porcupine puffer

[cajundolphin]

I just got home with my new baby, a porcupine puffer. He is soooo cute! His name is Gizmo. He is about 3 inches. I know they need hard shell food to keep their teeth short but is there anyone that can tell me ANYTHING else I may need to know to keep him healthy and comfy!

[megaspoot]

55g is way to small for a porcupine puffer. If properly living arrangements are provided, it can get to 18"+, not including the tail.

Food-wise, variety is key. Shrimp, squid, and varies shelled foods. Do NOT feed it fish! They are not piscevores, so eating fish would not be good for their health.

Other than that, pristine waters will help, as puffers are rather sensitive to poor water quality.

[cajundolphin]

yes i know 55gal is too small....i am getting my 125gal out of storage and let it get started cycling for him. Thanks for the help and info.

[Maika'i]

holocanthus will not get 18+" more like 12-ish in aquariums

[saltyESQ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10846510#post10846510 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Maika'i
holocanthus will not get 18+" more like 12-ish in aquariums

I have seen an 18"+ grown from a juvi in a tank.
they aren't that cute when that size.

[Maika'i]

no they dont, hystrix do, not holocanthus

[megaspoot]

hystrix get to 48"
Holocanthus do, I know a few people with ones that big.

[luv951]

I have one that I bought at about 3 inches, and in four years he has grown to about 8. Great fish!

Back to the OP. This is what I do to feed him, and it has been working great. I buy cocktail shrimp, uncooked jumbo shrimp, mussels, scallops, REAL crab meat, and usually some type of marine fish filet (orange ruffie this time). Take all of those (shuck the mussels first) and put them in the blender with some saltwater and Nori seaweed. I usually buy about a pound of each and use 4 - 5 sheets of Nori. Blend till it becomes a disgusting gelatinous goo - you can leave some of the ingredients out to give the mix bigger chunks. Then, fill 1 gallon freezer bags until they will mush to a sheet about 1/2 inch thick and freeze them. At feeding time, just break off a chunk and throw it in. The ohter fish will eat the bits that he misses (they are messy).

I usually feed him this about twice a week, with two feedings of straight Nori as well. A day or two with no food is not bad.

Also, every now and then, like when your algae gets bad, just buy some snails from ebay (cheap!) and put them in. He will eat them, but until he gets to all of them, they will help clean your tank. This can be done yearly or less.

[Puffer Queen]

Diodons do not experience the problem with overgrown teeth. They have two dental plates.

Tetradons (arothrons) have four fused dental plates that form a beak. These puffers are the ones that have dental issues.

[scoobyrs25]

How big of a tank should a 4" porcupine have? I just inherited one and I know his tank is too small. Will it be able to hold it's own in my 90 gallon with 2 Sargent Damsels and a 4" Sailfin tang?

[Maika'i]

definatly for many years

[scoobyrs25]

Are you sure? The Sargents are 4" as well and quite rambunctious. They didn't mess with the Sailfin when he was introduced, but took after a 2.5" Naso and a Wrasse. The Wrasse is cool now, but the Naso had to be moved.