Porcupine and dog face puffers are NOT GETTING ALONG... WHAT TO DO

[CJG]

I have a 4" porcupine and a 6" dogface puffer. Both fish were in different tanks I have. Recently I put them into a larger tank... The porcupine went in first becuase he was smaller and I was more worried about him finding himself some territory. 30 minutes later I put the dogface in. For about 5 days they were just fine, they even looked like they were friends, they were always laying near eachother or swimming near eachother, but recently over the last two days the smaller porcupine has attacked the dogfaced with force leaving marks on his face. The porcupine follows the D/F everywhere, litterally stalking it. Finally it got worse and they locked beaks, the D/F almost ripped the porcupine beaks out, yet the porcupine continues to come back for more. Now I have them in different tanks, but I really like both of these fish very much and want them both. Any chance they could get along... Any feedback is appreciated.

 

[OmarD]

Sounds like we have a territorial problem here. Not enough room for both in your present tank...guess you will just have to go out and get a bigger one.

 

[CJG]

thanks we'll see how it goes.

 

[NaH2O]

What size tank did they go into?

 

[leebca]

Usually 30 minutes doesn't give enough time for a fish to settle in and define its territory. But, that isn't the concern at hand. The two will come to terms with the other's presence and it seems that the Porcupine has figured the Dogface is a competitor. Fish will often take issue with each other when faced with limited (or perceived limited) resources (the feedings you're providing; space/territory; etc.).

There is a small chance that this aggression has a nutritional base to it. There is also a chance that this aggression has a personality base to it. The first is amendable up to a point. The second case isn't.

As NaH2O is getting to, we'd need to know:
1. How long you've had each fish;
2. The size aquarium each fish was in;
3. The size aquarium they were moved into;
4. Foods being fed including supplements and water additives if any;
5. Feeding schedule/regime (frequency and quantity); and
6. Other inhabitants

If their nutritional needs are being met, then I'd say there isn't a lot you can do to get them to get along, unless part of the problem is space.

 

[CJG]

Porc for a year, DF 7 months
Porc was in a 200 gall
DF was in a 300 gal
Both moved into a 500 gal
Foods are shrimp, squid, silversides, mussels, clams, no supps.
Fed every two days until full
Tank mates are 2 zebra eels, a green headed moray, a honeycomb moray, Queen Trigger, snowflake eel

 

[tamarindthai]

i got 4"undulated trigger,,will be good in your tank,,let me know if you're interested

 

[leebca]

Thanks CJG.

The only feeds I'm sure about are the clams. They are whole and most likely saltwater/marine clams. The rest I'm unsure about:

Shrimp - Are you feeding the whole shrimp (head, guts, etc.) or just tails?
Squid - Most likely just the squid bodies, which isn't a whole food.
Mussels - Freshwater or Marine?
Silversides - Although the majority are in fact marine, there are over 160 species, a third of which are freshwater, so this may be of freshwater origin. I don't recommend they be fed to predatory carnivores with regularity.

Without supplements on the above foods, the fish are nutrient deficient. When species are competing for insufficient nutrients, they can be intolerant of each other.

There is certainly enough room for the two of them.

 

[HarleyDude]

When feeding puffers clams, break the clam with a hammer and drop it in the tank. They will pick away the pieces and chew on them to eat the clam. At the same time this helps keep their teeth trimmed.

500 gallons is definitely enough room for these guys - even the 200 gallon should be enough. Are there any hiding spots in the 500gal.? e.g. rock caves, etc? I would definitely look into what Lee is saying about proper nutrients.