FW Puffer systems - 3/24/2006
I would like to know if I can combine a freshwater puffer with my two small about penny size angels and 2 dwarf frogs.
<<Nope.  Puffers are aggressive, non-community fish.>>
I would like to know the kind of angels that I have one of them looks like a zebra with really extremely longs fins and the other is yellow with black spots.
<<Read on WWM.>>
How do I know the sex of them and how large will they grow?
<Again, please read.>>
I never seem to catch the yellow angel ever eating but the zebra striped one always seems to eat like it never gets enough.
Thank you
Tiffany
<<Lisa.>>

FW & BW Puffer Questions 3/20/06
Your site is much appreciated.
<Thanks!  Pufferpunk here, to answer your puffer questions!>
I have just a few questions. I think I have a GSP (nigroviridis) bought  as a freshwater fish. It's about 1.5 inches and I'm going to start  introducing him to a brackish setup. I also have 3 dwarf puffers in with him. Do I need to take them out or could they be introduced to  brackish as well?
<Dwarf puffers are strictly freshwater fish.  I killed my 1st 3 by thinking the same thing & putting them in BW.  I'm actually surprised the GSP hasn't gone after them yet.  I'd separate them ASAP!>
The gravity I'm going to raise with marine salt will be 1.008 - 1.012.
<Be sure to only raise it .002/week, so as not to disturb the biological bed too quickly.>
When he reaches 3 inches I'm going to move him to a larger tank with SG at 1.020.
<I wouldn't bring it that high until it's around 4".  1.015 is fine until then.>
Also, I think I have nigroviridis but could possibly have fluviatilis due to all the confusion. These fish thrive in the same parameters of water quality, correct?  
<Identical parameters.  Totally different-looking fish though.  See: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/gspsart.htm >
Thanks for your time.  W.G.
<Come join us at www.thepufferforum.com, for more puffer fun!   ~PP>  

Cichlids and Puffers    3/2/06
Hi crew, I just wanted to ask a quick question or three.
1) Are there any specie's of cichlid that are compatible with any species of puffers (freshwater)? If not what species should I go with?  I just want something color full.
< Red bellied puffers are truly fresh water and not too aggressive. They could go with dwarf cichlids from West Africa or south America.>
2) I have a 55 gallon tank and have it cycling now, when it's done what types of freshwater invertebrates or any other's might you suggest I
get to keep a clean and healthy tank?
< Algae eating shrimp and snails help keep things in check but they are no replacement for water changes and cleaning filters.>
3) Can I keep an eel with any one of those specie's?
< Eels are all predatory and will eat smaller fish and shrimp.-Chuck>
Thanks for any help Brian

Improperly Housed Puffers - 2/21/2006
Hello
<<Hello Jeremy.>>
I have recently come across your site searching for questions about my puffer’s water condition. I have 3 GSP and 2 Fahaka puffers (all are in the neighborhood of 3.5 inches long) in a 46 gallon tank (tall corner unit) with a Penguin Biowheel 200.
<<Your Fahaka's needs freshwater, and a 125 gallon tank each, while your GSP’s need high-end brackish water, and 30 gallons PER fish.  They are not compatible, regardless of aggression, as they need entirely different water parameters.>>
I have had them in this tank for about a year now and they all seem to get along just fine, no problems with aggression towards each other.
<<See above.>>
Recently I have been having problems with my tank looking cloudy, more like a white haze. My water parameters are as follows Ph 7.8, Ammonia 0ppm, nitrite 0ppm, and nitrate 20ppm.  Specific gravity is 1.006.
<<Your Fahaka's need 100% freshwater, and the GSP’s need much higher SG.>>
I do 20% water changes every week and clean the gravel. The water turns cloudy after about 2 days or after I feed them. I feed them 3 cubes of bloodworms every other day.
<<Inappropriate diet.  These guys need shell fish/snails/crunchy foods.>>
The water starts to clear up but when its time to feed them again its gets cloudy. Any suggestions on what might be causing this condition?
<<You have some really problems on your hands I fear!  Please start by reading here: http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/puffer/introtogsp.html, and visit www.thepufferforum.com for proper information on caring for your puffers.  This tank is not only way over-stocked, but filled with fish with differing water needs, none of which are being met.  Hope to see you at The Puffer Forum.>>
Thanks,
Jeremy
<<Good Luck.  Lisa.>>

Mixing BW & FW puffers  1/11/06
Matt Pace here,
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I have recently set up a 20 gallon mildly brackish tank with
Aquaclear 50 gallon filter and air stone. I have 17 bumblebee gobies, 2 Siamese algae eaters, and did have 2 figure eight puffers.
<What do you mean by "mildly brackish"?  What is the specific gravity?  Are you using marine salt?>
One died day 2 (ammonia spike) and the other has thrived.
<Hmmm... not cycled before adding fish, or overstocked?  It is already overstocked as it is...>
I would like to either add another figure eight or a couple other dwarf puffers.
<Absolutely not!  That tank is good to support the BBGs without the puffer.  You need to thin out the inhabitants in there.  Either return the puffer, or return about half the BBGs.>
What types of dwarf puffers are compatible with figure-eights? Which would be better?
<None>
I also have a CAE in another tank. It is a ten gallon and I bought him when I did not know what I was doing. Since he is getting larger and I am afraid he will suck on my gouramis and tetras, Could I move him to the brackish tank (via drip acclimation
method)?  Would he get along with puffers, SAEs, and little gobies?
<No, it is a FW fish, not BW.  Neither is the SAE--it belongs in FW.>
Otherwise I have to send him back to pet store.
<Looks like you have several fish to send back.>
I have read they get nasty as they get older and harass flat bodied fish. Since there are no flat bodies in my brackish tank and it is supposed to be somewhat of an Asian river/mangrove swamp biotope, I though it would work. Any and all advice would be appreciated.
<You cannot mix FW & BW fish.  It will stress them out, compromising their immune systems, causing disease & early death.  You also should not overstock tanks, especially BW & SW.  Generally, A F8 puffer needs a 15g tank for the 1st puffer & 10 additional gallons for each added.  If you want other tank mates, then you need to go larger.  Thin out your stock of gobies & you should have a nice tank of puffer & gobies.  Don't be surprised though, if the goby population dwindles, as I started out with 8 & my F8s have eaten all but 1.  Puffers need a cycled tank & pristine water conditions.  Here's a good article on your puffer: http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/puffer/f8puffer.html.  Check out that forum for more puffer info.  ~PP>
Later, Matt

