Saddle Valentini & Cyphastrea

[Joeg]

I'm curious if anyone that has a Valentini Saddle Puffer has experience with also keeping cyphastrea. My understanding from reading other threads is that many people find that the Valentini's will nibble on branching SPS corals but I can't seem to find anyone mentioning encrusting corals like cyphastrea.

I understand that behavior will vary from fish to fish and I may just have to buy a frag and see what happens, but I am curious if any of you have successfully grown cyphastrea with a Valentini in the tank.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

Mine went after a cherry tree monti frag the other day but hasn't touched my cyphastrea. I honestly don't think its an eating behavior but really tasting around out of curiosity. Otherwise mine is an upstanding citizen (besides snails which are lunch)

 

[Joeg]

Thanks @NeonRabbit221B

I'm really enjoying him and am willing to adjust my coral selection to keep him in the tank. He's in with a pair of diamond spot gobies, a pair of osci clowns and a small tomini tang. This is the first tank I've had where there is absolutely no conflict. They all get along and are comfortable swimming right next to each other. I know the tang will have to go to a larger tank at some point but for the moment I'm digging this harmony

I'm going to try and pick up a cyphastrea locally and see what happens before I splurge on ordering a bunch of different colors.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

With puffers my general approach is to buy a cheaper variation to something before leaving my puffer alone with a $75-$100 snack. Keep them well fed can cut down on nipping too!

 

[Joeg]

@NeonRabbit221B Sounds like a plan. I have dropped a couple of fresh clams in over the past week and he seems to enjoy that but has also decimated my snail population. If that's what it takes, I'm OK with it