dog face puffer - Page 2

nunch · 05-15-2008, 11:40 AM

At LFS they had about 5 cleaner wrasses and a 8" dog face together. he didn't seem to mind. I have a ? at lfs they told me cleaner wrasse would only live until all parasites are gone then die usually w/in 10 days of purchase. if true, i don't see your cleaner backing off, matter of life and death? I could be misinformed.

wildreef · 05-15-2008, 11:50 AM

lay a trap if you wish to catch him , PM me i can tell you how to make a trap woth what you most likely have in your house right now ' so easy.

smitty65 · 05-15-2008, 12:21 PM

Nunch...My husband was sold the cleaner wrasse as a " neon gobie" . I freaked out when I came home from work and saw the purchase. I told him that this fish was going to die as it has a specialized diet. Well I have since eaten my words because this guy eats anything I put into the tank. Mysis, brine and he loves seaweed sheets. I know that is WAY out of the norm for these fish but after 2 years he is still going strong. He has 2 triggers and a tang that come to him for cleanings everyday but my other fish don't care for him. My fox throws up his spines every time the cleaner gets too close and the banana wrasse ignores him completely. I wish I could say why I have had luck but I don't know. I also have a mandarin and a scooter blenny in my reef tank I have had for 2 years. They both love brine shrimp. Weirdly enough, I have had easy fish die on me but the ones labeled difficult have thrived.

In my opinion, cleaner wrasses should not be collected for home aquariums. Most do end up dying from malnutrition as you would have to have a huge tank with a ton of fish to keep him going. In my case the LFS, in the city my husband worked in, was either out to make a buck or were completely stupid as to identifying fish. My guess would be the former. I would never advise anyone to buy these.

Wildreef...thanks for the PM. I came home today to find the puffer idling away on one side of the tank without a care in the world. I think the wrasse may have either cleaned him totally or the puffer got sick of him and put a case of whoop fish on him. If it looks as though I am going to have a problem I will most definitely get in touch with you. Thanks guys ! You have been a great help.

Crabby Jim · 05-15-2008, 01:07 PM

Do you guys have puffers in reef tanks? I thought that puffers were not reef safe that they would eat corals or snails or hermit crabs etc ?? Am I wrong because I would love to keep a puffer in my tank please let me know.

nunch · 05-15-2008, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crabby Jim

Do you guys have puffers in reef tanks? I thought that puffers were not reef safe that they would eat corals or snails or hermit crabs etc ?? Am I wrong because I would love to keep a puffer in my tank please let me know.

Huge gamble. depends on the fish. i got mine before i put any corals in the tank, then tested him slowly, he passed w/ flying colors. he doesn't pick at anything. but my brother has one that picks at everything including anemones. as far as snails crabs and shrimp go, mine pays no mind to any of em. but that's not good cause he needs those in his diet to keep his teeth down. I was told to pop a snail shell and hand feed it to dog, but then he's liable to clean out all the snails. so for now his teeth look fine, has no problems eating, just waiting to see how it takes before I have to file them down. also difference between tank raised and caught from ocean is tremendous in terms of personality and appetite.

nunch · 05-15-2008, 01:31 PM

Quote:

I also have a mandarin and a scooter blenny in my reef tank I have had for 2 years. They both love brine shrimp.

I have a blenny also, I believe to be a lawnmower, but he eats everything from flakes to mysis to pellets. It's funny cause he'll swim around w/ a pellet in his mouth, too big for him to swallow, then drop it in hole for later.