First off to start, I myself would probably not get one of these. They are very pretty, and would probably be fun to keep. But they require more tank space than I can have. This is not based on keeping them but on a tank in an aquarium I once saw. I have noticed when researching them their is a divide between keeping them with or without tank mates (I noticed their were some pictures of a Nile puffer in a tank with a bunch of fish)
The first time I ever saw a specimen of this fish it was a the Newport aquarium (in Kentucky), and was housed in a Tanganyika Biotope. I do not remember the exact specifics, but do remember a couple larger cichlids, but that may have been a different tank. But everywhere I looked it sounded like they would shred anything, especially big fish like Oscars and frotosas I recently looked at the picture I took and saw a Neolamprologus brichardi up against a rock near the puffer. Has anybody else seen this tank. So based on this perhaps the questions most people have been asking about tank mates have been under the wrong assumptions. The Mbu or Fahaka puffer are large predators so they would do best with other large predators. This leads to the shredding and loss of expensive monster fish. Perhaps the best tank mates for these large African puffers are smaller Rock Dwelling African cichlids. Now their will clearly be fatalities, but many small rock dwellers are prolific breeders, so if played right the Puffer will help control and exploding population of fish. The little rock dwellers can hide in the nooks and crannies of the rock work and continue breeding while the puffer snacks on those who venture out at the wrong time. I am curious about puffer keepers opinions on all this, as the main flaw I see is the puffer getting damaged on rock work, but reef keepers usually keep their saltwater puffer without incident around live rock.
The first time I ever saw a specimen of this fish it was a the Newport aquarium (in Kentucky), and was housed in a Tanganyika Biotope. I do not remember the exact specifics, but do remember a couple larger cichlids, but that may have been a different tank. But everywhere I looked it sounded like they would shred anything, especially big fish like Oscars and frotosas I recently looked at the picture I took and saw a Neolamprologus brichardi up against a rock near the puffer. Has anybody else seen this tank. So based on this perhaps the questions most people have been asking about tank mates have been under the wrong assumptions. The Mbu or Fahaka puffer are large predators so they would do best with other large predators. This leads to the shredding and loss of expensive monster fish. Perhaps the best tank mates for these large African puffers are smaller Rock Dwelling African cichlids. Now their will clearly be fatalities, but many small rock dwellers are prolific breeders, so if played right the Puffer will help control and exploding population of fish. The little rock dwellers can hide in the nooks and crannies of the rock work and continue breeding while the puffer snacks on those who venture out at the wrong time. I am curious about puffer keepers opinions on all this, as the main flaw I see is the puffer getting damaged on rock work, but reef keepers usually keep their saltwater puffer without incident around live rock.
