Puffer and lionfish

jelwyoming · 01/29/2008, 12:28 PM

Is there any puffer that would do well with a full grown antennated lionfish? I have had him for 2 years now and am going to put him into a larger tank with one or two other fish.

ryaneisenhart · 01/29/2008, 12:37 PM

the common porcupine puffer will be fine with anything. hes friendly

jelwyoming · 01/29/2008, 12:52 PM

I was thinking that, but I have heard that they are "fin nippers" that might not agree with the lionfish.

pinkie · 01/29/2008, 03:37 PM

Most if not all puffers would be just fine with a lionfish. I have mine with 4 puffers (Spiny Box, Dog Faced, Guinea Fowl, Stars and Stripes) and none of them have ever bothered my volitan.

ledford1 · 01/29/2008, 05:40 PM

When choosing a puffer with my Volitan, I was told that the Dogface was one of the least likely of the puffers to fin nip - and it did work out for me.

jelwyoming · 01/29/2008, 09:16 PM

The volition is a bit bigger than my Antennated lion. I think he will only grow an inch or two more, if at all. That is why I am looking for one of the smaller, better mannered puffers. I am leaning towards the porcupine puffer if no body has suffered ill experiences with that. Anyone have a porcupine puffer with a mid-sized lionfish? I guess you have something similar to that Pinkie.

jelwyoming · 01/29/2008, 09:28 PM

Would any small eel work with the lion and the puffer? A snowflake eel? Are there any suitable smaller eels?

crazedpuffer · 01/30/2008, 07:44 PM

There aren't many small eels. I don't consider 30 inch snowflake eels small.
Yes an eel could work just make sure to keep it well fed and that the other fish are bigger than it.

pinkie · 01/30/2008, 11:03 PM

I think a porcupine puffer would do well with your smaller lionfish. When I first got my lionfish he was pretty dwarfed by at least one of my puffers and I had no issues.

I also keep a snowflake eel with my puffers and lion. They all get along great together. I think those three would make a great combination for you.

megaspoot · 01/31/2008, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pinkie
Most if not all puffers would be just fine with a lionfish. I have mine with 4 puffers (Spiny Box, Dog Faced, Guinea Fowl, Stars and Stripes) and none of them have ever bothered my volitan.

Have you pics of your spiney box? I will be getting one in a month or two. I just love them

pinkie · 01/31/2008, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by megaspoot
Have you pics of your spiney box? I will be getting one in a month or two. I just love them

Here are a couple older pictures. The glass was water spots all over it, one of those impulsive pictures! He was about 3-4 inches in these pics, but he is around 6 inches now. I will try to get a more recent pic.

EDIT: Here is a picture taken about 10 min ago-

jelwyoming · 02/18/2008, 07:30 PM

Thanks for the neat pictures.
I am considering a Harlequin Tusk as one of the tankmates too. I know that I cannot do all 4 though. I am not sure which to leave out. I am also now looking at another dwarf lion, limiting all this to the couple or 3 fish for the tank.

Ranzan · 02/18/2008, 07:35 PM

Dwarf golden eels stay small and do well with lions and puffers but have a decent price tag.

jelwyoming · 02/18/2008, 07:39 PM

Ranzan,
I am thinking that may be a good choice to, if I can find one at a decent price.

megaspoot · 02/19/2008, 02:17 AM

pinkie, he's gorgeous! Such a healthy specimen. They are often ridden with IP's. What are you feeding? How about tank size?

Can't wait to get mine

jelwyoming · 02/27/2008, 12:24 PM

I was lucky enough to find a healthy Spiny box puffer in LA's Diver's Den. It's already been treated at length for IP's. He is going into a tank with my Antennated Lionfish. The lion is about 6-7". The Puffer is supposed to be 3+". I hope that he is large enough not to be considered dinner by the lion. I still have 2 damsels with the lion which are only 2", and he leaves them alone as well.

Pulp Fishin · 02/28/2008, 10:21 AM

I was toled a puufer would leave the lionfish alone!
A wise idea I might add.
Puffers may be fin nippers buy whats worse then getting stung if he tryed to nip him!