Dwarf Puffers with Barbs? 12/7/05
WWM Crew,
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I have a 20 gal freshwater setup with 4 tiger barbs, a pleco and a spotted Pim. I really want to add some dwarf puffer fish (was thinking 3). Just wondering if the barbs would bother the puffers and if you think it could work out.
<The main problem I could see with that combo is that the barbs may outcompete the puffers for food. Check out www.dwarfpuffers.com for more info on these fish. ~PP>
Thanks for your time, Mark  

Dwarf Puffer In a Community Tank? 11/3/05
Hi
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I found your site while looking for information on dwarf puffers.
I'm a beginner on keeping fish and I just upgraded to a 50g tank. I seen a dwarf puffer at a pet store. After that I really wanted to have one in my tank but every thing I have been reading about them says they are aggressive.
<Very true!>
All of the fish in my tank a peaceful. The only aggressive fish I have is a electric yellow libido. I was wondering if I could put one dwarf puffer in my tank with out causing problems for my other fish?
<Not a good idea. DPs have known to take fin fides on fish 10x their size. Also, it will be out-competed for food by faster moving fish than itself. Read: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_2/cav2i6/lonely_puffer/lonely_puffer.htm>
Also I was hoping you could recommend a bottom feeder or a algae eater for my tank.
<In a tank that size, I would suggest a pack of Cory catfish & any of the dwarf species of Plecos.> 
The fish in the tank are one fancy male guppy, two mollies, two swordtail's, two platys, three hatchet fish, three neon tetras, three black neon tetras, three glow-light tetras, one dwarf gourami, one true flying fox, one yellow libido, four zebra danios and four red rasboras. 
<Sounds like a nice tank. Keep an eye on that cichlid. Don't forget those weekly partial water changes! ~PP>
Thanks, Mickelle 

Multiple Dwarf Puffers in a 5 Gallon?  9/16/05
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
Sorry to bother again. I just need to know if a single freshwater dwarf puff would get lonely in a 5 gal. tank by itself. If so, should I get 2 females, 1 male 1 female, or 2 males? I don't want to abuse such a neat fish:/
<No your puffer won't get lonely.  They are not a schooling fish & don't need "friends".  Also, since DPs need 3-5g/fish, a 5g won't be large enough for more than 1.  Now if you can get a 10g, a nice trio of females would be fine.  Also see: www.dwarfpuffers.com.  ~PP>

Dwarf Puffers-Tankmates?  6/28/05
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I have a question about dwarf puffer fish.  I have been trying to search puffer fish facts on the internet and I am so confused.  My dad has a 35 hexagon tank with a Red Tail Shark some mollies, and swordtails.  About 3 months ago he added 3 dwarf puffers.  Two survived and they are fine.  They don't bug the other fish and the other fish don't bug them.  I wanted to know if I could set up a 55 gallon tank with a red-tail, gouramis, puffers, and barbs.  Thank you in advance.
<There are several problems in keeping dwarf puffers with other fish.  One is their general nastiness.  Most of the time they will pick on & even kill slower-moving or long finned tankmates.  It could be that your dad's fish have been able to escape the puffer's teeth so far but they may latch on eventually & can easily kill another fish.  The other problem is feeding.  Puffers need hard shelled foods to keep their teeth ground down.  This does not mean flakes.  If kept with fast-moving fish, the other fish will generally get to the food 1st & the puffers starve.  They are best kept in a species tank, with a few otos & ghost or Amano shrimp, which for some reason they do not bother (never keep shrimp w/any other puffer, they will become puffer food.).  Here is a great site on that puffer species: www.dwarfpuffers.com  ~PP>
Brendon Hernandez

Fahaka puffer
Hello,
Just a couple quickies about a Fahaka I have.  He's 4" and in a 120g alone. <Good job on the tank size, he'll be happy for quite some time in there.  This particular puffer is quite aggressive and will not tolerate tank mates so you're doing a great job by keeping him alone.>
1.  Does the specific gravity really need to be 1.020?  <No, this fish is a freshwater fish.>
2.  Will he do o.k. in 1.000 water?  <Yes, this is pure freshwater and ideal conditions for your Fahaka.>
3.  Will his slight ich problem eventually clear on its own?  <Not likely, read this article on how to treat puffers with ich, http://puffer.proboards2.com/index.cgi?board=hospital&action=display&num=1086103674>
That's about it.  I really don't want another "reef" tank right now.  Not looking forward to the salt parameters.
Thanks, Mike <Good Luck!  Heather>

Compatibility of Dwarf Frogs & Dwarf Puffers?  2/09/04
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
Can African dwarf frogs and dwarf puffers live together? If not,
What species are compatible w/ each of these? Thanks so much!
<Bad idea! Dwarf puffers (& most any puffers) will pick on any species that lays around, is slow-moving, long-finned, or sedentary.  This includes dwarf frogs.  If a puffer is to be kept with any fish, it needs to be tough & fast-moving.  My dwarves live with much larger cichlids, Cory catfish & Plecos.  
Dwarf frogs need to be with small fish, like tetras, in a small tank, so they can get to the surface to breathe.  Please choose your fish carefully.  I'm glad you asked, before purchasing the wrong combination of pets!  ~PP>

Dwarf puffer tankmates? (1/5/04)
Hi,
<Hi! Ananda here tonight...>
I need some advice on what I can put in my tank.
Here is the set-up, I have a 20 gallon tank with a whisper filter, 1 1/2 of gravel, and a heater.
<So far so good...>
Living in the tank is two Dwarf puffers, and three Buenos Aires Tetras. I would like some color and exotic look. Can I add eels or sharks? (I really don't want the puffers or tetras eaten, the puffers more than the tetras though) What would you suggest?
<Hmmm. A new tank for the dwarf puffers. If you only have the pair, they'd be fine in even a 5 gallon tank (or with a 10 gallon tank, which often costs less than a 5 gallon tank, you could add a few more of them). Otherwise, they're likely to nip the fins of the other stuff in the tank. That would enable all sorts of combinations of fish for the 20 gallon tank. You might like to post on the WetWebMedia chat boards at http://wetwebfotos.com/talk in the Freshwater discussion forum and get more opinions and ideas from the folks there. --Ananda>

FW Puffers 11/16/03
Hi, my name is Brian ...
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I have a 110 gallon heavily planted paludarium (50 gallons freshwater),
with lots of plants and a couple of mangroves.  The pH is 7.0, the tank is
kept at 74 deg. F.   
<Sounds like a cool tank.  Don't mangroves grow in SW?>
In the aquarium part, there are 12 white cloud tetras (leftover from
cycling), and 2 violet plecs (plus about 70 small snails that are breeding
like rabbits - there were only 2 when they started).  In the terrarium
section, there are poison dart frogs.  Because of worries about fish
pathogens infecting the frogs, I was advised to keep away from South
American fish varieties.  
<Hmmm, I'd be more worried about the frog's toxins affecting the fish.>
Are there any varieties of puffers that would do
OK in my tank?  
<Actually, I believe that the toxins puffers carry is the same as your frog's.  Some South American puffers (Colomesus asellus) might do well in your tank.  They don't grow very large (2-3") & are pretty mild tempered, as far as puffers go.  They may nip at the smaller fish.>
Thank you for your time.
<Your welcome--Pufferpunk)
I'm sending this from my mom's email address though.  Can you possibly respond to XXXX@earthlink.net?  (If not, I can just get it from my mom ...) thanks again!

