Puffer eating clownfish

[my2rotties]

My puffer is a very large fish whom spent his life in the wild until recently. He hunted on the reefs and now that he is in my 260g, he feels he is on a reef again. I was a little upset, but I have no regrets in buying him. He came form a reef, was stuffed in a small empty store display tank, and then came to my husband's work of art. I am happy he feels so comfortable that he wants to hunt like in the old days. If I can catch the clowns before he does, I will be rehoming them. He is the mostawesome fish and it is great to watch him behave like a wild fish. He constantly changes hunting methods and is always thinking. I read they are very inactive fish, but he used every single inch of this tank and checks out every nook and cranny for food. He made this tank build worth while.

Originally Posted by mark

Never really thought about Puffers eating fish until I read this post today and was a little surprised. Now out of nowhere the wife just calls and asks if I want a Puffer for my tank (which has damsels, clowns and chromis) as her co-work is thinking about getting rid of one. Talk about timing.

[my2rotties]

I will never go to that store again. I usually don't but hubby had to pick up pipe fittings and that was the only place that had them that he knew of. He saw Gryphon, and knew I would love him. I asked many questions and asked if my other fish were safe. I was going to go with a smaller puffer, but this guy seemed so special, not only due to his size. His colouring, eye brightness and general health far surpassed any of the others.

Shoot me a PM and let me know what store you are from...

Originally Posted by fishytime

I for 1 dont blame you at all.....I blame the person who sold you the fish. Wouldnt have happened in our shop. You would have been asked what other fish you had and what you planed to keep it with. Then you would have been informed of most everything you are being told here. If you were intent on buying the fish at least your decision to do so would have been an informed one.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by my2rotties

My puffer is a very large fish whom spent his life in the wild until recently. He hunted on the reefs and now that he is in my 260g, he feels he is on a reef again. I was a little upset, but I have no regrets in buying him. He came form a reef, was stuffed in a small empty store display tank, and then came to my husband's work of art. I am happy he feels so comfortable that he wants to hunt like in the old days. If I can catch the clowns before he does, I will be rehoming them. He is the mostawesome fish and it is great to watch him behave like a wild fish. He constantly changes hunting methods and is always thinking. I read they are very inactive fish, but he used every single inch of this tank and checks out every nook and cranny for food. He made this tank build worth while.

From the sounds of it, he is acting quite natural in your tank and that is a great thing. Porcs do tend to be inactive in general but it depends on the individual. They are usually nocturnal but not always. When diving in Trinidad last year we encountered many porcs and they were all awake in the daytime exploring. They would actually come right up to you and check out what you were doing. They would not quite get within arms length but pretty close. I wasn't too thrilled when our guide grabbed one but it never inflated and didn't seem to mind everyone petting it. It must have been about 13" and much wider/thicker than any I have ever seen in a tank.

LOL...they are so easy to catch. They are slow but its not even that. They seem to be very curious about people and not too fearful. I think the ones we saw see people quite often though. There was a grouper who knew people will feed him...he was a pain following us around begging for food

[my2rotties]

Well this guy was up probably most of last night, the entire day, and now his hunting strategy is to sleep right besdie the clownfish's coral that she is hosting. I put argonite in the water before lights out so he looks like a ghost with a mask in the murky water. His tail is hardly an inch away from the clown and he appears to be napping. NO fish has ever entertained me like this guy. Ed my older foxface was a smart guy due to his age, and this guy is no different. People whom think fish are stupid don't know what they are talking about. I wish I knew how old he was, the store said 18 months (how do they know honestly?), I already worry about his lifespan.

I would like to get a few small crabs to keep him busy perhaps. I will be really surprised if this clown makes it through the night. I wish I could catch her darned it.

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

From the sounds of it, he is acting quite natural in your tank and that is a great thing. Porcs do tend to be inactive in general but it depends on the individual. They are usually nocturnal but not always. When diving in Trinidad last year we encountered many porcs and they were all awake in the daytime exploring. They would actually come right up to you and check out what you were doing. They would not quite get within arms length but pretty close. I wasn't too thrilled when our guide grabbed one but it never inflated and didn't seem to mind everyone petting it. It must have been about 13" and much wider/thicker than any I have ever seen in a tank.

LOL...they are so easy to catch. They are slow but its not even that. They seem to be very curious about people and not too fearful. I think the ones we saw see people quite often though. There was a grouper who knew people will feed him...he was a pain following us around begging for food

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

For live crabs, let your LFS know that you want them so that when they get in a shipment of live rock, they can save you the hitchhikers in the cooler box. The LFS around here usually get 5-10 at least every shipment, if not more.

Being on the coast, my wife & I like to drive out to the shore & pick up some live shore crabs under the rocks at low tide.

Anthony

[midgetwaiter]

Originally Posted by my2rotties

I will never go to that store again. I usually don't but hubby had to pick up pipe fittings and that was the only place that had them that he knew of. He saw Gryphon, and knew I would love him. I asked many questions and asked if my other fish were safe.

IMO that's a bit of an over reaction. Puffers and triggers have more individual differences than other fish and that makes it difficult to give advice in this situation. They also have moods.

I've kept many different types of puffers over the years and the only thing I know for sure is that you never know what they are going to do. My Green Spotted puffer killed 6 blue damsels overnight once but never touched another fish in the 12 years I had him. Porcupine puffers are even more moody, I used to maintain a tank that had a 12" one who was a model citizen until he decided to tear a fire clown in half one day. He never did it again.

I wouldn't be surprised if you porc never killed another fish, they aren't naturally Piscivores. I wouldn't be surprised if it did though.

[Red Coral Aquariums]

my2rotties;
I have just read this thread through and am sorry to hear about your unfortunate circumstances.
On another note puffers are so much fun to watch and feed and they have SO much personality, congrats on your purchase.
As far as the "I will never go to that store again." the responsibility is ultimately on you to research your purchase. LFS's should give you responsible advise but in the end it is your decision.
We have a Spiny Puffer that a customer had purchased in town when it was very small but as it grew; fish in his tank started to disappear. So if you are interested in a tank of puffers we have an excellent one that can be hand fed ( but will eat anything that will fit in it's mouth) for a very good deal.
Kevin

[Pier Pressure]

I think you should maybe go back to the lfs and talk to Danny. I have taken creatures back to him before that did not work out in my system and was given straight-across store credit for them. Just FYI I am sure he would be willing to do something for you.

[superduperwesman]

Originally Posted by Pier Pressure

I think you should maybe go back to the lfs and talk to Danny. I have taken creatures back to him before that did not work out in my system and was given straight-across store credit for them. Just FYI I am sure he would be willing to do something for you.

I've also exchanged something at lfs and they generally seem pretty good about it "as long as it doesn't happen all the time"

[fishytime]

Originally Posted by Pier Pressure

I think you should maybe go back to the lfs and talk to Danny. I have taken creatures back to him before that did not work out in my system and was given straight-across store credit for them. Just FYI I am sure he would be willing to do something for you.

Take it back??? So he can tell someone else to put it in with their clownfish??? Customers of LFSs unite. Dont deal with stores that give crappy advice....period.