Spotted Puffer with African Cichlids????

Question

Would this work?? Or would these two diff types of fish be at eachother way to often?? Please advise... Thanks

Answer 1

While they may work out on paper, the chances of it working are almost nonexistent.  If you did try it, you'd have to use some of the more peaceful Cichlid species like Kribs or others in the Pelvicachromis genus, and the Puffers would best be female Dwarf or Amazon Puffers, as these will be less likely to shred the other fish.  On top of that, I'd start with a minimum of a 30 gallon tank with loads of plants, wood, and rocks, as well as a VERY watchful eye.

Answer 2

it depends on what kind a puffer u have if its a tiny puffer like the green spotted puffer then the cichlid will eat it or kill it. though the green spotted puffer will nibble on the cichlids fins.

Answer 3

I wouldn't reccomend it.

African Cichlids, as you know, are very aggressive and territorial no matter what size the fish- If the fish is smaller, it will kill it, if the fish is the same size, it will kill it (if it's weaker anyway) and if it's larger, it will try to fight it and pick at it, and stress it out (unless it's another african cichlid.)

A spotted puffer is most likely going to be smaller than your cichlid, and to thrive, needs brackish water. So placing it in your warm, tropical freshwater tank will already stress it out, making it prone to disease- Also, puffers don't have scales, so any wounding is EXTRA sensitive and prone to any bacterial or fungal infection- This will also stress the fish out.

Even if you put one in your tank, and your fish didn't pick on it- It wouldn't be happy because of the water conditions. The only puffers that can live in 100% freshwater are Indian Puffers, or Dwarf puffers, and those will definately be food because at full grown size they're 1 inch long and they're peaceful.

Not only that, puffers like they're space and aren't even reccomended for community tanks- It's 5 gallons per puffer, including a lot of caves and plants so they can claim their territories. They do better in large tanks, with the same species.

So.. No. I don't reccomend any sort of puffers for your aquarium.