Freshwater puffers? (11/14/03)
<Hi! Ananda here today...sorry for the delay on this one.>
Hi, I currently have a 55 gallon FW tank set up, so far I have black Tahitian moon sand, 2 AC300's, a heater, and 2 air stones, also there is 2 parrot fish, 1 of the is really large and the other one is small, I have a catfish, not sure what kind it is but its gray with a silver stripe Across the middle of this body and his whiskers are about 6 inches long, also I have 1 Plecostomus and a white albino catfish in there, I was wondering if my tank would be compatible for any FW puffer, I saw some at my LFS but they were small and I was worried my huge parrot fish might eat the puffer and die as the puffers are poisonous, any ideas?
<Whew! All that in one breath/sentence? ;-) I would be concerned about combining any small puffers with the big parrot fish, as it may attack intruders into what it perceives as its territory.>
Thanks
<You're welcome. --Ananda>

Dwarf Puffer Bullies 2/14/04
<Hi, Pufferpunk here.  I must start out by asking you to please use capital letters at the beginning of all your sentences.  These questions are posted on our website & I have to take the time to correct this, before we can send it.  This takes precious time away from my helping folks with their fish.  Also, it would be helpful if you added a subject title, so we can better sort out your questions to the best person to answer them.  Thank you!>
I have 3 dwarf puffers that are in a 10 gallon tank with lots of plants to hide in and a little cave. The bigger on has picked out one of the other ones to pick on and will not let it swim around in the tank. It has to stay still or it will go after it. Do you think i should take the bigger one out and put him by himself or just let them work this out?
<I am wondering if you might have 2 males in your tank that could be causing the problems?  Male dwarf puffers will fight.  The ratio in dwarf puffer tanks is best at 1 male to 3 females, or all females.  To ID the sexes, look on this site: http://www.rr.iij4u.or.jp/~kohda/en/en-dwarfpuffer.htm  If this does not look to be the problem, then maybe there is not enough decor in your tank.  All puffer tanks with more than 1 puffer need several broken lines of sight, to establish territories & cut down on aggression.  Even with good established territories, there is always a chance that you have a dwarf puffer that just doesn't play well with others.  In that case, try returning it for a different one.>
Thanks
<Good luck & enjoy your puffer friends! ~PP>

New Mbu Puffer  8/10/04
Hey crew,
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
First let me point out that I think your site is fantastic.  
<Well, thank you very much!>
I found myself looking and learning about systems I never even thought about.  Thanks for the good info. I read a lot of great info on Mbu puffers, but found some of the eating habits and acclimation techniques to be contradicting. Just to clarify, here is my situation.
<There is a lot of contradicting info on puffers in general, on the web & even more from shops that sell them.>
I have a 55gal, with 2 large Tinfoil Barbs (8"), 3 Bala Sharks (ave.. 5"), 1 Clown Knife (4"), 1 large Pleco (8" need to do something here, whole other subject) and a few Tiger barbs (1")
<Hmmm, sounds overstocked already!  Do you have any idea how large clown knives grow?  4 feet!  They will also eat anything they can fit into their huge mouths.  Mmmmmm, tiger barbs!  I hope you aren't going by the 1"/gal rule, that's only for 1" fish.>
All except the Clown Knife have been in the tank since inception. My tank has been up and running for over 2 years now with no major problems.  I do plan to upgrade to 100-200gal in the next year,
<Not nearly large enough for all those fish.  I don't think a 4' fish will be able to turn around in there.>
but trying to do things one step at a time. I was ready to put a great fish, and make an investment on something special.  After research into my water conditions I found that the Mbu Puffer would be a good choice.  After talking to a few people, I got one and he is glorious.  
<One of the most stunning & personable fish alive, IMO.>
Anyways, while I acclimate the most expensive fish I've ever bought, I am finding myself nervous.  I was very slow and deliberate in my introduction to the tank.  He even ate about 20min after getting out of the bag--fantastic.  But has not eaten since.  I am trying with Krill, frozen and freshly thawed.  I feed my other fish in the tank a variety of flakes/Brine Shrimp/ Bloodworms and other frozen that the Mbu takes no interest in either.  It has only been 24hrs, and normally I would just let the fish be, but this time I have more invested, financially and emotionally.  
<The 1st thing that comes to mind is when I introduced 4 7-8" tinfoil barbs to my large puffer's tank (12" Fahaka alone in a 125g tank) for some swimming interest.  Boy was he pissed!  It seems they were just too much & his eyes would shift back & forth angrily at them.  They would eat every morsel of food, before it would get down to him.  I had to get rid of them, for his sake.  Now all is good in his tank.  You may be having the same problem. Between the rotund, slower-moving  puffer & all the streamlined fish you have in there, who do you think is going to eat 1st?  The puffer may not want to even bother, since he is the new guy.  Another scenario I can imagine, is the puffer getting mad enough to just start taking chunks out of some of the other fish.>  
My question is basically how much will he eat (4in) and how often?
<One of the most difficult aspects of keeping these special fish is their diet. All puffers are predatory fish and need hard-shelled, meaty foods to keep their teeth trimmed. Like rabbits, their teeth grow constantly and can overgrow enough to cause starvation in the fish. Puffers eat crustaceans in the wild. Foods for smaller puffers are frozen/freeze-dried krill/plankton, gut-loaded ghost shrimp, glass worms, crickets, worms and small snails (the size of their eye). As your puffer gets larger (even now), there are many more crunchy foods for them to eat. Larger Puffers will eat cut-up pieces of scallops, shrimp, crab legs, whole mussels, clams, oysters, squid, lobster and crayfish. Mine love to chase live crayfish, fiddler crabs and gut-loaded ghost shrimp. I gut-load (pre-feed) my live food with algae wafers, so my puffers get their veggies. I buy most of these foods at the fish department of my grocery store, freeze and later thaw in warm vitamin water as needed. Smaller puffers need to eat every day, skipping one feeding/week. Feed them until their bellies are slightly rounded.>
Are their any other techniques I should try when feeding him?  And at what point should I be concerned? He is moving smooth and seems OK as of yet.  
<I'd be concerned when he hasn't eaten in a week or 2.  Again, I must stress, I think there is way too much competition for food in there.  Puffers are actually rather shy.>
For your info, here are the basics about my water conditions.  T=77F, pH=6.9-7.0, Ammonia, nitrates-low, but known to jump (no live plants), filter-established external Biowheel with snorkel.  Bimonthly water changes (25%- probably increase now with Puffer)
<You are having ammonia & nitrIte problems, because your tank is overstocked.  For most fish, puffers especially, those must always be 0!  Also, your pH is extremely low, from the huge bioload & small water changes.  Puffers prefer hard, alkaline water, with a pH of around 8.  I do 50% weekly water changes on all my tanks & none of then are stocked anywhere near the capacity of yours (even before your Mbu).>
Any advise would be appreciated.  Thanks for calming my nerves.
<Please read this.  It was written by my puffer mentor, Robert T Ricketts, who has been keeping puffers for over 40 years.  Please reconsider your tank & inhabitants.  http://puffer.proboards2.com/index.cgi?board=fbp&action=display&num=1088527135  ~PP>
Sean

