Are (Dwarf) Puffers yummy?

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

I was wondering if some members have lost (dwarf) puffers to other tank mates, and how the digestion went. I want my wolf fish to clean out my community tank , so that I have to move only one fish (him) when I relocate for a new job. Problem is: I have three (dwarf) puffers in a 220 gal to keep my snails under control. I know that not only saltwater puffers, but also some freshwater species (especially Tetraodon sp) contain tetrodotoxin. Well, I do not want my wolf to die of puffer poisoning...

Did your fish ever eat a puffer?
Did they survive well, get sick, or die?

Please post personal experiences or documented cases (with source).

Thanks a lot,
HarleyK

 

[santoury]

I've had the dwarves, but it was NOT the dwarves that I worried about. They were absolute terrors and would not leave the other fish alone whatsoever.

Much to my regret, they spent one day in my tanks and went back to the store.

 

[Fella]

Howdy,

I was wondering if some members have lost (dwarf) puffers to other tank mates, and how the digestion went. I want my wolf fish to clean out my community tank , so that I have to move only one fish (him) when I relocate for a new job. Problem is: I have three (dwarf) puffers in a 220 gal to keep my snails under control. I know that not only saltwater puffers, but also some freshwater species (especially Tetraodon sp) contain tetrodotoxin. Well, I do not want my wolf to die of puffer poisoning...

Did your fish ever eat a puffer?
Did they survive well, get sick, or die?

Please post personal experiences or documented cases (with source).

Thanks a lot,
HarleyK

Puffers in freshwater aren't known to cary Tetradotoxin, but in fact Saxitoxin, a paralysing poison found from freshwater molluscs. More details on this can be found in J. C. Freitas EATING HABITS: ARE WE SAFE TO CONSUME FRESHWATER PUFFER FISH FROM THE
AMAZON REGION IN BRAZIL?. J. Venom. Anim. Toxins incl. Trop. Dis., 2006, 12, 2, p. 154

As for DP's, I've had some die in my tank before and nother in the tank died from their death. Obviously remove it as soon as possible if you see a dead one about.

I'd not let a wolf fish eat DP's though. It's pretty obvious even the biggest DP could be eaten by even the smallest wolf fish.

So, I wouldn't worry too much about the wolf, i imagine it would be fine after eating just 1. I wouldn't want him ti eat more than 1 though...

 

[davo]

didnt do well with an african butterfly fish. funnily enough it was used to rid me of them too. don't have either now...

 

[me_wee_todded]

yeah dude i wouldnt go for it. a buddy of mine fed fish to his pet raven and it got reall messed up after eating some DPs

 

[johno27]

DP=POISON

Not sure how it would affect the wolf they are pretty tough fish but i wouldn't risk it either

 

[HarleyK]

Thanks, guys. That's enough stories to make me not want to risk it.

Fella, great lit. I'll check it out

HarleyK