Why are puffers so stinkin' cute?

[rhitee93]

Sigh, meet Doby. He's been with me a month.

This little guy caused me to completely change the direction I was going with my new 120g tank. On the bright side, I learned yesterday that "He" will chase a laser spot around the tank...

 

[exnisstech]

He's a cutie. I call them wet pets. I'd love to have a porky but that would require an additional dedicated tank which I'm just not up too.
I find it funny how people not in the hobby look at me like I'm nuts when I talk about the personalities of some of my fish.
Be careful with the laser

 

[rhitee93]

Be careful with the laser

Yeah, that is something that I shouldn't gloss over. I work with lasers in my day job, and forget that not everyone realizes the damage they can do to eyes. They aren't the toys they are sold as. Hard telling what one could do to a fish eye that is geared toward low light conditions.

I was heading towards a mixed reef tank that was going to have multiple clams as centerpieces. I guess that plan is out for now

What will probably happen is this little guy will grow up over the next year or so as the tank matures. Then he'll end up going home with me to a new tank of his own. (This 120g is in my office at work)

Who knows? Maybe this is the start to the predator tanks I was daydreaming about...

 

[Alpha_and_Gec]

Are they considered reef safe? I had one when I was much younger and I have the opportunity to get one again... but I'm rather hesitant about tetradontiformes and their teeth.

 

[rhitee93]

Are they considered reef safe? I had one when I was much younger and I have the opportunity to get one again... but I'm rather hesitant about tetradontiformes and their teeth.

Generally no, they are not considered reef safe. That is what is causing my change in direction. I do plan to put in a soft corals to see how it goes.

This is a green spotted puffer which is a oddity among puffers as well. This one wasn't much more than a fry when I got it, but my LFS had it in a full marine environment already so I just followed suit.

I was interested in a puffer because of the stories I have head about their interactions with humans. The LFS had half a dozen of these little guys in a tank and at first I just thought, "Aw, how cute". Then, every time I walked by the tank, this one in particular would swim up to the glass and follow me by. Kind of melted my heart.

In all honestly I goofed a bit. I had looked into puffers quite a bit, and strongly considering getting one at the time. Standing there in the store, I thought I knew what a GSP was. Once I got home I started doing the research I should have done beforehand and realized I had my puffers mixed up in my head. Oh well, Doby is mine now and the tank is his.