Re: seeking your expertise!
<Greetings, Lisa. Anthony>
Thank you for your reply. I guess I didn't
clarify....I have FRESHWATER dwarf puffers, although I
do put a little salt in the water.
<yes...they really aren't freshwater, but necessarily brackish>
From everything I've read, they belong in a freshwater tank? 
<nope...they tolerate freshwater. They are likely brackish. You have the little figure eight or spotted green puffers, I suppose?
The frogs are at full size, guess I didn't clarify that
they are DWARF frogs and very mellow, and do not
bother them. 
<yes...agreed>
As long as there is no danger of the puffers eating the frogs....am I okay?
<Danger Will Robinson! Hehehe... yes, the frogs will eventually get nipped/eaten. A strange mix>
Could I eventually move the puffs to the 46 gallon? Or would
they pick on the Jelly Beans?
<please read up on this site about brackish fishes and displays... a unique and wonderful microcosm...but limited in fish compatibility>
From what I hear, the frogs would drown in a larger tank. What do you think?
<they are really better suited to the smaller aquaria where they can feed easier away from active community fish>
Thanks! Lisa
<kind regards. Anthony>

Re: seeking your expertise! True Freshwater Puffer
Anthony, hope I'm not being too much of a pain...
<not at all...information exchange, a wonderful thing>
but the puffers are Tetraodon travancoricus (which is
neither figure eight or spotted green).
<ah, yes... and indeed freshwater. My apologies... 99 out of one hundred people with a question about "freshwater" puffer have a brackish species that the LFS did not know/inform them about>
They are Dwarf Freshwater Puffers, 
<from freshwater in India>
although difficult to find on the web,
<have you had the pleasure of browsing Puffernet? (http://puffernet.tripod.com)... a haven for you <smile>>
they DO exist and from what I've seen they
thrive and belong in freshwater.
<agreed>
They only reach the size of about one inch. SO since the frogs will still be larger than them, and the fish is known to be a
fairly docile puffer (for a puffer), 
<actually...everything I have read on the species details them as serious fin nippers with the males being especially territorial as they mature. Males have a pronounced ventral line (dark line on body flanks...where females have none... easy to sex)>
do you think the frogs will still get eaten? They seem to co-exist
fairly well at this time.
<at least harassed eventually...more so if you have males)>
I also notice that the puffers (although they are fed blood worm) eat quite a bit of the live plant in the tank also.
<excellent food matter to be encouraged. Thank you for clarifying, and again...my apologies for assuming. Kindly Anthony>

New Puffer fish
My husband recently bought a puffer fish from our LFS. They called it a puffer, and upon closer questioning, called it a green spotted puffer. It was recommended to us by the same LFS to control snails in our tank. Ours is a freshwater aquarium and home to five neon tetras and a couple of catfish. They assured me it will be fine in our six gallon freshwater tank, but upon looking at various websites, I have my doubts.
<Your doubts are warranted. He will need specialized care; some salt in the water, larger tank, will probably eat the neon's eventually, etc.>
This puffer has gone thru many many snails in the two days we've had him. In fact he's eaten them all and now I'm scavenging snails from the tank filter. As usual, dad and the kids have brought home a new pet, and mom gets to figure out how to keep him alive and hopefully happy and healthy. So, should I return him? Also, what to feed (the store gave us frozen baby brine shrimp to feed him, but he's completely uninterested - they're obviously too small for him, although the tetras were in heaven).
<Frozen Mysis shrimp and/or plankton would be better.>
Any advice is appreciated. I've looked thru your website and it's very helpful. However, now I'm inundated with often conflicting info and I need to go straight to the horse's mouth.
<Take a look here for a lot more info http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwpufferfaqs.htm>
Thanks so much, Julie Billington
<Welcome to the hobby, Steven Pro>

Re: New Puffer fish
Thanks so much for the quick response! We got him/her some freeze-dried shrimp and some frozen brine shrimp. He liked the frozen shrimp and loved the freeze dried shrimp. I probably overfed him because I was so happy to seem him eating. The tetras continue to be impressed with the new additions to their diet. We're now scraping our pennies together for a 20 gallon tank. My main concern now is whether the catfish will tolerate the salt in the tank.
<It depends on the species of puffer and how much salt you will have to add to keep him happy. Most fish will be ok with 1 tablespoon of salt per 5 gallons of water. It is a pretty standard recommendation for various health reasons. It would be best when you get the 20 to keep both tanks up and separate the fish. Neon's in one and the puffer in another.>
Thanks Again! -Julie
<You are welcome. -Steven Pro>

To have or not to have (freshwater puffers)
Clear Day...Hey Bob,
<Anthony Calfo in your service>
I'm trying to gather all the info I can on freshwater puffers.
<there's a lot of information in articles and FAQ's on our WWM site on this topic... do research the following pages and the links at the top: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwpufferfaqs.htm, http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwpuffers.htm,
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwpufffaqs2.htm,
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/tetraodontpuffers.htm>
I've recently started another tank at my house. Its a 55 gal. tank with about 9 starting fish,1 gar, 1 Pictus Cat, 3 Tinfoil Barbs, 1 Green Severum, 1 Clown Knife, 1 Head stander, 1 Kribensis Cichlid, and 1 dead Fahaka Puffer. The Puffer was fin nipping some of them , but mostly the Knife. I came home one night , and it looked like he'd puffed up from a good fight ,and died days later. Are all puffers that mischievous ? 
<some are severely aggressive... most are at least nippy>
Is it my tank mates I've picked? Is there any Puffers that are less overbearing? They great fish , and I'm determined to
keep some. 
< a species tank with puffers only is your best route for this feisty family. Be warned... most won't even tolerate each other for long!>
Please enlighten me. Thanks Matthew
<best regards, Anthony>

