pufferfish questions?

[something_fishy]

I have read at many places that figure 8 puffers are a freshwater puffer and can be placed peacefully in a community tank. do they possess any toxins??
Also, I have a indian dwarf puffer setup and a brackish green spotted puffer setup, are any of these types of puffers poisonous??

 

[fishfreek]

One of our more recent members whos name is pufferlover has a website www.pufferlovers.com i think it is. Maybe he can be of help on this question.

 

[loganj]

I don't know about the Indian Dwarf. The Spotted and the Figure 8 both, as they age, build up toxins in their gonads and liver. I don't think this poses a threat to an aquarium as long as any dead puffers are removed from the tank before they begin to decompose. The toxin is used as a last ditch effort when the puffer is being eaten by a predator. If I understand correctly, they basically eviscerate themselves. Although this kills the puffer, it also usually results in the death of the predator. This is based on what I have read and, as I'm sure you have found out, puffer info is scarce and often contradictory.
Logan J

 

[tyler]

indian dwarf puffers are freshwater.

 

[Pufferpunk]

F8s do best in BW. See: http://www.aaquaria.com/aquasource/8puffer.shtml I wouldn't put a F8 in a community tank. They are more aggressive than GSPs.

Puffers will release toxins when dead. I have heard of entire tanks being wiped out.

 

[vega]

I more worry the aggresive nature of the puffer then the toxin. They are terrible fin nipper if mix with other species.

 

[Madame_X]

I agree, Vega. I've never read ANYWHERE that a puffer makes a good "community fish".

I'd like to get some puffers but you're so limited on what you can put with them that for the time being I'm pufferless. I will probably set up a small puffer-only tank some day.

I've been told that you can get away with putting the Indian Dwarf in a community tank because he's so tiny that he isn't likely to kill a larger tankmate. But he will chew up the fins.

 

[cdawson]

I also concur, 99.9% of all puffers (the 0.1% would be the SA Puffer) are non community fish. Depending on the size of your tank you could keep a f-8 with your GSP, but unless it's over 40g I recommend against that idea. I had dwarf indian puffers in 30g community tank before, but the inhabitants were more than capable of taking care of themselves from the puffers. I found the puffers in-fought and never really touched any of the other fish. Anyhow as I've said before a thousand times, f-8s are BW fish and are not FW.

 

[vega]

Btw I almost bought a pair too but i change my mind when my lfs told me that they experience before that a 4 cm green spotted puffer actually almost nip clean tail n fin of a 20 cm flower horn (a species of agressive Cichlid) 8O

Guess those puffing bugger are not a good tank mate after all

 

[Mutz]

For a while i had a green spotted puffer in with 2 clowns, a coral beauty and a lawnmower blenny. He was very peaceful and kept to himself. Unfortunately, the GSP is the only puffer I have experience with.