this wonderful article on F8s: http://www.aaquaria.com/aquasource/8puffer.shtml
This should answer all your questions on the care & feeding of these great pets.  I am concerned that you said you set-up a new tank for your fish.  Did you cycle it 1st?  How large is the tank?  F8 puffers require at least 10g/puffer.  Puffers personality vary from fish to fish.  Some may be very mild-mannered, while others may be killers.  If you have a killer, it must be kept singly, or it will kill their tank mates.  You just never know with puffers...  ~PP>

Bossy Puffer  10/26/04
<Pufferpunk here>
I ignored you warning about my GSP "Pongo" being too aggressive for my F8, but now "Munk" (he has the scream face on his back) the F8 is pushing Pongo and eating almost everything I throw into the tank. I don't think this is that bad of a problem now I'm sure if the GSP was hungry he would push back but I though to cut down on hostility could I re-arrange the tank plants and drift wood? I'm sure this isn't the biggest case of civil disturbance you hear its more like sibling rivalry but any ideas would be nice.
<You're GSP may be less aggressive as a juvenile & could possibly starve, if you don't give him a chance to eat.  Moving the decor around may help, but you might just have to separate the two.  You can also try feeding at opposite ends of the tank.  ~PP>
Thanks

Mixing BW Puffers in a 20g Tank
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I have started my 20 gal brackish puffer tank with a medium GSP and a figure 8.  I can already tell the GSP is a little more pushy than the figure 8. When I chose my next two puffer should I exclude getting another GSP or the less aggressive figure 8, and what would be the ideal choice to have a happy tank?
Thanks for your website
<1st of all I need to request that when writing your emails, please use proper capitalization & punctuation.  I have to correct this myself, before sending it on to the FAQs at our website.  I'm not sure I understand your question.  Are you adding 2 more puffers to your 20g tank?  As you have already noticed, the GSP is too aggressive to house with the milder F8 in such a small tank.   As the GSP gets larger & even more aggressive, it will only get worse for the poor little F8.  Also, a 20g tank really isn't big enough for an adult (6") GSP.  What I'd do is find a home or return the GSP & get 1 more F8.  Only 1 F8/10g.  Here's a great article on them: http://www.aaquaria.com/aquasource/8puffer.shtml  ~PP>

Figure 8 Pufferfish  6/23/04
Hey Again!
<Hey again yourself!>
Geez, that was a fast response!
<I'm on the ball today!>
I have one more quick question. Would it be alright to add one of those suckerfishes (I can't think of the name.. but they are the ones who swim around and suck up all of the algae and stuff in the tank) into the tank?
<The "suckerfish" you are talking about is a freshwater fish & doesn't like salt.  It's called a Plecostomus.  If you plan to keep these puffers for any length of time, they are best kept in brackish water.>
Or would a snail be better, since a suckerfish lacks the protection from the Puffer?
<Puffers eat snails & they don't like salt either.>
Oh, and you're right. Figure 8's are cute!
And I've got somewhat bad news.. I think he died. He hasn't moved lately..
<Sorry to hear that.  Did you get the water tested?>  
Well, thanks for the help for my next fish!
<Make sure & read that article I linked you to.>
Btw, how long has your Pufferfish lasted? Do you also have a Figure 8?
<Yes, I have 3 figure 8 puffers.  I've only had them for about a year, but they can live 18+ years if cared for properly. I have a total of 14 puffers in all   ~PP>

Mixing Puffer Species 5/30/05
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I have a 20 Gallon tall Hex tank, fully cycled, with a BioWheel filter. I have let it cycle over the past several weeks and in that time I have grown a nice amount of aquatic plants.
<What do you mean by cycle? Are there fish in there or just plants? Without fish to produce ammonia or another source of ammonia, there is no nitrifying bacteria.>
Now for my question. I was originally going to stock the tank with a few dwarf puffers (Carinotetraodon travancoricus) and an Otto. I have since fallen in love with both the South American (Colomesus asellus) and Figure Eight (Tetraodon biocellatus) Puffers. The tank is full freshwater right now. I was wondering if there is anyway to house 2 of these types of puffers together. I hear conflicting things about the required salinity for the figure 8, and just as often I see it listed as freshwater, hence my confusion! I have read that the South American and Dwarf Puffers can be housed together, and was wondering your what your recommendations for stocking ratios and such are. 
<F8s are indeed BW fish, so those 2 species cannot be mixed. I would stick with a species only tank for a 20g. Either 2 F8s in a BW environment, or 2 SAPs in FW.  With F8s you could keep a few bumblebee gobies or w/SAPs you could keep faster moving fish, like danios & maybe some Corys.>
Thanks so much for your time, you are truly an amazing resource!
<That's what we're here for! ~PP>