Buy a puffer?
Hi- 
I just had a question. I would really love to buy a figure eight puffer, but right now I have 1 dwarf Gourami, 1 red platy, and a Bala shark in a 17 gal hex tank. Do you think the puffer will tolerate these other fish, if not what kind of fish would be good tank mates for a pufferfish? Thank you. 
<the puffer is a completely incompatible fish for this tank for many reasons. Even small, they are extremely aggressive (known to pick the eyes out of other fishes!)... more importantly, they are brackish and need a salted (half seawater) setup. Learn more in our WetWebMedia archives starting here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwpuffers.htm Please explore the FAQs and links at the top of the page. Best regards, Anthony>
I would appreciate any advise you have to offer. 
-Kristin 

Dempsey and Puffer problem
Hello Bob,
I have a 55 gallon tank setup with a Jack Dempsey, Pleco, and a Spotted Puffer. After scouring the internet for info on the Puffer I can't really figure out whether its the Nigroviridis or Fluvilitis.
<Have you tried www.fishbase.org?>
So with no real way to get reliable info on the type of puffer I have, I was thinking about raising the salinity of the tank a little, so I have added about one level tablespoon of salt for every ten gallons, but don't want to go higher yet without knowing if the salt will hurt the Dempsey and Pleco.
<I routinely add 1 tablespoon of salt per 5 gallons to many of my freshwater clients tanks.>
If its a freshwater puffer I was hoping it would be ok with the present tank conditions, but if its a brackish species I'm not sure what to do. There's not really any info on the internet about salt for Dempseys except for salt treatments, and those are only temporary for diseases.
<Your fish should be fine. -Steven Pro>

FW puffers
Thanks so much for the quick and helpful response. However, I believe I have a problem. I mentioned the "green spotted puffers" that I got from a pet-store, but I was wrong. The store calls them "gold and green puffers," a name that I cannot find anywhere on the web. After looking into it more, I think they are dwarf puffers, or Malabars, and this means that I have a problem, because I've been adding salt. 
<ahhh...yes>
My question is this: how would these little fish do with my African Cichlids? 
<anything beyond a species tank will be a compromise. Most all are notorious fin nippers and eye balls are fair game with slow and sleeping fishes. Really best in a species tank and not too crowded at that>
So far the Cichlids haven't touched my figure eight puffers, but they're close to 2 inches and pretty thick. These dwarfs are between .5" and 1", and not very thick at all. Furthermore, would the figure eights crush these little guys? It's 55 gallons, but the cichlids pretty much own the bottom and the puffers claim the top.
<alas... I can not honestly recommend such an unnatural mix>
Thanks, Andy B
<best regards>

Compatibility
Hello, I currently have a 30 gal tank set up with a couple perch and a bullhead catfish. I would like to add a freshwater puffer. Is there one I could buy that won't kill my other fish. THANKS
<Not really and the fish you have will outgrow your 30 gallons if you have a true Bullhead. Most of the puffers are not really freshwater but marine/brackish.  Craig>

Figure of 8 puffer/green spotted puffer
Please can you help me?
<I will try my best!>
I have 1 figure of 8 puffer and 1 spotted green puffer in s 250 litre approx. community tank with a mixture of both large and small fish including my 4 Discus which obviously means that the water is soft. They were previously together is their own tank but I thought it would be a good idea to put them in my larger tank.  The Aquatic place that I got them from said that it would be OK but I'm not so sure that it suits my dear little spotted Puffer.  He doesn't appear to be very well.  He's not eating anything anymore and one of his side fins has stopped moving or is not there at all, he is just floating around and bumping into everything.  They are both very placid fish and I don't want to lose this little guy.  Can you help?  
<Were they happy and healthy in their old tank? I would move them back...pronto!>
Is he in the right conditions or should I move them into their own tank again?  
<Well, as sensitive as the discus are you certainly can't change their water conditions...right? If the puffers aren't going to adjust, and it sounds as if they aren't, then move them back and put something else in with the discus>
What should I do to save him?
<That is what I would do. David Dowless>
Regards, Dena Richardson

Re: Figure 8 puffer/green spotted puffer
Thanks very much for your comments David, I will have to buy another tank for the little guys and pray that the spotted puffer survives - he really doesn't look well at all at the moment.  But would the change from soft water to potentially hard do him even more hard or should I do a half soft and half hard water mix - what do you think?
<I would certainly acclimate this fish slowly back to the old water whether the old water was hard or soft. Use standard procedures for acclimation...but take your time. Please don't just...drop the poor fish in the new water>
Also should I put any sort of tonic into the clean system?
<Don't think it would help>
Regards, Dena
<Have a happy holiday season! David Dowless>

Puffers
Hello again,
First of all, I'd like to say thanks for responding so quickly! I've been following your advice, but ran into a few problems here and there. I tried talking my LFS, all 4 of them, into ordering puffer fish and none of them would do it. Not even for a sale!
<hmm, I'm sure they have their reasons.>
This I really don't understand, but whatever... So it looks like I'll be buying 5 of the Dwarf Freshwater Puffers online for my 20 gallon tank. I'll be running it between fresh and brackish, just because the real scientific webpages I've seen have recommended that for their health & eating habits.
<If they are Tetraodon travancoricus, then they are a true freshwater puffer.>
pH will be 7.0-7.5, normal. Temperature at a constant 79*F. Now, there's one other thing... Tank mates! I'm thinking the best mates for such a small tank with 5 of these puffers would be one Blue Crayfish and two Synodontis Eupterus Catfish.
(The catfish on their site can be found here: http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/scavengers/scavengers.htm#top2 , and the Crayfish are here: http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/misc_critters/critters.htm#top2 )
If these guys don't get along, I'm lost. In that case I guess it'll be a FW Dwarf Puffer tank only, and I'll put the two cats and the Crayfish in the tank with my two Kenyi. *sigh* Puffer fish are a lot of work already!
Thanks SO much again, Tyler
<Hey Tyler, I would keep the puffers in a tank by themselves, they are quite aggressive when they want to be.  You will start finding puffer size chunks taken out of the other tank mates. -Gage>

