Compatibility Question - Dwarf Puffers and Polys

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A

Ashell

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 2, 2008
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Southern California
So it seems like a 'duh' kind of question - dwarf puffers are probably going to end up as snacks for a senegal. Have any of you kept puffers with bichirs, or puffers with other larger fish that would be tempted to eat them? I've read that the puffers are toxic, and would be a very unhealthy edible - any experiences like this?

I've had my community tank running for about a year. One fateful day, I bought my senegal bichir and five dwarf puffers, and added them, going off bad advice from my LFS. The sen is by far, FAR, my favorite addition to my fish family. I did my homework (better late than never), and once educated, realized the bichir needed a separate tank. The puffers turned out to be mean little fin nippers, and I had to remove them from the community tank, so they've gone in with the bichir. They've been living peacefully together for about a month, with no sign of aggression from the puffers or lil' Falcor.

I'm at a loss. I really can't add another tank. I wouldn't be upset to lose the puffers, but I'm very attached to Falcor, and wouldn't want to see him sick or suffering from a toxic dinner. I'd guess I should probably bring the puffers to the LFS, and hope they find a better home. Is there any possibility that this is an okay match?
 
I doubt that match would work out very well. If the senegal doesn't try to eat the puffers, the puffers could possibly pester it enough to cause disease or even death.
 
Understood - and I'm agreeing, I'll get the puffers out asap.

It's odd how VERY well behaved the puffers are around the senegal. They give him a wide berth, and never do the quick hover/nip that they did in the community tank. Falcor ignores the puffers entirely.
 
Yah, I learned two lessons from this...

ALWAYS do the research BEFORE picking up a new fish...

And never trust the staff at that particular LFS. We've got some great LFS in this area, but the staff varies wildly.
 
i would say thats a recipe for disaster. polypterus are extremely predatory
 
snookie;1397119; said:
would the puffers be toxic to the poly?
Click to expand...
don't think so there not to ctenopoma or spotted bush fish the people at petsmart proved that to us around here :screwy::shakehead

how bigs the community tank if you add alot of plants or hideing spots you could try putting them back in and puffers are useually more tame if there full so if you kept them full it could help a little but it still may be a problem but

DWARF PUFFER + SENEGAL = GULP

dwarfs only get 1'' mabye 1.5'' sengals get around 12'' after a while if you had a really dence plant set up they could survive for a while but eventually they WILL be eaten sorry to say

i would buy a 10 gallon for them but if you can't have any more tanks you'll have to give them to the pet store if you wan't them to live or buy a tank divider
 
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