It would probbly be a lesson the puffer won't have to learn twice, if the puffer doesn't give the lion room right away!

jelwyoming · 02/28/2008, 12:25 PM

I have heard from probably 6-10 reefers that are keeping them together.
Anyone with negative experiences there? All positive so far.

mtome · 02/28/2008, 08:43 PM

Pinkie,
where did you find the Guinea Fowl puffer? Can you post a pic? Thanks

pinkie · 02/29/2008, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by megaspoot
pinkie, he's gorgeous! Such a healthy specimen. They are often ridden with IP's. What are you feeding? How about tank size?

Can't wait to get mine

I keep my puffers in a 210g tank.

I feed my puffers a mix of seafood. I get Krill and Silversides from the LFS, and mix it with Scallops, Shrimp, Clam, and Some Saltwater fish from the Seafood Department from my Grocery Store. I then mix a variety of vitamins into the mix.

Quote:

Originally posted by mtome
Pinkie,
where did you find the Guinea Fowl puffer? Can you post a pic? Thanks

I got my Guinea Fowl from a LFS that I really like. They have really great quality fish, and often carry hard to find species. Here is a picture, but it is a bit blurry:

jelwyoming · 03/03/2008, 12:48 PM

Well, I recieved my puffer from LA. He looks very healthy. It didn't eat the first day, but then gorged on shrimp the second day. He's been real picky since. He's taken a little krill/shrimp and new life spectrum, but that is it. I was suprised that he wouldn't touch clam, squid or silversides. What are you feeding yours?

Mother Yoda · 03/03/2008, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jelwyoming
Would any small eel work with the lion and the puffer? A snowflake eel? Are there any suitable smaller eels?

Smaller, eels that are common? No, however I don't think you should much of a problem with the current tank dwellers, provided that the tanks is large enough.

1ucky · 03/04/2008, 06:39 PM

Jel, do the puffers fight at all? I currently have a Golden Puffer and was thinking of adding a Guinea Fowl Puffer in there with him?

pinkie · 03/05/2008, 02:43 PM

The Golden Puffer is a Guinea Fowl Puffer at a later stage of life, they are the same species. Yes, they more than likely will fight.

1ucky · 03/05/2008, 07:54 PM

How about a Black Dog Face Puffer or a Mappa Puffer with the Golden Puffer?

01/29/2008, 12:28 PM	#1
jelwyoming JELWYOMING Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NE Wyoming Posts: 1,300	Puffer and lionfish Is there any puffer that would do well with a full grown antennated lionfish? I have had him for 2 years now and am going to put him into a larger tank with one or two other fish. __________________ JEL Current Tank Info: 150g tall mixed reef, 100g FOLR

01/29/2008, 12:52 PM	#3
jelwyoming JELWYOMING Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NE Wyoming Posts: 1,300	I was thinking that, but I have heard that they are "fin nippers" that might not agree with the lionfish. __________________ JEL Current Tank Info: 150g tall mixed reef, 100g FOLR

01/29/2008, 09:16 PM	#6
jelwyoming JELWYOMING Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NE Wyoming Posts: 1,300	The volition is a bit bigger than my Antennated lion. I think he will only grow an inch or two more, if at all. That is why I am looking for one of the smaller, better mannered puffers. I am leaning towards the porcupine puffer if no body has suffered ill experiences with that. Anyone have a porcupine puffer with a mid-sized lionfish? I guess you have something similar to that Pinkie. __________________ JEL Current Tank Info: 150g tall mixed reef, 100g FOLR

01/29/2008, 09:28 PM	#7
jelwyoming JELWYOMING Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NE Wyoming Posts: 1,300	a small eel too? Would any small eel work with the lion and the puffer? A snowflake eel? Are there any suitable smaller eels? __________________ JEL Current Tank Info: 150g tall mixed reef, 100g FOLR

02/18/2008, 07:30 PM	#12
jelwyoming JELWYOMING Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NE Wyoming Posts: 1,300	Thanks for the neat pictures. I am considering a Harlequin Tusk as one of the tankmates too. I know that I cannot do all 4 though. I am not sure which to leave out. I am also now looking at another dwarf lion, limiting all this to the couple or 3 fish for the tank. __________________ JEL Current Tank Info: 150g tall mixed reef, 100g FOLR

01/29/2008, 12:37 PM	#2
ryaneisenhart Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: york, pa Posts: 11	the common porcupine puffer will be fine with anything. hes friendly

01/29/2008, 03:37 PM	#4
pinkie Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 377	Most if not all puffers would be just fine with a lionfish. I have mine with 4 puffers (Spiny Box, Dog Faced, Guinea Fowl, Stars and Stripes) and none of them have ever bothered my volitan.