Green-spotted puffer questions
Greetings,
<Hello! Ananda answering the puffer questions today...>
After having seen a green spotted puffer (Tetraodon fluviatilis
presumably) at the LFS and instantly becoming a huge fan,
<They are cute.>
I am considering adding one to my 40 gallon community tank.
<Generally not advised. First, these fish are brackish, requiring some salt in their water. Second, they are just not community fish....>
From what I have read thus far, I do not think there will be a
compatibility problem with existing tank mates as they are mostly
larger, semi-aggressive, and / or fast.
<That's what I thought when I got my first puffers. I was wrong, and my puffers are now in their own tank.>
(1 x black molly, 1 large platy, a enthusiastically breeding pair of Plecos, a tiger barb, and 2 striped Botias.)
> the puffer's viewpoint: "So many fins to munch on!" Puffers especially enjoy nipping big showy fins, like the ones on the molly. And I would definitely not add a stress-inducer like this to a tank with happily breeding Plecos.>
The slower moving Botias are my biggest concern, but I do have alternative homes for these should harassment become a problem.
<It would likely become a problem.>
I am greatly concerned about the safe handling of puffers and especially the possible threat of poisoning (mainly to myself.)
Given the general absence of information regarding safe handling, I am assuming that no particular precautions are really necessary other than normal “sanitary” measures one would normally follow during tank handling.
<If you follow those precautions (i.e., washing hands well before and after working on the tank, wearing gloves if you need to put your hands in the tank) and don't eat the puffer, you should be safe.>
Nonetheless, the eventualities with such a potentially lethal poison do concern me. Not that I would ever fathom trying to eat my pet,
<Ah, good>
but fish do get sick and die.
<Sad, but true. However, I have read about green-spotted puffers that lived into their teens.>
If and when this should happen, what to do?  I have read that dead puffers do secrete their poison, and that they can also secrete in self defense, although the later through suicide if nothing else.  I suppose this would also kill tank mates, but what if it doesn’t?
<This is another very good reason to keep puffers separate from other fish.>
I have no experience with puffers, and given the apparent popularity of the fish in the hobby, I assume overall it is safe.
<As long as you respect the fish and their environment, yes.>
I haven’t read of any aquarist’s death or poisoning,
<...at least not from keeping pufferfish.>
but I fear the more experienced hobbyist know something vital that I don’t, and would definitely like to set a precedent.
Your response and advice to a rookie would be very much appreciated.
<Please start reading here: http://wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/fwbracpuffers.htm and follow the links. And join us on the WetWebFotos chat forum -- we have several puffer fans on the forum.>
I’d like to wish you and your colleagues all the best in the new year.
<Will pass this on...>
Sincerely yours,
Richard O.
<Hopefully, you can get a new tank for a puffer. Regards, Ananda>

Up late stressing about my four Corys
<Ananda here this late night/early morning, fielding the puffer questions...>
I just did what now seems to be a very stupid thing. I had an overflow of snails so I read all about loaches and went to the local aquarium store to buy myself a small pack of them, having read they where a schooling fish. I was a little nervous about this and was easily manipulated by the evil aquarium experts?  .  
<Always stick to your guns when you have researched something...keep in mind that the people at the store are trying to sell you something and that non-commercial web sites about fish generally have the fishes' best interests at heart.>
Anyways they told me I would be better off buying a single Puffer fish, and after asking what fish I already had in my aquarium told me to add a teaspoon of rock salt per gallon of water to my aquarium.
<Knowing you had Corydoras catfish? Shame on them!!>
It has been a little over a week now and my Cory Catfish are not eating, and I just read that Corys can not tolerate salt,
<Usually not well at all. I would do a 50% water change with no salt in the new water.>
but I now have a green spotted puffer fish as well.
<Cute and intelligent fish, requiring salt as they mature.>
Tell me how to safe my fishies without buying a second aquarium please.  :(   
<Oh my. That is difficult, because the puffer needs salt, and the Corys can't tolerate it. Very young green-spotted puffers (under 2" in length) can tolerate freshwater for short periods. But your long-term solution is another tank for the puffer.>
<Best wishes, Ananda>  

Upgrading tank for puffer, need list of possible tank mates
Hey there.
<Greetings I’m very sorry for the delay in replying, our resident puffer expert has been ill so I’m filling in for her as much as I can.>
I am upgrading from a ten gallon to a 55 gallon tank for my cutcutia puffer. He is about 3 1/2 inches long.  I plan to use the ten gallon to breed small snails and guppies for my puffer to munch on as well as a hospital/quarantine tank should anything go wrong with my 55 gal.  (I also have an 8 gal to transfer the guppies to when quarantining and hospitalizing other fish)
<Very good, I’m sure he’ll be thrilled with the new home and diet!>
I'd like to know possible tank mates for my cutcutia.  I've read that they are aggressive fish but that with plenty of room, tank mates will do fine. I'd like to know a few good kinds of stock and the numbers of each that would complement my puffer.  I plan for this to be a freshwater tank.  With somewhat limited funds/experience I'd like to stick with hardy fish that are easier to keep alive and thriving, as I am a beginner for large aquarium fish.  I plan to stock the tank slowly and I'd like a possible schedule or two if you have the time.  (i.e., set up tank, cycle with species A) for two weeks, add puffer, wait a minimum of two weeks, add species B)...  blah blah until I have a good number of livestock for my tank.  
<Some good fish would be some of the fast moving fish like Danios, Barbs, Rainbow Fish, and Sharks. Stick with the larger species of these to prevent your puffer from seeing them as food. Maybe go with 4-5 Giant Danios and 4-5 Rainbows. Or, you could do a school of 8-10 Tiger Barbs and 4-5 Rainbows and they would look really nice. Due to the aggressiveness of most puffers, it’s best to add them to your tank last. Basically, cycle your tank with something pretty hardy. You could use some tiger barbs for this but I would recommend going with goldfish and then trading them back in when your tank is cycled. Then, over the course of several weeks, add your other fish, finally adding the puffer as the very last fish. Do keep an eye on him and be prepared to separate the fish if he’s being too aggressive. >
I want to include some small snails and plenty of ghost shrimp for variety in his meals.  Also, I LOVE puffers but I don't know of any in my area (other than the one I just bought) so I would basically have to order any exotic fish online.  Also, which online dealers would you recommend I try to find the fish you suggest?
<Take a look at our links page, there are a lot of retailers listed there.>
Also, the number I've heard on the average lifespan of a puffer was in the teens.  Is that accurate?
<I’m not really sure on this. Run some searches at http://www.wetwebmedia.com to see what you can find.>
Thanks sooo much, Jessica
<You're welcome! Ronni>

