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What other fish can go with a puffer?

Discussion in 'Saltwater Fish Forum' started by California Cowgirl, Feb 3, 2009.

  1. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl Thread Starter New Member

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    Ok, so instead of giving my puffer away, i want to try to add one more fish to his tank. My tank is saltwater and i don't have any special equipment, just a normal 20 gal filter and norml light.

    My question is, does anybody think that there is a saltwater fish that can live with my puffer? He ate my last fish that lived with him in freshwater, so he's been alone since. I don't have any corals or anything as he would eat them, and i really don't want another puffer, unless it's a puppy dog face puffer.

    I've had him for about 6 months and he hasn't grown a bit so i don't think he'll get much bigger than where he's at. So is there a saltwater fish that would be able to live with him, that's slightly agressive so if my puffer did try to eat him, he would strike back, but yet not harm my puffer?
     
    California Cowgirl, Feb 3, 2009
    #1
  2. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Do you know that your tank is saltwater ? Last I read you said you added salt but did not replace the salt when doing 10% water changes each week. To keep fish ONLY in the tank the specific gravity needs to be about 1.020 (a general average of salinity you'll find at local pet stores).

    Next, in a 20 gallon tank the puffer will be extremely territorial especially as it gets larger. Because of that your choices are limited to non existent unless you get a larger tank.
     
    Anthony, Feb 3, 2009
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  3. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl Thread Starter New Member

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    kk, i've got to added more salt after my last water change, and i'm graduall adding more.

    And my paremetars(sp) are as follows

    NO2 >1
    PH 8.0
    Alkalinity 1.7-2.8 Normal
    Nitrate NO3 between 10 and 20

    also the hydrometer read pretty low for salwater, so i added even more salt just now and i'll test the water again tomorrow
     
    California Cowgirl, Feb 3, 2009
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  4. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Don't up the salinity so fast. Raising the salinity for a puffer should be done over a good period of time (weeks not days). MAYBE 2 points a week.

    NitrIte needs to be 0
    Ammonia - 0
    NitrAte < 20
    pH 8.3-8.4
     
    Anthony, Feb 3, 2009
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  5. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Oh also I should add that the water shouldn't be completely salt water until they're an adult or nearly adult.
     
    Anthony, Feb 3, 2009
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  6. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl Thread Starter New Member

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    ok, guess i'll keep him at the amount of saltwater that he has
     
    California Cowgirl, Feb 3, 2009
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  7. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl Thread Starter New Member

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    oh and how do i lower the NitrIte Ammonia and NitrAte they seem to be really high
     
    California Cowgirl, Feb 3, 2009
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  8. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    If there is an ammonia and nitrIte reading that means your tank is not cycled. Daily water changes need to be done until it is cycled. Do not replace your filter media or clean your substrate.
     
    Anthony, Feb 3, 2009
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  9. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl Thread Starter New Member

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    ok, will do, i just changed 20% on sunday, and that was quick and easy enough to do, so that won't be a problem, and i guess it didn't help that i changed sand and completley wiped down the tank during the change
     
    California Cowgirl, Feb 3, 2009
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  10. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Nope that removed all the beneficial bacteria.
     
    Anthony, Feb 4, 2009
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  11. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Top Poster Of Month

    check out <a class="postlink" href="http://www.greenspottedpuffer.net" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">www.greenspottedpuffer.net</a> there are a few fish that can be with gsp's once they are in full salt.
     
    Anonymous, Feb 15, 2009
    #11
  12. adambuffalo

    adambuffalo New Member

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    I have a porcupine puffer in a 55g tank. He's in there with a fox face rabbit, powder brown tang, huma huma, bicolored angel and 2 clowns. None of the fish bother anyone else. The puffer did go after my brittle star a few times at first (Stars missing 2 legs now) and I find my snails upended occasionally, but no other problems as long as I keep him fed. The things to look at is the size of the fish you're going to add. My puffer was the last one added and that is an important thing also. Since your puffer is already in there, he'll be territorial to any fish added. I would go with something like a trigger at least the size of the puffer.
     
    adambuffalo, Jun 9, 2009
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  13. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl Thread Starter New Member

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    i've been wanting to put something else in with my guy but i think he's just to aggressive. I've got him in a 20 gal and will be moving him to a 40 gal. He currently attacks anything that enters his tank and he's killed all of my fish that were in the tank back when he was freshwater. And i think he might do the same in his 40 gallon. Even though i want to put him with other fish i just don't know if it's worth it especially with saltwater fish being expensive.
     
    California Cowgirl, Jun 9, 2009
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  14. adambuffalo

    adambuffalo New Member

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    If you put the other fish in the 40g for a while before moving the puffer in, you should be fine. I would put ther other fish in the 40g first and keep the puffer in the 20g for at least 3-5 days. The other fish will have their territories established and then it should be fine. I recommend a rabbit fish (which I like a lot) and a trigger fish (maybe the Niger). A lot of sites recommend Tangs and Wrasses. Like I said earlier my fish are all fine with the puffer, b/c they were all established already. Also, you want to make sure you have rocks in there or other hiding places. For your new fish and also the puffer likes hiding spots (you may never see him in it if their are any lights on).
     
    adambuffalo, Jun 10, 2009
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  15. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    With a 40 gallon though I wouldn't put other fish with the puffer. The Niger Triggerfish and Rabbitfish will not work in a 40 gallon tank.
     
    Anthony, Jun 10, 2009
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  16. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl Thread Starter New Member

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    ok i was just hoping to put 2 clownfish in the tank with him but i think he would do some major fin nipping to them
     
    California Cowgirl, Jun 10, 2009
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  17. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Definitely no clownfish with that guy.
     
    Anthony, Jun 10, 2009
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  18. California Cowgirl

    California Cowgirl Thread Starter New Member

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    ok, and i also measured the space where i'm going to have the new tank and i deffinentley have room for a 50 or 55 gallon, i just need to talk my parents into that, but i'm not sure if i should since their ok with a 40 gallon, it just seem hard trying to find a really nice 40
     
    California Cowgirl, Jun 10, 2009
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  19. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Check out Glass Cages ( <a class="postlink" href="http://glasscages.com/?sAction=ViewCat&lCatID=2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://glasscages.com/?sAction=ViewCat&lCatID=2</a> ). They may have a pickup site near you to save on shipping. If so their pricing is great on new tanks.
     
    Anthony, Jun 10, 2009
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  20. stevenrox

    stevenrox New Member

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    i wouldnt put any fishes with a puffer gonna (most likely) bite its fins stress it out and kill it =[
     
    stevenrox, Jun 16, 2009
    #20