Mixing Puffer Species 5/31/05
Pufferpunk, Thanks so much for the quick reply,
<Sure!>
By 'cycled' I mean that I allowed the nitrifying bacteria to build up by having my niece's goldfish in the tank for a few days several weeks ago.  I took her out, and now she's no worse for wear.  The ammonia, then nitrite spiked and has since leveled out (meaning both at 0, nitrate low). 
<I'm sorry to say that if there have been no fish in there for over 24-48 hours, the tank has to be cycled again.  There has been no "food" by way of ammonia, to keep the bacteria alive in your tank.  You can always buy Bio-Spira at the same time as your fish, to "instant cycle" your tank.  Just do a 90% water change before hand.  I'm afraid cycling w/GF can also add certain diseases that other fish can't handle, to your tank.>
I have decided to stick with a freshwater set-up, and I was wondering if mixing dwarf puffers and South American puffers would work. 
<The vicious biting dwarves have caused problems for my SAPs, even in a much larger tank--I don't suggest it.>
If not I think I'll stick to my original plan of dwarfs and an Oto.  Thanks again, I really appreciate it!
<Good idea!  Should be a nice, interesting tank.  For info on DPs go to: www.dwarfpuffers.com  ~PP>

Bad Advice about Puffers 3/16/05
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I was fooled by a pet store employee. I bought a figure 8 and a leopard puffer. They said that they would be fine in my 55 gallon together and with my Pleco, my 2 African frogs and a few barbs. The leopard bit the leg off my frog and keeps beating up on the figure 8.
<No surprise there at all.>
I have no more tanks to separate them. Could I just give the leopard a new home and keep the Figure 8? I really want to get more fish but I fear their lives with the leopard in there. But if I do that will the figure 8 just eat everyone in the tank?  ~*Tara*~ 
<The leopard, or green spotted puffer (Tetraodon nigriviridis), is an extremely aggressive fin biter. The F8 (T biocellatus) is a little more mellow, but has issues with the same. Both are actually brackish water fish. The nigroviridis, prefers high end BW & SW as an adult. You can read about them here: http://puffer.proboards2.com/index.cgi?board=brack.  Neither of those fish will work in your tank. ~PP>

Combining Puffers in One Tank  3/14/04
<Pufferpunk at your service>
How will a GSP and a Figure 8 puffer get along? My GSP is real chill.
<GSPs require at least 20g each.  I know it is probably small right now & looks dwarfed in a tank that size, but if you look at mine (the puffer photo in my article) you'll see how large they wind up growing.  Also, GSPs prefer SW as adults & are extremely aggressive, while F8s prefer low-end BW, they only grow to 3" & are mildly aggressive.  Not really a good match.>
Also, there is a red eye puffer I want, how would he get along with my GSP?  The red eye is pretty big.
<Puffers are best kept in species only tanks.  I have had success in keeping similar-mannered puffers together (GSPs W/Ceylons, or dwarves with South Americans) but in very large tanks with a heavy load of decor & many broken lines of sight.  As far as a red-eye puffer, there are many puffers w/red eyes that could be labeled as such by a LFS.  Common names are difficult to ID a fish with.  If you're still interested in this fish (in a separate tank) & you are concerned about it's care & temperament, you can look for an ID here:
http://www.pufferfish.co.uk/aquaria/species/pufferfish/index.htm
<Good luck with your puffer, I'm glad it's doing well!  ~PP>

Tank Mates for Figure 8 Puffers?  11/29/04
<It's me, Pufferpunk again!>
Guess I'll get a bigger tank!!
You are right - my fault for not looking deeper into these fish --
So can I put another fish in with the F8 puffer? What type??
I'm headed to the library after work today ...
<I have a lovely 29 g tank with 3 F8s, 2 pairs of knight gobies & 6 bumblebee gobies.  A 30g long tank would be even better for that combo.  ~PP>
Thanks Pufferpunk -- Looks like I will be getting a bigger tank!!
<Come & join us over at www.thepufferforum.com!  ~PP>

