Sharpnose Valentine Puffer in reef tank?
- Thread starter twelvefive
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Jlobes
5000 Club Member
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twelvefive
Well-Known Member
maybe you need a fish only tank and a separate coral/reef tank!!
What I think I need and what my wife thinks I need are two different things.
I have them in several reefs right now with no major issues. All fish have their own personality, however. When wanting a fish like this (or angels, triggers, etc.) you have to stock corals based around what they pick at, opposed to what you want. It can be done, successfully.
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twelvefive
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What do they mainly pick at?
There are Canthigaster valentini in two separate aquariums (both 180 gallon +), one which never nips and the other samples everything a bit, but no damage to corals. Both aquariums contain all types of corals ("LPS", "SPS", "softies"). Most fish tend to avoid picking at corals that release noxious odors such as leathers, and are most prone to pick at very fleshy "LPS" such as Cynarina, Scolymia, Acanthastrea, Trachyphyllia, etc.
Have a Canthigaster solandri in with the Valentini that nips and he exhibits similar behavior; picks here and there but is more interested in gorging himself on Mysis and Krill.
If your corals are growing well, and you have a good amount of them in a large enough aquarium, I would be surprised if you encounter major issues with these types of fishes. You hear "horror" stories about most fish when people are attempting to keep them in sub-50 gallon aquariums and they consistently add small frags. A small frag can't take much picking at all without noticeable ill effects. When you have many mature colonies the fish can run around all day and nip various corals but the corals recover fast enough there's no real problems.
Have a Canthigaster solandri in with the Valentini that nips and he exhibits similar behavior; picks here and there but is more interested in gorging himself on Mysis and Krill.
If your corals are growing well, and you have a good amount of them in a large enough aquarium, I would be surprised if you encounter major issues with these types of fishes. You hear "horror" stories about most fish when people are attempting to keep them in sub-50 gallon aquariums and they consistently add small frags. A small frag can't take much picking at all without noticeable ill effects. When you have many mature colonies the fish can run around all day and nip various corals but the corals recover fast enough there's no real problems.
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twelvefive
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I have a 125g, but most of my corals are just small frags. I have some zoas, Duncan, a ricordea, a bird's nest, monti cap, stylo, and a meteor shower. I don't have a lot invested in my coral (less than $100) so it's not a huge deal, but I do plan to add more over the next few years.
My lfs was having a half off fish sale and I just ordered the puffer for $11. He'll be in on Tuesday, so we'll see. I feed my fish heavily, so maybe he'll ignore the frags.
My lfs was having a half off fish sale and I just ordered the puffer for $11. He'll be in on Tuesday, so we'll see. I feed my fish heavily, so maybe he'll ignore the frags.
FishLipz
Cheap and Easy Reefer
I've had one in my mixed reef for years. I can only speak for mine, but it's been a perfect reef dweller. Never touched a coral, invert, or another fish. He actually gets pushed around by some of my other fish.
Gladfelter
Valuable Member
Get a Blue Jaw or Pink Tail trigger. They never bother corals. You can't have clams and the only shrimp I can keep are pistol and peppermint but I love watching triggers.
