Porcupine Puffer

[VahanM]

I'm new here and new to reef aquariums. I bought my tank last month and I'm doing ok. I started off with 2 Clownfish and a couple weeks later added a Regal Tang, Yellow Tang, Porcupine Puffer, Bannerfish, and a Hermit Crab. My son loves Finding Nemo so I decided to do something close to that.

Anyway, I noticed some white marks on my Bannerfish 2 days after I got it. The guy at the fish store said one of the other fish could be fighting with it. The next day it was dead.

Yesterday I got home and couldn't find the larger clownfish. I feed the puffer frozen krill and the size of those things are just a bit smaller than my larger clownfish. I thought if the puffer could eat the krill, it could eat the clownfish. I later found the remains of that clownfish and scooped it out. I observed the tank for a while last night and saw the puffer chase after the small clownfish several times. I know he's going to eat it.

I'm thinking of taking the puffer back. Any advice?

 

[Brian5000]

My little guidebook says porcupine puffers will try to eat smaller fishes. My understanding is that puffers are like triggers. They are both really aggressive.
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grape ape pics

 

[Mike612]

Sounds like you stocked your tank very quickly. That's not very wise. Also, you never mentioned how big your tank is, which is also a very important factor. Lastly, was your tank done cycling before you started putting fish in? That will also affect your fish's overall health badly.

The puffer's probably territorial and so it's killing the fish that cannot defend themselves.

 

[bubblepuffer]

Could be Yellow Tang too that bully other fish. I got Yellow tang, Clown fish, and Porcuppine. My Porcuppine is more like a chicken then other fish. The Yellow Tang is like Bully King in the tank that chase all other fish around and nip on them.

 

[VahanM]

My tank is a 50 gallon and at first I just got the 2 clowns. I kept taking my water back each week and having it tested at the fish store until they told me I was ready for more fish.

I'm pretty sure it was the puffer because I witnessed him chasing around the smaller clown several times.

When I stick my finger in the water, he comes up and tries to bite it so I know he's aggresive.

Anyway, I've decided to return the puffer.

Thanks guys.

 

[poolshark181]

your tank is far too small for a tang, let alone 2. i think the recommended size is at LEAST 100 gallons.

 

[snapper1]

Your tank is not to small for a Tang I had a Yellow Tang in a 56 Gallon Tank for 4 Years.That Puffer could be the problem I have seen some that can be Agressive to smaller Fish.I think you put into many Fish to Quickly and had a Ammonia spike.

 

[bubblepuffer]

yup. It could be puffer too. I tried to add Atlantic Porcuppine puffer to my tank and up he is chasing my orginal puffer and need to return him right away.

Fish is like human. They come with all kind of behavior. Some is good, friendly, bad, naughty, evil and murderer.

 

[Bojangles]

My tank is a 50 gallon and at first I just got the 2 clowns. I kept taking my water back each week and having it tested at the fish store until they told me I was ready for more fish.

I'm pretty sure it was the puffer because I witnessed him chasing around the smaller clown several times.

When I stick my finger in the water, he comes up and tries to bite it so I know he's aggresive.

Anyway, I've decided to return the puffer.

Thanks guys.

The reason he comes up to bite your finger is the same reason you feed snakes in the bathroom. They associate whatever drops in the tank as food and he was probably thinking of dinner.

 

[spike78]

That tank is pretty small for that stock list. How did you set the tank up? What are your water parameters? I'm afraid we need some more information to be of much help.