Puffer resistant corals

jimmyx36 · 08/06/2018, 08:53 PM

Hi folks,

I know everybody says small puffers and and boxfish aren't reef safe, but I've also heard people say you can make it work by avoiding certain corals. For example, I've heard sharp nosed puffers like acans. My understanding is that they aren't coral generalists but have specific appetites for certain corals.

My tank is soft corals only so I'm looking for recommendations for compatible corals as well recommended species of puffers, cowfish, and boxfish.

Spartan · 08/10/2018, 01:12 PM

I have 2 sharp nosed puffers in my softie tank. A 3.5" blue spot (2 years or more) and a 1" Caribbean/bennetts (6 months). No issues at all w the corals ( I don't have any acans). Interestingly, they have a reputation for picking at other fish. I have not once seen anything like that from either of them.

nikon187 · 08/10/2018, 04:12 PM

all fish are individuals. what one didnt eat another may go to town on. you will have to try different corals and see. Fleshy stuff is going to be on the menu more than likely

Silly clownfish · 08/13/2018, 02:45 PM

My Valentini did not bother frogspawn, mushrooms, or Acans. Green star polyps survived with her, but I am not convinced she did not pick at them. She did nibble on the tips of birds nest. I only put frags of coral from my other tank in with her - basically the overgrowth that I pruned off and would have disposed of anyhow. She also did not bother rock flower anemones.

Now snails were a different story. I could toss her nuisance snails form my freshwater tank and she would eat them before they had a chance to die from the salinity.

08/06/2018, 08:53 PM	#1
jimmyx36 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 20	Puffer resistant corals Hi folks, I know everybody says small puffers and and boxfish aren't reef safe, but I've also heard people say you can make it work by avoiding certain corals. For example, I've heard sharp nosed puffers like acans. My understanding is that they aren't coral generalists but have specific appetites for certain corals. My tank is soft corals only so I'm looking for recommendations for compatible corals as well recommended species of puffers, cowfish, and boxfish.

08/10/2018, 01:12 PM	#2
Spartan Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Western New York Posts: 705	I have 2 sharp nosed puffers in my softie tank. A 3.5" blue spot (2 years or more) and a 1" Caribbean/bennetts (6 months). No issues at all w the corals ( I don't have any acans). Interestingly, they have a reputation for picking at other fish. I have not once seen anything like that from either of them. __________________ Reef since 95'. 180g, 100g sump, 55 g refuge Current Tank Info: 180g, 100g sump, 55 g refuge

08/10/2018, 04:12 PM	#3
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	all fish are individuals. what one didnt eat another may go to town on. you will have to try different corals and see. Fleshy stuff is going to be on the menu more than likely __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

08/13/2018, 02:45 PM	#4
Silly clownfish Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Southeast Pennsylvania Posts: 488	My Valentini did not bother frogspawn, mushrooms, or Acans. Green star polyps survived with her, but I am not convinced she did not pick at them. She did nibble on the tips of birds nest. I only put frags of coral from my other tank in with her - basically the overgrowth that I pruned off and would have disposed of anyhow. She also did not bother rock flower anemones. Now snails were a different story. I could toss her nuisance snails form my freshwater tank and she would eat them before they had a chance to die from the salinity. __________________ 75g mixed reef, 20g sump, ocelaris clownfish (20+yrs old), flame hawk, one spot foxface rabbitfish, green mandarin, Bicolor Blenny, Coral Beauty;30g sumpless with Spotcinctus pair with RBTA Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef, 20g sump, ocelaris clownfish (20+yrs old), flame hawk, one spot foxface rabbitfish, green mandarin, Bicolor Blenny, Coral Beauty;30g sumpless with Spotcinctus pair