Trying to introduce Schoutedeni to each other

[Fishy-Botany]

So I picked up a second schoutedeni puffer for my 29 gallon. Was hoping 14 gallons each would be enough space.
Started out ok, but after 10 minutes the larger one tries to tear apart the smaller one by biting both sides of the smaller one and shaking it. The smaller one is only 2cm or so shorter than the bigger one.
So the new plan is to put them in one of my 75 gallons with my juvenile bolt cats. For now the smaller one is floating in a breeder box until It calms down and I can access it for wounds.

 

[Fishy-Botany]

What is also weird is that the small one got excited after the first bite and swam up and circled the big one and that trigged the second bite.
But there is no way I got one of each sex and have them trying to court. They were together for 10 minutes and the bigger one had eaten 2 ghost shrimp 2 minytes before.

 

[Jackson]

I introduced 2 more to my group of 5

Both were accepted but the male from the new pair kept trying to mate with the female to the point where she’s no longer part of the group and lives alone now

Ime
Once a male feels like mating he will go crazy on either sex
What you saw is mating behaviour
Forming a T

Lower temps can fix that

 

[suckerfish]

How can you tell what is what?

 

[lilacamy931]

If it turns out not to be the mating behaviour. One method that has helped before is to take both fish out, completely rescape the tank so new territory for both of them and introduce together at the same time so no claims have been made.

 

[Fishy-Botany]

So here is an update.
I put them both into a 75 gallon. The larger one last. The large one is also the one I believe to be female. So far the smaller one, the male, chases her and bites her belly and she hides. The tank is big enough and full of enough plants for her to lose him and get a break. So far the only damage I have seen is some redish bruises on her belly. But only two bruises.
Here is a crapy cell phone photo of the female's bruises.

 

[Fishy-Botany]

Jackson I would love to successfully breed them. Would you have any tips?
So far my plan is to add a small amount of peat to the tank to acidify the water a bit more. Im also prepared to seperate them or lower the water temp to help relieve the female of stress.
I can't believe my dumb luck that I got a possible pair.

 

[phreeflow]

Wow. This is great info! I have one and he is doing fine with a group of L134 plecos and geophagus. It is so peaceful for a puffer that I've been looking to get another one but can't find any at the moment. Seems I may be asking for trouble by adding just one more. What's the smallest group I can keep safely? Do you think I can get away with a group of 3 or 4?

 

[Fishy-Botany]

If you can do what Jackson did and get 5 or more that is the best case scenario. Im stuck with only getting one at a time for now. But I hope to have 5 also.
From what I have read stock them like you would aggresive cichlids. Use lots of space and hides and break up line of sight and go with as big a group as you can do in the biggest tank you can do.

 

[Fishy-Botany]

So I had to seperate them agian lol. I want to try again in a few months and hope to have the female want to breed also. He got to aggressive for her this morning. Now he is in a 29 and she is in the 75.
Here is how the 75 looks