Valentini Toby puffer in reef tank ; doable or a bad idea?

[Raazka]

I've always wanted a Black saddle puffer in my tank but I'm uncertain if the little guy would be a good addition.

Are valentini tobies a danger to soft corals (Zoas, mushrooms, pulsing xenia, kenya tree, leathers, Gsp...) and will they always eventually eat large clean-up crew inverts (Adult Blood red fire shrimp and skunk cleaner shrimps)?

I would also love to hear peoples' experience with their own toby puffers, so far I've heard owners say that theirs is perfectly fine in their reef, but I keep reading that they'll be an issue with corals and inverts. I don't mind exploratory bites on corals but I love my shrimps and won't put them in danger.

Thanks in advance!

 

[timmyrules]

In one of my tanks I have a blue spot puffer…the tank is a mixed reef tank, with clean up crew. and he is a model citizen, he did pick at the snails in particular at first. But now he’s super peaceful, (doesn’t pick at snails anymore, that only lasted about a day) but he does occasionally eat bristle worm off the glass…I don’t mind that tho….he has never picked at any of my coral.

 

[shakacuz]

depends on the individual personality of the fish. lots of mixed reviews on if they nip at corals or your CUC. personally wanted one myself, but decided against it because i wouldn't want to have to rehome it in the event it went rogue.

 

[Jasongtr]

Ours nips occasionally at some corals, mainly goes after snails, super cute though so she's forgiven most of the time

 

[Mhamilton0911]

I tried it. Absolutely devoured Monti cap and really loved acans. I get the Monti since it's hard and probably loved the mouth feel, but I was surprised at the acans. Everything has fully recovered since I removed the puff. He's now in another tank with softies and he's perfect.

 

[Raazka]

Ours nips occasionally at some corals, mainly goes after snails, super cute though so she's forgiven most of the time

I do have snails but I doubt it’ll be able to bother them, they’re pretty big and have good reflexes. Any experience with your puffer and shrimps?

 

[Raazka]

I tried it. Absolutely devoured Monti cap and really loved acans. I get the Monti since it's hard and probably loved the mouth feel, but I was surprised at the acans. Everything has fully recovered since I removed the puff. He's now in another tank with softies and he's perfect.

Awesome, I don’t plan on keeping sps since every attempt in the past failed lol, so that’s one less worry. Did you ever keep your puffer with any kind of shrimp?

 

[Jasongtr]

I do have snails but I doubt it’ll be able to bother them, they’re pretty big and have good reflexes. Any experience with your puffer and shrimps?

2x fire shrimp, never had an issue

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Awesome, I don’t plan on keeping sps since every attempt in the past failed lol, so that’s one less worry. Did you ever keep your puffer with any kind of shrimp?

A big skunk cleaner shrimp and pistol shrimp. Showed no interest but the puffer was only in there about 2 weeks before I decided it wasn't going to work out there.

 

[Raazka]

2x fire shrimp, never had an issue

Awesome!! I legit upgraded my tank size just to potentially have a valentini puffer so I’m super stoked that this could actually work out. I think I’ll keep it in an acclimation box just to see his reaction towards them at first but I have high hopes that it’ll work out

 

[Jasongtr]

Awesome!! I legit upgraded my tank size just to potentially have a valentini puffer so I’m super stoked that this could actually work out. I think I’ll keep it in an acclimation box just to see his reaction towards them at first but I have high hopes that it’ll work out

Such cool little fish

 

[Raazka]

Such cool little fish

They’re so cute and so fun we’re supposed to receive one tomorrow at work and I can’t wait to see if we get him, definitely will out my name on it if he’s healthy lol