Any one have any experience with them ? Live Aquaria doesn't say that they're poisonous, like it does with the others so it looks like a better option for a puffer in my reef. I know they may nip at coral, but it's usually hermits and snails which I'm fine with. Thoughts ?
Blue spotted puffer
- Thread starter AquariGod
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Ricks Reef
Active Member
I just bought one for my Fowlr 2 weeks ago from Live Aquaria. They had a sale on them. I love mine. Great personality, always out swimming around and no other fish bother him.Oh,and their ALWAYS eating.
tyler1503
2500 Club Member
All puffers are poisonous. They have tetradotoxin (hence the family name tetraodontidae) in their liver and flesh I believe. Just over half a milligram is enough to kill an average person.
I have a valentini I'm putting in my 120 fowlr that will eventually be a reef. I know he doesn't eat zoas, but I can't comment on LPS, SPS or softies. There was a baby plate coral on the zoa rock he didn't touch, but I'd hate to say he's LPS safe because he didn't eat the one 1/4 inch coral. Mine only eats snails when he's teeth grow too long and he's never picked at hermits. Granted, I've only had the one hermit and my snowflake eel ate it instead lol.
If you get him, perhaps keep him in an acclimation box near some coral and see how he reacts?
I have a valentini I'm putting in my 120 fowlr that will eventually be a reef. I know he doesn't eat zoas, but I can't comment on LPS, SPS or softies. There was a baby plate coral on the zoa rock he didn't touch, but I'd hate to say he's LPS safe because he didn't eat the one 1/4 inch coral. Mine only eats snails when he's teeth grow too long and he's never picked at hermits. Granted, I've only had the one hermit and my snowflake eel ate it instead lol.
If you get him, perhaps keep him in an acclimation box near some coral and see how he reacts?
tyler1503
2500 Club Member
As long as he stays out of your mouth you'll be safe lol. They're poisonous, but not venomous. There's mixed opinions about this, but I don't think they release toxins when they die like a cowfish might, so they're not putting any livestock in danger if they stress a bit.
There really is no consistency to which corals they may or may not nip. I have seen individuals not bother anything, I have seen them bother any combination of sps, lps, softies, polyps, zoas, and clams. So just beware, they are much like dwarf angels in their degree of reef safeness.
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