Freshwater Puffer/Puffers for Marine 'Look' 90g tank?

[malawi500]

I like my current tank setup with coral sand, rock, blue background etc. as it looks marine look but without the hassle:





Although I really like them, watching them gaurd heir territories, dig up the gravel etc etc I fancy something bigger and unusual.

I have now bought a 90g tank same as this:



I have built my sump but currently thinking whether to just swap everything over or try something different like discus, oscar or puffers.

What puffer/school of puffers would work well in a freshwater but marine look 90 gallon tank? Any catfih or other fish that would work well and be interesting to look at?

Ideas please...

 

[Pufferpunk]

Are there any other fish in the tank?

 

[malawi500]

the tank is currently empty, I am either going to transfer everything over or sell up and go for a single puffer perhaps but I want to keep the existing aquascaping like marine look. so what bright colourful puffer or school of puffers would work and what else could be kept with them? essentially it will be a fresh setup

 

[IRONWOOD]

Look at the Modestus puffer. Look like marine puffer, but 100% fresh. They school also.

 

[malawi500]

they look too plain for my liking.

 

[Fat Homer]

Look at the Modestus puffer. Look like marine puffer, but 100% fresh. They school also.

I'm pretty sure Modestus puffer's don't school... the only freshwater ones i know of that school are South American Puffer which you could fit maybe up to 3 in a 90G tank...

But if you want something with a bit more color, something like an Abei might be nice, although might need to be kept as a singleton...

 

[malawi500]

with the south american puffers you mention, do they come in different colours? The only ones I can find on google images are these:


3 of them would look a bit plain in my opinion. Could they be kept with some bottom dwellers like Clown Fish perhaps to liven it up a bit?

An Abei looks really good:



Although not sure I'd really want just one fish, could I keep anything else with it to liven the tank up?

Can you hand feed them like Oscars?

Would they like the rock and crushed coral setup I currently have?

If I went the brackish route or even marine any further options to throw in the mix? Although I don't want to go down the whole skimmer, marine maintenance route....

 

[ride1226]

If you went brackish you could do a GSP or two. They will get up to 6 inches I believe, and would require a higher end brackish once they get bigger.

As for the abei, mine wasnt too aggressive. Full grown your looking at a beautiful puffer. They can fluctuate their spots and darken and lighten as they feel. I miss mine, he had a awesome personality. He used to come to the glass and make a barking noise until I would look at him, if I spun back around he would start barking again. They wont school though, and he would have to be by himself. I had a sailfin/ upside down catfish in with mine whos almost 6 inches, and a few other cheap fish. Every now and then the smaller neons and what not would go missing, but I didnt mind. It gave him something to do. My abei would take shrimp from my hand, but he was skeptical for awhile, he much rather have a clear feeding stick. My fahaka will take anything from my hand, but you need a bit more tank to consider one of those.

South American Puffers will play "nice" togther and school up. I have seen them chase and nip eachother but never try to kill. I think a few females and one male would do nicely in your 90. Would be lots of action because those guys buzz all over. However, IMO, I think they would look better in a Amazon/ very planted natural looking setting.

 

[Fat Homer]

^ agreed with everything Ride has said...

Unfortunately i'm not as good with S/W puffers so might have to wait for Pufferpunk or one of the other members to chime in there...

 

[malawi500]

I'm really liking the idea of an albei, will need to find somewhere in the UK for one. I'll probably keep my current aquascaping to be honest. will my synodontis be ok to keep?