Target Puffer tankmates question??? (04/15/03)
Dear WetWebMedia,
<Hi! Ananda here today with the puffer questions...>
I have recently purchased a Target Puffer (about 3 inches long) and currently have him in a 20L tank.  He is the only fish in the tank and I am interested in adding another fish or two to it.  
<Bad idea -- these guys are quite aggressive.>
The fish store stated that the puffer was purchased by someone else a few days earlier and that it was returned because it ate everything else in the previous owner's tank (I'm
assuming he had small fish).  
<Maybe.>
My question is this, in your opinion, what kind of fish could I add to the tank that you think would be safe from his aggression.  
<In a 20 long? Not much... I don't have personal experience with this particular puffer, so you might try asking on the WetWebMedia chat forums: http://wetwebfotos.com/talk>
The tank is freshwater, 20L, sand bottom, various dried coral and barnacle throughout for hiding places (My wife likes the tropical look, even though it's freshwater).  
<Both dried coral and barnacle can have rough/sharp edges -- very bad for a scaleless fish. The could easily cut himself on the coral and possibly the barnacle.>
I was thinking something along the lines of a shark or something else that is a little aggressive, fast, and doesn't have showy fins.  
<It would need to be more than a little aggressive to keep up with this fish, I think.>
Also, I've had the fish for almost a week now, and the only thing he seems to like is live brine shrimp, which isn't a problem, but I thought variety was better... he doesn't go for pellets.  
<Brine shrimp are fish junk food -- useful to entice the fish to eat, but they'll starve if that's their daily diet. I've never met a puffer that would eat a pellet. They eat things like freeze-dried or frozen/thawed crustaceans, worms, and live snails. It's important that they get shell-on foods that they can crush; their teeth just keep growing and need to be worn down through use. Check out the various puffer pages on the WetWebMedia site for more info on what they eat and why.>
Any thoughts or insight are greatly appreciated!!!  Thanks for all the great things you are
doing for the fish lovers community!
<Thanks for the kind words. --Ananda>
Sincerely,
Ray (NJ)

Figure 8 puffers in a community tank? Or with Oscars? (06/29/03)
Dear wetwebmedia crew,
<Hello! Ananda here tonight...>
We have a 55 gal tank since December (Christmas present) for our 9 years old.
<Cool.>
We got totally hooked to it (more than her).
<I'm not surprised. :-)>
In any case, we manage to get 6 black widows, 6 guppies, 4 rainbow sharks, 2 sucker fish, 2 angel fish, 4 tin foils, a bunch of neons, 2 mollies (Dalmatians).
<Yikes! Too many fish...>
The tin foil got so big, we had to give them away to a friend's tank, as they ate the neons one after the other.
<Yep, they'll do that. Tinfoils get huge, quickly -- as you found out!>
We replace the neons and add up a beta (purple, gorgeous)  and a bunch of other neon as well as two angel fish. So far so good. Then my husband got us two blue gouramis.
<I've heard reports of gouramis not playing well with angel fish -- but others say they have had no problems with that combination. Keep an eye on them...!>
Meanwhile the  2 angel fish grew a lot !! After a radical water change (algae) we lost a rainbow shark.
<If you must do a large water change, very carefully match the temp and pH of the new water to the old water.>
Going to the pet store for a remedy for algae, my husband came back with 2 figure 8 puffers.
<Uh-oh, I think I see where this is going....>
It was love at the fist sight as they do look like cartoons fish !!! After two days, all the neons were missing, and the little bit I got cleaning out the tank was "little pieces of neons".
<Yep. I think it's the red stripe or something. Many puffers seem to go nuts over red food.>
I blame the puffers, my husband blame the water change !!
<Could be either, or both. Neons are rather sensitive.>
Anyhow, wanted to know a little bit more, I went again (thanks for previous advise) on your site and realize that puffers do it neons !! (even though the angel fish got blame for it).
<Sometimes, angel fish will eat neons too. I suspect some gouramis might be opportunistic eaters, if the size difference between them and the neons is sufficient.>
So far everybody is getting along fine, and has their own little life and territory problem, but every morning, this the first thing we check and every body is till there !!!
<Read up on puffs....those guys are fin-nippers, and the fish you have...well, those fins are going to look like tasty puffer treats!>
... Until one of the puffer went belly up !!!
<Ack!>
and the other one was nowhere to be found. Fast remedy, my husband came back from shopping w/ 2 more puffers, and guess who is coming around.. the missing one.
<NOT a remedy. Please try not to buy 'replacement' fish until you know why the fish being replaced has died, so you can correct the situation. Your remaining fish will thank you for it.>
So now we have 3 figure 8 and then I read all that stuff about them being aggressive and all, unless they have "meaty food". So I go and gave the whole gang, dry blood worms.
<Um...not exactly a "meaty" food, as they're freeze-dried -- do check the assorted Puffer Feeding FAQs, both marine and freshwater/brackish. Which reminds me -- these puffs should have a bit of salt in their water, and none of your other fish are salt-tolerant. These guys need their own tank!>
Not one of them touch the bottom (where the puffers hang around) as the mollies and black widows and guppies went for the run  and all food was gone !!!
<I'm not surprised. Until you can get them a new tank, you're going to need to feed them food that will sink slowly -- try some frozen bloodworms. Your puffs (and every fish else) will go nuts over those.>
Reading a little bit more, I give them frozen shrimp ..... nothing happen, except that the frog (I forgot we also have a frog) started to have dinner and the mollies and gouramis fought for the other pieces...
<If there's a bait shop near you, pick up a small container of "red worms". At least around here, those are the smallest size of earthworms. Your puffs will go nuts over them.>
Then I read again and discover puffer and Mr. stupid and realize that may be my puffers are also stupid as they scan the bottom of the tank all evening and do not see the shrimps !!
<I've had both figure-8 and green-spotted puffs for a couple of years, and the figure-8s seem to get more excited about worms than snails and crustaceans. They still need to eat the hard-shelled foods, though. Also, were you cutting the shrimp into smallish pieces for them?>
Will it take hand feeding ?
<In a tank this full, it might -- but do try the other things I've mentioned.>
To make a long story (sorry) short, my husband birthday is coming up, and as he is longing for "Oscars" and other aggressive fish, will it be ok to move the puffers with the Oscars ?
<Um. Oscars get *big*. I would suggest waiting on the Oscars and just getting him a new tank setup for the puffers.>
The difference in size is a little bit scary to me ! So my daughter (and I) can keep this lovely peaceful, fish loving, getting along tank, and he can have his fierce aggressive tank all for himself.
<My suggestion would be to hold off on the Oscar tank until Christmas....>
A (short) answer to this long story will be greatly appreciated.
<Um...do short sentences count??>
Great web site, I recommend it to all my friends in the fish loving world,
Patricia
<Thanks for the vote of confidence! Please do join the crew of puffer fans and freshwater fish fans on the WetWebMedia chat boards at http://wetwebfotos.com/talk ... --Ananda>

