a.cichlid/puffer in the mix

[danepatrick]

i have an african cichlid tank. mainly malawi and probably a few victoria cichlids. they're all pretty small - 2 inches at the largest. i recently put a leopard puffer with them and strangely they are doing GREAT. the cichlids keep the puffer in line, and he keeps the africans from knocking him out. i was just wondering if anyone else has ever tried this and if it's worked for you.

danepatrick

 

[repair]

I have a 2.5" fahaka puffer in with a salvini and 2 female alie and an alge eater and so far things are fine.

 

[ogre929]

can't say that i've ever thought about keeping puffers with my africans. But I don't really mix my africans, not even between lakes.

 

[Ash]

uhm I had small puffers with a few 3inch africans before..... it didnt work out to well the puffer kept nipping its tail untill it looked all icky then I seprated them.. somehow I just dont think puffers mix good with anything...but you never know...

 

[jgdelgado]

one time I had a fahaka puffer and I aquired a black frontosa. they were ok of about a week when I came home the fahaka chewed him up pretty bad. turns out the froont was worth alot of money because they are really rare. sucked big time. so I learned my lesson, never mix puffers with anytihng. kinda sucks because puffers are such awesome fish.

 

[puffer_girl]

If it works for you great! Just don't be too disappointed if some of your fish come up MIA..... I don't think I'd chance it with mine!

 

[riggs]

i had tried a puffer in my malawi tank and it wasnt working out to well for the puffer so I took him back to the LFS after only a day. how many fish do you have in the 55?

 

[danepatrick]

i have 6 africans and the puffer makes 7.

 

[riggs]

oh wow, i'd get some more fish in there myself. but as for the puffer, i tried it and it didnt work for me. i wish you all the luck in the world if you decide to go for it. the best i can explain it is the puffer was swimming around the top of the tank and the cichlids would, what i called, torpedo the puffer hitting him in the belly. they would just come up out of nowhere and slam into his underside sometimes 3-4 fish in a row.

 

[danepatrick]

well i really can't get anymore cause then i'd be crowding my tank. as far as the others beating him up, they actually pay no mind to him. if anything, he's the one starting who has to be put in line every now and then. and when they do, he just backs off. i don't understand though. maybe i just got lucky?