Puffer & reef?

[OOtzie]

I have a 14 gal biocube reefed up. It's sporting various mushrooms, basically ric's & bullseye as well as a bi colored blenny, a yellow clown goby and a medium sized skunk cleaner shrimp.

I justed added a valentini puffer. Is this sucker gunna cause problems? or will I be in good shape as long as he's feed?

 

[reefman]

anthigaster Valentini-Valentini Puffer
Not reef safe as they feed on inverts and will take bits out of corals and rocks looking for food. They do well in a FO or a Fowlr tank but shouldn't be kept with aggressive fish as they're shy and can be bully very easy. They do always eat or not enough and you need to be careful that they don't get to thin and die or starvation.

 

[OOtzie]

i'm getting mixed reviews on this guy. I'm seeing redtape and then I'm finding success stories with the only notable causalites being xenia. I have a cleaner shrimp I've grown from a quarter of an inch to about and inch&ahalf, I'm attached, whats the success rate of my shrimp,shrooms,fish,hermit crabs,snails staying untouched?

 

[Lenny718]

It amazes me that people add fish to there tanks without researching first. NOT REEF SAFE.

 

[OOtzie]

I did do my research lenny ... I'm going with the flow, they told me I couldn't raise a dwarf lion in a 14gal also, I had it for 6 months no problem. Like I said mixed reviews, the only thing I read that's consistent is :

- smaller shrimp(mine isnt) & hermits are on the menu
- shrooms are safe/other fast moving fish
- a great small, slow growing puffer to own

I'd need to hear from Marrone for an Official verdict.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Not a reef safe fish.

 

[cono]

What dont you understand the fish is NOT REEF SAFE

 

[dubs]

there are no reef safe puffer and 14g is too small for a puffer

 

[duke62]

uh oh im not saying anything .i get yelled at

 

[JonnyJ]

uh oh im not saying anything .i get yelled at

ill say it for you, The fish isn't reef safe. you can do what you like tho.

 

[rookie07]

Your Tank is way to small.

 

[basiab]

I did do my research lenny ... I'm going with the flow, they told me I couldn't raise a dwarf lion in a 14gal also, I had it for 6 months no problem. QUOTE]
What happened after 6 months. If you gave it away then fine. But if it died then I would say you short changed the guy. Most fish can live for years if they have the proper environment. When they say you can't raise a fish in less than x gallon tank they mean to keep it there when it is full grown. Most people don't want to get a fish as a baby and then sell it when it gets too big.

 

[OOtzie]

I sold the dwarf lion because I was running low on funds and he was well feed, if you know what I mean. Puffers grow slowly, the valentini is smaller than my cleaner shrimp. I understand what you mean basiab but I'm looking to be challenged and not annoyed, if it eats a .99 crab I'm not going into a frenzy. I've seen it done by other reefer's, just had to wait to come across a small one, It'll work. To everyone else who knows better, you do things by the book.

 

[Marcellina]

Is there any kind of puffer that is reef safe that any MR member might be able to recommend for him? Or are they all classified as non reef safe?

 

[cowfish]

Really no such thing as a guaranteed reef safe puffer. They're carnivores. They have teeth. They like to chew things. If you have a large enough system and don't mind a little damage here and there then it's not an issue. If you're worried about your prized coral or shrimp becoming a snack....

I've seen Valentinis kept in SPS reefs (no shrimp though) and they do just fine without bothering the other fish (who are able to defend themselves just fine). Personally I wouldn't put one in with passive fish, in a small tank or with corals that I couldn't stand to have damaged.

It's a personal decision. If you want to take a chance then knock yourself out.

 

[beerfish]

Ok, we've established that the fish is not reef safe, so now let's discuss it.

I've kept "non-reef safe" (NRS) fish in my tanks before, and will do it again, but there are important trade-offs you have to consider when you do so.

Most NRS fish will attack inverts, and some will attack corals. I've had eels and NRS wrasses in tanks, and they would go after my cleanup crew regularly. The solution to this was keeping them well fed, and replacing the cleanup crew more frequently. I enjoyed the fish, and didn't mind the added expense. If a fish likes to munch a specific type of coral, you have to either lose the coral or lose the fish. Your choice.

In keeping them well fed, you run the risk of fouling your tank water quickly. Most of these big eaters add a heavy bioload to the tank. I think the biggest issue you'll face with the puffer is keeping your water quality high.

Can it be done and should it be done are different things. If you're prepared to lose your cleanup crew (probably your shrimp), and potentially some corals, then you'll just have to worry about the added waste in the tank.

All of this said, I would probably advise against it, unless you have the time and money to do frequent water changes and regularly replace your losses. If you had a larger tank, I would say go for it, but in that size tank, I think you're going to have more trouble than it's worth.

 

[OOtzie]

Beerfish, that's how I feel. I'm waiting on a flameback to come along than I'm trading it (week or two). Still an awesome specimen, a lot of color.

 

[UnknownWaters]

Why ask for a public opinion on a public forum and then when the you get the opinions you seek you reject them? NRS mean NRS godspeed to you and your puffer.

 

[Reef Greek]

Ditto to Unknowns comment. Sounds like you already know the answer to everything (just like my teenager) Also why buy a fish just to trade it in every few weeks or months. A 14 gallon tank is too small for the flameback too or is that just another temporary tenant?

 

[TRIGGERMAN]

14 gallon is too small for almost everything lol it's good for a pair of small clowns 2 small damsels,firefsih..things that don't get more than a few inches. You houldn't have more than like 2 or 3 small fish