Cramming a freshwater dwarf puffer into a 30g tank? (08/07/03)
Hi WWM,
<Hi! Ananda here today...>
I have a 30gallon freshwater aquarium.  I've been reading about dwarf puffer being the smallest is the most non-aggressive puffer.  
<Ooooh...I'm not certain that is the case. There's a reason you usually don't find other fish kept with them at fish stores.>
I have 2-dwarf Gourami, 2-kuli loaches, 4 clown loaches, 1-albino catfish, 3-dwarf frogs, 6
guppies, 3-serpae tetras, 2 balloon mollies, 1-filter shrimp.  
<Yikes! That's a bit much already. The clown loaches will *definitely* need a larger tank in the future, and the catfish probably will, too, depending on the species. And some types of frogs may decide to munch on your fish when they grow up...I would keep an eye on them and consider moving them to a different tank.>
I want to know if they puffer will be ok with my other fishes.  
<Not really -- the puffer will 99% probably not eat flake food. They usually ignore the stuff, often wasting away in pet stores that will not take the extra expense to feed them the meaty frozen foods they must have. Also, I've never met a puff who wouldn't nip a fin, given a fin to nip. (Hmmm. Say that five times fast.) With mollies, those fins are going to look like tasty treats to the puffer.>
I feed a alternating diet of bloodworms, flakes and bites but don't mind going all bloodworm as it's has more protein.  
<Unfortunately, the rest of your fish need a varied diet -- mollies especially need their greens to stay healthy.>
I have lots of plants and places of the puffer to hide and really want to keep a variety of species in my aquarium.  
<You already have quite the variety of species...more than most people I know.>
Please let me know.  
<Do get a new tank for dwarf puffers, should you decide to get them. The fins you save may be your...fishes.>
Thank you for your time.
Cheers,
Rick Fung
<You're welcome. --Ananda>

Freshwater puffers in this tank?
<Hi! Ananda here today...>
I've got a 72gal freshwater tank heavily planted which currently houses 7 clown loaches (1"-4"), a few frisky yo yo loaches, bristle nose Plec, and a 5-1/2" red tailed black shark that's quite aggressive although the loaches hold their own and sometimes give him a bit of grief back.
<Okay... (though you will, eventually, want a larger tank for the clown loaches...)>
I'd like to add a fig-8 or Indian dwarf puffer to the tank but had a concern as to the compatibility of it.
<I would not add either of those two species to that tank.>
All the info I could absorb tells me that it would be fine in my semi-aggressive tank although a lot of the info I can find on these puffers ranges from them being semi-peaceful to a semi-terror.
<Yep, depends on the tankmates and on the individual puffers.>
I also find conflicting info on the correct water parameters of the puffers especially the fig-8 which shown as freshwater many places and brackish other places.
<Yep, the jury is still out on that one. Most people I know who have them keep them in light brackish conditions: specific gravity of no more than 1.006.>
My tank holds a constant PH of 6.8 during the day and goes up to 7.1 at night due to CO2 injection, I add very little salt at water changes, and sometimes use peat to soften my water. Which of these puffers if any would be happy in my tank?
<I would not try to keep any puffers in that tank. Another thing to consider is that some puffers will munch holes in the leaves of various plants. If you would like puffers, I would suggest devoting a tank to them. --Ananda>

Puffer Fish and Companions
Hi,
<Hello, Pufferpunk here>
I have recently purchased a green spotted puffer.  
<Cool fish!  I have 2 6" adults that live in a SW tank.>
He is living alone with tonnes of tank space in a brackish tank.  
<How high is the SG?  As they grow to adulthood, their SG needs to go up towards high-end BW & then they even prefer SW as adults.  Also, you need to feed your puffer hard-shelled foods to keep it's teeth trimmed.  Smaller guys (<2") can eat small snails, krill, plankton & maybe even be able to pick at a mussel.  Larger puffs (>2") can pretty much eat anything you find at the fish dept of your grocery store (except fish).>
I also have a convict tank.  I have 1 convict (all convicts are kept in fresh water) that is not fitting in and was wondering if he could be gently conditioned to brackish water, and if he would be a suitable companion for my puffer or if the puffer would simply kill him.  
<They may get along ok (mine live w/some very tough damselfish), but convicts are strictly FW fish & as I said before, you will need to be raising the SG way beyond what any FW fish could handle.>
If they are incompatible could you suggest a few species that would co-habit well , or is this type of fish better kept along at all times.  
<My 2 GSPs have always gotten along & I added a Ceylon (T Fluviatilis) to the mix.  Along w/damselfish, clownfish & even some very smart hermit crabs.  I do occasionally find a few damsels missing though.>
Also is there a type of Algae eater that could live in the brackish tank without becoming dinner?   
Not really, especially at the higher salt ranges.  You will need to your own maid service.>
Any input would be great.   Thanks!
<You're welcome--Pufferpunk>

Dwarf Puffers 4/16/04 
<Hi, Pufferpunk here> 
Please help me if you can. About 2 weeks ago I got to freshwater dwarf puffers. They are in a 29 gal. tank with other fish silver dollers(2) and tetras and loach (clown). I have read that they need brackish water, but was told they did not by the pet store I got them at. 
<The store was right. Dwarf puffers (Carinotetraodon travancorius), are strictly freshwater fish. See: http://www.rr.iij4u.or.jp/~kohda/en/en-dwarfpuffer.htm  Are these your puffers?> 
I did not know that they had teeth and need special food to keep them worn down. <Yes, all puffers have a "beak" & like rodents, need hard/crunchy foods to keep them from getting overgrown. Tiny snails, blackworms (actually have a crunchy outer skin) & plankton are good foods for smaller puffers.> 
They are very small about the size of child's pinkie nail. So please tell me how to care for the little guys-girls. I have a 20 gal. tank I can turn into salt tank for now if need be, but the are doing well in my all fresh water tank. Can they live out there life there? 
<I see many problems here. 1st of all your silver dollars will get 5" & clown loaches close to 12"! Something will have to be done with them when they get larger. I suggest at least a 55g tank for them. Another problem is, your puffers are shy & slow on the uptake when it comes to competing for food. I'm afraid the others (especially the piggy silver dollars) will out compete them for eats. That's why puffers are best in species only tanks. ~PP>

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 marine/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 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>

Mbu Puffer
I am thinking on getting an Mbu puffer fish I know that it gets big but just how big does it get in the home aquaria 
<About a foot in length in a big enough system, time, food going by...>
there is all different advice like this puffer can go in with other fish depending on how the fish is but they never say which fish
<"Smart", fast, aggressive ones... best are cichlids, catfishes, Characoids from the same region the Mbu is collected. You can find this information on fishbase.org>
and also if I get one from a baby how long does it take to lets say 6 inches from say a 2inch 
<About a year to two years... depending on feedings, maintenance... Please see "Optimized Growth": http://wetwebmedia.com/optgwth.htm>
please could you email me back which some advice thank you 
<Chat with you soon my friend. Bob Fenner>