Figure 8 Puffer
Hi Bob,
I was wondering what other "mean" fish will a figure 8 puffer get a long with. Thanks!
<Larger, faster, meaner types... the best really are other brackish water species... the other not-so freshwater tetraodont puffers, Monodactylus, scats, Chromides, archerfishes... you can find a bunch about these possibilities, even brackish water plants through a read through past hobbyist magazines... and goosing me to get more of my brackish pieces on our WWM site...
Bob Fenner>

Figure eight puffer
Hello,
<Cheerio, old sport! Anthony Calfo in your service>
I have owned a freshwater fish tank of some form for many years. Whether it was 50 gallon, 20, or 10 (I have a 10 right now because of the convenience), I have never really paid attention to pH, ammonia, etc. 
<like an ice pick in my ears...hehe>
I use a water X and add a teaspoon of salt for every 10 gallons.
<I like that part <wink>>
Right now I have a 10 gallon tank that follows me pretty much everywhere. 
<most people have cats and puppies for this but hey... enjoy>
Today I bought a figure eight puffer, I have always wanted a puffer and finally I decided to get one, but not before asking the dealer a bunch of questions. He said that although he may get territorial, he is a good community fish. 
<your dealer is a fibber <G>>
He said the fish will eat flake food, which is what I normally feed my fish, but I often give brine shrimp. 
<Puffers are cute, lovable and dedicated fin nippers. They also will suffer on a diet of flake and brine shrimp. As crustacean eaters, they need hard shelled foods to wear down their naturally growing teeth. Without it the teeth will become overgrown to the point where the animal cannot feed. As such flake food is too soft and brine-shrimp without enrichment (Selcon soaked and the like) is a useless fare that is essentially water made to look like shrimp. Too bad it is so well liked by fish... it is the lowest grade food. Add frozen Mysid, krill and plankton to the diet (freeze dried krill too). Some folks keep fast breeding live snails (the puffers love them!!!) to help with the teeth too>
He said my salinity would be fine. 
<probably although they could take and might enjoy a lot more salt to truly be brackish>
Once I bought the fish and released him into the tank, everything at the moment appears to be fine. I haven't fed yet, so I don't know how that will go. I started looking things up on the net here and one guy has me really afraid. He seems to know what he is talking about, but he says that having all these conditions right is vital and puffers are very sensitive. Can you help me out a little here? 
<some truth to it... they are scale less fish and as such are sensitive to water quality and medications>
Also, since I have released my figure eight puffer into the tank, he has swam up and down the side wall non-stop. It appears normal, but I saw a comment somewhere saying this was a bad thing, is this true? 
<common but not normal or healthy in the long run. A stress induced response to many factors (salinity, light, water quality, etc)>
Please help me out, thanks. Dave
<no problem my friend... much has been written on this topic. Do a search on this site (tag the bullet for WWM only under the keyword field at the bottom of the home page) and look through the archives of FAQs. Much information there. Also, look through the brackish articles by following the links from the WWM homepage as well. I suspect that you will be enlightened and able to enjoy your puffer very soon. Best regards, Anthony>

Freshwater Puffers?
I found your address on the wet web media site. I seen a figure eight puffer and a green puffer at the pet store the other day. The worker was unable to help me. I was wondering if you could. I would like to know what kind of things they like to eat, are they aggressive, and where could I find more info about them? Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Jodi >
Hi there. Yes these two (really marine, though somewhat adjustable to more freshwater conditions) Puffers are eager eaters of most anything meaty. Most folks feed them "human consumption" type shrimps, fish flesh... And, unfortunately they're both notoriously "nippy"... not necessarily aggressive, but do real damage to easier going tankmates (fish and invertebrates), and thus should be housed only with "tough, mean" types of livestock... best, really in a dedicated "brackish" setting with other rough and tumble fishes, plants that can/do tolerate some concentration of salts. More information? Hmm, try inserting the word for their genus, Tetraodon, in your search engines, directories.
Be chatting, Bob Fenner