Puffers w/ inverts ?

[Tankless in Dubai]

I would like to get a puffer, will they eat inverts, corals, soft tissue polyps, etc.?

 

[Anonymous]

I would like to get a puffer, will they eat inverts, corals, soft tissue polyps, etc.?

Yes.........get a few books and start reading before puchasing fish.

 

[Anonymous]

it seems to me that a lot of online livestock websites give puffers the general term "not reef safe"

 

[Anonymous]

I would like to get a puffer, will they eat inverts, corals, soft tissue polyps, etc.?

Depends on the type of puffer as to what they'll go after, but in general yes, most will eat various inverts, especially motile inverts. The sharpnose puffers are supposedly more safe than other types, but they're more likely to munch into soft corals.

 

[Anonymous]

Plus most puffers are big eaters, which means they're big waste-producers. Not the combination you want in a reef tank, where pristine water quality is paramount.

 

[EmilyB]

I have a valentini puffer in a 155g reef tank. I kept him with various things for two years before puttting him in there.

He lives with cleaner shrimp, snails, clams, anemones, coral, starfish, etc without any problems. I suspect he's eating bugs, but that isn't a particular concern to me.

And yes, for a little fish, he has mighty big poops... :lol:

 

[Chucker]

M.E. Milz did an experiment on this very topic a while back. A search should turn it up.

 

[Anonymous]

I have a valentini puffer in a 155g reef tank. I kept him with various things for two years before puttting him in there.

He lives with cleaner shrimp, snails, clams, anemones, coral, starfish, etc without any problems. I suspect he's eating bugs, but that isn't a particular concern to me.

And yes, for a little fish, he has mighty big poops... :lol:

You got me thinkin about gettin one. LOL If he leaves my Star and Coral Banded Shrimp alone I will be happy. I have a Snowflake Eel that hangs out with my Coaral Banded Shrimp for the last 4 months.

 

[Tankless in Dubai]

Of all fish, I am most attracted to puffers but they seem incompatible with reef tanks. I am not big on fish, finding more enjoyment from the inverts and the various other critters and corals. I would like a puffer at some point but I think a low bio-load is key to a healthy tank so we'll see.

Thanks for the info and for those that shared their experience that not all puffers will devour every invert in the tank - good to know.