01/29/2008, 05:40 PM	#5
ledford1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 2,243	When choosing a puffer with my Volitan, I was told that the Dogface was one of the least likely of the puffers to fin nip - and it did work out for me.

01/30/2008, 07:44 PM	#8
crazedpuffer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NY Posts: 280	There aren't many small eels. I don't consider 30 inch snowflake eels small. Yes an eel could work just make sure to keep it well fed and that the other fish are bigger than it.

01/30/2008, 11:03 PM	#9
pinkie Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 377	I think a porcupine puffer would do well with your smaller lionfish. When I first got my lionfish he was pretty dwarfed by at least one of my puffers and I had no issues. I also keep a snowflake eel with my puffers and lion. They all get along great together. I think those three would make a great combination for you.

02/18/2008, 07:35 PM	#13
Ranzan Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Fort Cambell Kentucky Posts: 444	Dwarf golden eels stay small and do well with lions and puffers but have a decent price tag.

02/18/2008, 07:39 PM	#14
jelwyoming JELWYOMING Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NE Wyoming Posts: 1,300	Ranzan, I am thinking that may be a good choice to, if I can find one at a decent price. __________________ JEL Current Tank Info: 150g tall mixed reef, 100g FOLR

02/19/2008, 02:17 AM	#15
megaspoot Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 241	pinkie, he's gorgeous! Such a healthy specimen. They are often ridden with IP's. What are you feeding? How about tank size? Can't wait to get mine

02/27/2008, 12:24 PM	#16
jelwyoming JELWYOMING Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NE Wyoming Posts: 1,300	I was lucky enough to find a healthy Spiny box puffer in LA's Diver's Den. It's already been treated at length for IP's. He is going into a tank with my Antennated Lionfish. The lion is about 6-7". The Puffer is supposed to be 3+". I hope that he is large enough not to be considered dinner by the lion. I still have 2 damsels with the lion which are only 2", and he leaves them alone as well. __________________ JEL Current Tank Info: 150g tall mixed reef, 100g FOLR

02/28/2008, 10:21 AM	#17
Pulp Fishin Were all mad here. Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: London Ontario Canada Posts: 608	I was toled a puufer would leave the lionfish alone! A wise idea I might add. Puffers may be fin nippers buy whats worse then getting stung if he tryed to nip him! It would probbly be a lesson the puffer won't have to learn twice, if the puffer doesn't give the lion room right away! __________________ Reef Central Corner Club Aquarium Dumpster Diver Extraordinaire Money talks, mine says "Good-Bye" Current Tank Info: RIP:60g Pentagon Reef 100lbs LR 20g Sump Deltec Mce 600 Mag 750 250W Metal Halide & 2x39W T5's Phosban ReactorX2 5gal refugium 36xTO RIP:135G FOWLER /Agressive

02/28/2008, 12:25 PM	#18
jelwyoming JELWYOMING Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NE Wyoming Posts: 1,300	I have heard from probably 6-10 reefers that are keeping them together. Anyone with negative experiences there? All positive so far. __________________ JEL Current Tank Info: 150g tall mixed reef, 100g FOLR

02/28/2008, 08:43 PM	#19
mtome Moved On Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 115	Pinkie, where did you find the Guinea Fowl puffer? Can you post a pic? Thanks

03/03/2008, 12:48 PM	#21
jelwyoming JELWYOMING Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NE Wyoming Posts: 1,300	my spiny box puffer Well, I recieved my puffer from LA. He looks very healthy. It didn't eat the first day, but then gorged on shrimp the second day. He's been real picky since. He's taken a little krill/shrimp and new life spectrum, but that is it. I was suprised that he wouldn't touch clam, squid or silversides. What are you feeding yours? __________________ JEL Current Tank Info: 150g tall mixed reef, 100g FOLR

03/04/2008, 06:39 PM	#23
1ucky Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cliffside Park, NJ Posts: 237	Jel, do the puffers fight at all? I currently have a Golden Puffer and was thinking of adding a Guinea Fowl Puffer in there with him?

03/05/2008, 02:43 PM	#24
pinkie Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 377	The Golden Puffer is a Guinea Fowl Puffer at a later stage of life, they are the same species. Yes, they more than likely will fight.

03/05/2008, 07:54 PM	#25
1ucky Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cliffside Park, NJ Posts: 237	How about a Black Dog Face Puffer or a Mappa Puffer with the Golden Puffer?