Someone has a taste for coral...help!

[olive'sreef]

Since I added my clownfish 3ish weeks ago, I decided my tank was ready for another small fish. I was looking for a blenny or goby, but saw a fish that was on my wish list (of fish that I like that suit my tank), a toby puffer. The exact species in unknown, the employee had purchased him as a peacock toby, which doesn't seem to exist. Knowing he wouldn't get much larger than 4", I purchased him. I knew I was taking a risk with my coral, but it seems that most tobies, especially the smaller varieties, and as reef safe as puffers get. He survived the first night and eats like a pig, but this morning I spotted him nibbling on my duncan, leaving obvious bite marks. I though instantly that he had to go, but he shows no interest in my other corals which include a goni, a few zoas, and a frogspawn.

The puffer (named "Pete" by my mom) is currently in a breeder box jail with some little snails and rock rubble to chew on.

He is adorable, and I really want to keep him, but he didn't cost as much as my coral. What are chances he only likes likes my duncan and won't go after other corals? Would you keep him, or sell him to a hobbyist with a FOWLR tank? Also, any guesses on species, looks most like a blue spotted to me.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Canithigaster papua aka Papuan Toby.

 

[Johniejumbo]

Wow. I JUST moved my Duncan to my quarantine tank yesterday because my Valentini puffer decided to snack on them. I’ve had this puffer for a year and it never bothered any corals until last week when I saw it bite my Duncan and the coral remained drawn in. Since the puffer hasn’t shown interest in any of the other corals I just move the Duncan’s to another tank. If it develops a taste for another coral then the fish will go to the quarantine tank and the Duncan will be moved back. I reeeeealllly like my puffer so I hope it decides corals aren’t any good. Maybe I’ll order some more dwarf cerith snails for it to snack on.

 

[Big G]

It was a very sad day when I had to re-home my Blue Spot after it discovered it liked eating my corals. Very, very sad day. It would eat out of my fingers. Smart fish.
Started with the plate corals, then it started eating others too and over night did tremendous damage.
Darn

 

[olive'sreef]

I saw it bite my Duncan and the coral remained drawn in

My duncan is still open and puffy as ever, maybe the bites wern't as bad as I thought?

It was a very sad day when I had to re-home my Blue Spot after it discovered it liked eating my corals. Very, very sad day. It would eat out of my fingers. Smart fish.
Started with the plate corals, then it started eating others too and over night did tremendous damage.
Darn

He is an amazingly smart fish, I'm going to give him one more chance before I let him go (during the day when I can watch his shenanigans).

 

[Big G]

He is an amazingly smart fish, I'm going to give him one more chance before I let him go (during the day when I can watch his shenanigans).

Yes, that's what I did . . . ;Facepalm

 

[TrishK]

Seems I read somewhere to reef with caution with puffers.

 

[TobyPhatz77]

I have the same puffer, it’s like having a puppy that you don’t need to take out for walks! It’s a great fish but I’m not 100% on whether it’s a great fish to mix with my inverts.

What I’ve found is that this little dude is hungry, all the time!

If you keep it fed it shouldn’t go after your corals but I have seen it take a nip. It hasn’t gone so far as to eat and destroy them so I’ve been lucky so far.

I have had to chase him away from snails a couple of times by throwing in half a clam on half shell, distracting from the snails. To be honest I also shamefully held my net up to the glass and he didn’t react well hiding from me for a week afterwards, a sign of a very smart little fish! Try to avoid this though, the shame isn’t worth it

I’ve done some research and there is some risk to corals and a good chance other inverts will start disappearing, especially as it grows. Keeping it away from these as long as you can by keeping it fed could train it to not recognise them as food.

Time will tell but I’d advise making sure it’s never hungry enough to start on your corals and making sure you give it clams on half shells or similar to let it wear it’s teeth down which grow constantly. It might be looking for something to help with this and is trying a coral or 2 to check if it helps.

I do need to keep on top of water changes due to its ferocious appetite but to have such a responsive cool looking fish I think it’s worth that effort.

Hope this helps and you have more success.