Aggressive puffer

[Bob Reda]

I have a striped puffer that is being very aggressive toward my dog-face puffer. Both are the same size about 8 " long. This only started about 2 weeks ago. I've had them for over a year. Any ideas or suggestions? Please forgive me if this is the wrong place to post this.

Thanks
Bob

 

[GoVols]

I have a striped puffer that is being very aggressive toward my dog-face puffer. Both are the same size about 8 " long. This only started about 2 weeks ago. I've had them for over a year. Any ideas or suggestions? Please forgive me if this is the wrong place to post this.

Thanks
Bob

Bob,
Your not in the wrong place and Welcome to Reef 2 Reef

It maybe time that one has to go, but tagging along more incite.

Freddie

 

[Andrewalex11]

Something off the top of my head that I would do is take out both fish, place them in buckets for a while, then return them to the tank at the same time.

Definitely not a 100% solution, in fact I've never had to do this with puffer fish, but it has helped curb some aggression which tangs.

 

[Tommy's Reef]

Woop his butt!! Reach in there with a stick or hand and show him how it feels. Im serious by the way!
Beat him up a little

 

[Andrewalex11]

Woop his butt!! Reach in there with a stick or hand and show him how it feels. Im serious by the way!
Beat him up a little

A surefire way to feel the sting of a puffer bite!

 

[Tommy's Reef]

Just jab and move. Fly like a copperband butterfly and sting like a lionfish! - trademark, me

 

[eatbreakfast]

Sometimes when puffers get large their aggression increases. Moving things around may help, but it also may not. If it doesn't get better than 1 will likely need to be rehomed.

 

[Bob Reda]

I moved the one getting picked on to a separate tank for a while to give him some peace and quiet, how long do you think I should keep them apart?
Bob

 

[eatbreakfast]

It's better to remove the aggressor, as it allows the subordinate fish gain confidence and more dominance. Now the aggressor is getting more of an uperhand.

 

[lion king]

What size tank are they in, those 2 puffers at that size it's a 50/50 chance at best they will get along. You may have luck in a tank around 300g, anything smaller my instincts say it will end badly. When they get that large and antagonism starts, it usually doesn't end with peace.

 

[Bob Reda]

I put the aggressor in time out. About how long should it stay in there? I have a 100 gallon tank. They got along great until a few weeks ago, I thought maybe it was mating season or something.

Bob

 

[lion king]

I put the aggressor in time out. About how long should it stay in there? I have a 100 gallon tank. They got along great until a few weeks ago, I thought maybe it was mating season or something.

Bob

If it were me, I would not return the striped puffer to the display. A 100 is really too small for 2 such puffers, and the striped has a reputation for being aggressive when they get that large anyway. Even more so when they are collected at a large size.

 

[Sweeper13]

Honestly ,you may never break the aggression. Might be time for another tank, sad to say. You could make a partition, using a eggcrate diffuser. This way they can stay in the same tank. GL

https://www.homedepot.com/p/N-White-Eggcrate-T12-Troffer-Replacement-Diffuser-L2GT-PLTS-R5/100579509