I need help with a Puffer

[aquariumfiends]

Ok before I start, yes I have learned my lesson. I found a porcupine puffer that I fell in love with at my lfs and it was housed in a community tank with fish and huge CUC and was strictly fed frozen brine shrimp. Well I brought him home and he ate all my fish except for my clown and killed my entire CUC. Is there anything at all I can do ? (Tank is by a window and has to have a CUC or there is algae blooms almost everyday my CUC did a great job at keeping it spotless) I have a huge copepod population but they are not cutting it. This is all in a fluval evo (yes I know it’s too small of a tank, but he’s still pretty small I will move him when he gains some size) my question is, Am I just screwed with a CUC or is there something that he will leave alone in the invertebrate world that he would leave alone ? I need my sand sifted and my algae eaten

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

Ok before I start, yes I have learned my lesson. I found a porcupine puffer that I fell in love with at my lfs and it was housed in a community tank with fish and huge CUC and was strictly fed frozen brine shrimp. Well I brought him home and he ate all my fish except for my clown and killed my entire CUC. Is there anything at all I can do ? (Tank is by a window and has to have a CUC or there is algae blooms almost everyday my CUC did a great job at keeping it spotless) I have a huge copepod population but they are not cutting it. This is all in a fluval evo (yes I know it’s too small of a tank, but he’s still pretty small I will move him when he gains some size) my question is, Am I just screwed with a CUC or is there something that he will leave alone in the invertebrate world that he would leave alone ? I need my sand sifted and my algae eaten

long spine urchin. bigger sized cuc. also needs a varied diet. not just brine shrimp. they need hard shelled things too to wear down teeth.

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

I just re-read that. 13.5 gallon he will just kill anything in there most likely. I'd return or move to a much larger tank asap. it will be a downfall. even for disease for the fish.

 

[aquariumfiends]

long spine urchin. bigger sized cuc. also needs a varied diet. not just brine shrimp. they need hard shelled things too to wear down teeth.

Didn’t think of an urchin, thank you. However a “bigger” clean up crew … any ideas on where I can find a a larger variety of CUC online? If not I will have to scour my local fish stores to try to find larger CUC when they random ones in stock. And I’m aware, I’m starting a freshwater snail tank / farm with a snail quarantine for him as we speak.

 

[aquariumfiends]

I just re-read that. 13.5 gallon he will just kill anything in there most likely. I'd return or move to a much larger tank asap. it will be a downfall. even for disease for the fish.

I have quite a few options for him 8+ tanks, I was using this as a grow out for him for the time being. I do regular water changes for the fluval.

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

Didn’t think of an urchin, thank you. However a “bigger” clean up crew … any ideas on where I can find a a larger variety of CUC online? If not I will have to scour my local fish stores to try to find larger CUC when they random ones in stock. And I’m aware, I’m starting a freshwater snail tank / farm with a snail quarantine for him as we speak.

I think with the amount of waste that is going to be generated from the puffer, you are going to have a huge ammonia spike. they need a large sized tank and a huge skimmer.

 

[dakoop]

Best bet is to re-home. Broke my heart to do that with my puffer but the tank appreciates it

 

[aquariumfiends]

Anyone know where to find a large sized cleanup crew lfs only have small ?

 

[littlefoxx]

Anyone know where to find a large sized cleanup crew lfs only have small ?

My CUC with my eels and puffer is a horse shoe crab and tangs. If you have 8 plus tanks, why not move him to the biggest tank you have? Mine is tiny too but no aggression issues with him. He is in a 300 gallon

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

Anyone know where to find a large sized cleanup crew lfs only have small ?

I think they will starve in a small tank but reef cleaners has 4" giant cerith, Tongan nassarius, tiger conchs, large turbos etc...just one turbo would probably clean the tank. but if you don't have enough algae to keep up it will starve. if you keep the puffer well fed, he might leave the smaller cuc alone. you'd have to feed smaller meals more often.