Redvelvetsword

I am looking to set up a 46 gallon bowfront freshwater aquarium. My wife is interested in the Red Blood Parrot fish and the so called freshwater puffer. I have done a little research on them and I am wondering how well they might live together. I am wondering if they will have enough room to themselves or should I not even consider putting them together. I know the puffer will need to be in at least a brackish tank when it reaches adult stage and the parrot can also live in a brackish tank if I'm not mistaken. I'm just wondering if anyone has more information or advice and experience with these.

Shawnie

just got some br parrots myself...great fish...capekate has been keeping them for awhile and im sure she has much information on them..ive never heard of them being brackish tho....and havent read anything on that but maybe someone with more knows....I just know they are super fun fish ...as far as the puffer, im clueless..so all in all, i wasnt any help but goodluck!

cognizant

I am sure pinkfloydpuffer will have much insight into the puffer fish for you. I do remember reading that puffers don't usually play well with others though.

CHoffman

Hi...
I think the puffer your referring to is the green spotted puffer..I might be wrong though..Here is a link about them.. http://www.fishlore.com/aquariummaga...ttedpuffer.htm They are not freshwater for sure..They need brackish water and slowly moved to full marine when they are older. I don't think parrots can be in brackish and especially not full marine..Also Puffers are not good tank mates, They are quite aggressive...So I'm going to say nope..Don't put the two together they aren't very compatible in any aspect..Too bad though they are both Beautiful fish!!!..

agabr123

there are lots of different types of puffers, the dwarf puffer is 100% freshwater, so is the figure 8 (i think), and refer to Cesch's post about the GSP (green spotted puffer). also, i agree that generally puffers don't make good tank mates as the can be pretty aggressive. IMO the freshwater puffers should definitely be kept species only or possibly with otos, and as for the GSP i'm really not sure, but PFP should have some more info for you

capekate

The BR Parrot is not a brackish water fish.They also tend to be shy fish that are not aggressive. Their body shape and mouth do not do much to help defend themselves against aggressive species and if the Puffer is aggressive I wouldnt want to add a BR to the tank. There are saltwater Parrot fish but they are not BR Parrots.

CHoffman

Figure 8's are brackish...They are easier then Green spotted though...They don't have to have the sailinty increased..They are happy to stay at low brackish throughout their lives..and don't get as big.

agabr123

thanks i've read it both ways and couldn't remember which

Red1313

The usual recommendation for puffers is species only tanks. They don't play well with others.

claireyfairey1987

Hi, i had read you topic and some of the replies, just thought id add my word ... lol , I have a community tank with various fish, but it does include my figure8 puffer and my fiances red blood parrot. To be honest they dont really seem to notice that each other are there. They have never chased each other or shown any aggression to any of my other smaller fish. I was advise to feed my puffer quite often as i was told they can fin nip, but he is fine, i think the both together make a great atraction as they both swim to the front of the glass when someone is looking in, they have more personality than some of the smaller fish we keep with them. i was also told the figure8 puffer is fine kept in tropical water, which it is and we have had him and 5months now. You could always try to have them together, just have lots of plants and swim arounds just incase they dont get along. If they dont you could always take one back and swap. In our case they seem to be great together though. Anyone else found the same??

Red1313

um claireyfairey you might want to check out this link on Green Spotted Puffers. Here's another really good one for you as well. And one last one.
Hope some of these clear up the reasons that we members are making the recommendations that we are.
WELCOME TO FISHLORE!

claireyfairey1987

hi red1313, i understand you are recommending on your knowlege but i was just posting my answer to the mans question which was that both fish are well and happy, both living together. sorry if it wasnt the same reply as everyone elses. i must have friendly fish.

mare2009

Hi welcome to fishlore ...my sister has blood red parrots and their personalities are quite peaceful. Looking at your aquarium info you have a 190 tank, which makes the fish living arrangement amicable for all. As I have read, your puffer, a figure 8, and the green spotted puffer has come into some debate on fresh or brackish water. As I have noticed many keep figure8 puffers in fresh water and they live quite well, whereas the GSP is a puffer that prefers the brackish water.
The debate is ongoing, and your experience shows that your puffers ( figure8) are living well and happily in freshwater. And it is working out really well for you, its good to hear personal fish care experiences towards this debate as it offers data ..Im glad your fish are well and happy

capekate

And also to reiterate the OP question. They were asking about adding the freshwater version of the puffer and not the brackish water required by the GSP
I think we got a little off topic discussing the GSP's water requirements.
There are puffers that live perfectly fine in freshwater.

Red1313

Sorry Clairyfairy you hadn't edited your post when I posted so I was resonding to that. GSP's and F8's are very differnt things.

claireyfairey1987

hey yup sorry i had been reading along and had read green spotted puffer so many times id put that, but no he's a little figure 8. does anyone else keep figure8's? when i first got him i wondered how big he would get so tried to do research but you get get varied answers, he's about inch and a half.

capekate

HI Claireyfairey
you may do better with your question if you posted a new thread in the puffer section of the forum where puffer owners are sure to find your question there and no one has to hijack the OP thread with an unrelated question.