Clean-up crew for a Puffer Tank

[Mac1]

What kind of cleaner's are people using in tanks they keep puffers? I've got a blue spotted Toby, and can't keep a snail or hermit in with him to save my life (but got a fat and happy puffer I just got a couple Sally Light Foot Crabs from a MO vendor, and have had them in the past - Anyone else think they're fast enough to hold their own against a puffer?

- Mac

 

[Enkidu]

will it eat starfish?

I suppose you could always try mantis shrimp.

 

[max spl]

puffer's will DEFINITELY eat starfish.. i made that mistake a few years back when i had my first puffer... too about 15 seconds for the puffer to finish off a serpent star... looked like the puffer REALLY enjoyed it too.

i currently have a large hermit crab (about 1.5") with my puffers. the hermit crab has been in the tank for about 3 weeks and has not been touched. hard to say when the puffer will decide to eat him though...

 

[Mac1]

Thanks for the reply's everyone. The only thing I've been able to keep down in my sump (where the puffer is) for any length of time was a Tuxedo Urchin. They lived together for about 6 months, until the Urchin bought it in the move. The Sally I thought would do allright, considering their speed. I've seen LFS people have a hard enough time catching one in those little invert display tanks - I can't imagine my slow, fat, little toby could even come close.

- Mac

 

[nala]

I keep a couple of monster Turbo snails in with my Porcupine Puffer

I picked them up at the LFS(10$

). These things are bigger than a golf ball...and a HUGE appetite

He dosen't bother hermits either. Other than that...I am the clean-up crew

 

[M.E.Milz]

I have been able to keep larger hermits and large Mexican turbo snails in my FO tnak with a good size spiny boxfish and triggers. Although the hermits do get tossed around every now and then.

Someone in my office has a Salley Lightfoot crab in a FO tank with a large Mapa (cortez) puffer. The crab was in the tank before the puffer was added. No problems so far, but it has only been a few months.

 

[Ryan22]

How about a kole tang? if your tank is big enough. All of the tanks at my LFS that have Kole tangs in them are aboslutly spotless, no alge at all. That would solve an alge problem anyway. Just a thought, anybody have any thoughts or experience with that?

Ryan

 

[johnreb]

Your puffer will probably appreciate the variety.

 

[danmhippo]

Absolutely, NO shellfish of any kind with the puffers.

 

[jmeader]

My puffer got the sally lightfoot that was in its tank. I have had luck with chitons though. They hold on so tight that even puff can't pull them off.

 

[Mac1]

Thanks for the reply's folks. I'm half tempted to try a Sally (if only my LFS didn't charge so much for them...), I gotta believe they are quick enough to get out of harms way, the question is are they alert enough to see the puffer coming. No doubt that he's losing a leg or two is that guy ever get's ahold of him. I've had some smaller hermit's in the tank before, but they end up being empty shells after I forget to feed for the night...

I'd like to try a Kole tang, but it's only a 55 gal tank... Couldn't reasonably house something like that, unfortunately. Thanks for the idea though. I may try some other herbivorous fish down there if I can't come up with something else.

- Mac