I think I made a grave mistake ?‍♂️

[Al KW Tan]

I got this cute 1.5" guy from the lfs a couple days ago and just realised my cichlids are not compatible.
Now, I need advice on what to do next. Compatible tankmates, water salinity needs (if or when) or just return it.. etc. Every little bit helps. TQVM ?

 

[Al KW Tan]

Gotta move it out w

I got this cute 1.5" guy from the lfs a couple days ago and just realised my cichlids are not compatible.
Now, I need advice on what to do next. Compatible tankmates, water salinity needs (if or when) or just return it.. etc. Every little bit helps. TQVM ? View attachment 1493257

View attachment 1493256

I gotta move it out when the aulonocara took a bite at its fin. Then, the aulonocara died later.. Or that's what I suspected. Is it possible? Heard they're toxic

 

[Deadeye]

Only certain parts are actually toxic. Biting the fin wouldn’t kill the fish. I doubt that’s related other than the puffer attacking back.
I’d be more worried about the cichlids than the puffer, almost all puffers are nasty, and green spots are one of the worst.
Long term you will want at least 30 gallons for the puffer and they do best at high brackish to marine salinity, so 1.015-1.025. Juveniles can be in fresh but as they get older they need salt.
Only good tankmates are fish that can outrun it and not attack the puffer. I wouldn’t really waste money on anything but mollies with one though.

 

[Al KW Tan]

Only certain parts are actually toxic. Biting the fin wouldn’t kill the fish. I doubt that’s related other than the puffer attacking back.
I’d be more worried about the cichlids than the puffer, almost all puffers are nasty, and green spots are one of the worst.
Long term you will want at least 30 gallons for the puffer and they do best at high brackish to marine salinity, so 1.015-1.025. Juveniles can be in fresh but as they get older they need salt.
Only good tankmates are fish that can outrun it and not attack the puffer. I wouldn’t really waste money on anything but mollies with one though.

Thanks a lot for the prompt advice.. Now I KNOW I made a grave mistake. It seems the only solution with the green spotted puffers is to add a tank with brackish water gradually. What's worse I got 2.
Btw, can a couple of them work? I noticed the bigger one constantly chasing the smaller one. Then.. They would not harm mollies? Cos I saw them chomping invertebrates in half with their steel jaws.

 

[Al KW Tan]

These cute looking guys seem to be monsters ?‍

 

[Deadeye]

These cute looking guys seem to be monsters ?‍

That’s how they get ya - they look cute at the pet store but nobody wants to tell you how mean they are.

Thanks a lot for the prompt advice.. Now I KNOW I made a grave mistake. It seems the only solution with the green spotted puffers is to add a tank with brackish water gradually. What's worse I got 2.
Btw, can a couple of them work? I noticed the bigger one constantly chasing the smaller one. Then.. They would not harm mollies? Cos I saw them chomping invertebrates in half with their steel jaws.

Not sure about groups for these guys - they tend to do best alone and don’t really get along with each other, as with most puffers.
It probably would harm mollies - they are just a good, cheap, brackish dither fish. Mollies are good at evading attack and breeding as fast as they get eaten/killed. Not many long term, true tankmates for the meaner puffers.

 

[GolemGolem]

Yeah, I had one in a 29 and he was a wonderful little bastard, when he was by himself, otherwise he was just a bastard who didn't even eat his kills. If you got a tank and salt to spare I say do it, otherwise no shame in a return.

 

[tlindsey]

That’s how they get ya - they look cute at the pet store but nobody wants to tell you how mean they are

That is so true.

 

[kzimmerman]

How big is your tank?

 

[Al KW Tan]

How big is your tank?

It was a 4'x2' cichlid tank that I removed it from. At the moment, I m just isolating it in a 2'x1.5' setting.