My Pufferfish is too aggressive

[thiqqfish]

I have a community 10 gallon tank with 3 zebra danios, 5 black neon tetras, 2 Chinese algae eaters, 3 corydoras, and 3 BB puffers. My tank is still very empty looking. But I just got the puffers and cory cats a few days ago. The cory cats are bullying my algae eater, though they are supposed to be community fish. And my puffers are biting ALL of my other fishes tails and taking pieces off, even though they are no more than ½ an inch long. The fish store owner told me they could go in a community tank so I got them. I can't have the cory cats or puffers in my tank anymore but I don't want my money to go to waste. I don't know what to do with them so please help.

 

[Feohw]

Welcome to Fishlore. I would just return the fish to the store. Or you could set up another tank for the puffers. And I would see about rehoming those Chinese algae eaters too unfortunately, unless you have future plans for them. They get too big for the tank size, and as they get older they require more meat in their diet. They have been known to get more aggressive when this happens. Be careful with what you add to a 10g, make sure to check if the fish are suited for a small tank. Zebras and black neons would ideally have a larger tank too imo.

 

[thiqqfish]

The problem is, the fish store doesn't accept returns on live fish. I could just "donate" them back to him for free, but then that's $25 gone easy. I only have one tank so I can't quickly and cheaply set another one up for the puffers, though I was thinking of a puffer paradise. And I'll keep in mind about the algae eaters. They haven't grown in a few months, and if they need some meat I've got bloodworms. Thanks!

 

[CoryBoi]

Warning: I am going to point everything out that is wrong with this, but I mean it in the nicest way possible, we have all been here and made these mistakes at one point.

1. Tetras technically need a school of at least 6( although I wouldn’t worry about 5 )
2. corries technically need a shoal of At least 6 ( IMO 4-6 is fine depending on the type)
3. Chinese algae eaters need at least 55 gallons as they get 11” long, they are also get very aggressive
4. since corries need a shoal they need at least 15 gallons for 6
5. bb puffers are not community fish (hence the fin nipping)

Sorry, but I would just start from scratch with either a community 10 gal with no corries and no Chinese algae eaters, or a bb puffer tank.

 

[Ebreus]

Hmm, I've always seen puffers listed as either aggressive or semi-aggressive. They are fin-nippers. Fishlore has an article on them: Dwarf Puffer Fish Care - Size, Lifespan, TankMates, Breeding I think if your LFS doesn't accept returns on live fish you may want to check the trade section of the forum. Might be able to organize a trade with someone else for something better suited to your tank.

With a 10 gallon I wouldn't bet on it but if your filter has two or more media pads then you might be able to get a few more and split the current ones between your current tank and the new tank (if you've got the money to acquire a new one) to help set that one up quickly.

 

[thiqqfish]

Warning: I am going to point everything out that is wrong with this, but I mean it in the nicest way possible, we have all been here and made these mistakes at one point.

1. Tetras technically need a school of at least 6( although I wouldn’t worry about 5 )
2. corries technically need a shoal of At least 6 ( IMO 4-6 is fine depending on the type)
3. Chinese algae eaters need at least 55 gallons as they get 11” long, they are also get very aggressive
4. since corries need a shoal they need at least 15 gallons for 6
5. bb puffers are not community fish (hence the fin nipping)

Sorry, but I would just start from scratch with either a community 10 gal with no corries and no Chinese algae eaters, or a bb puffer tank.

Dang I'm a lot more of a beginner than I thought I was. I'll use that information. I just haven't seen my algae eaters get any bigger than 1.5-2.5 inches in the 1 year I've had them. One of them is really small and they other one is a bit bigger. I think they are just growing for the tank size. But if I see anything wrong with them I'll be sure to get them out fast. Once I find out what to do with the cory cats and puffers, I was planning on just adding a few small tetra schools to it.

Hmm, I've always seen puffers listed as either aggressive or semi-aggressive. They are fin-nippers. Fishlore has an article on them: Dwarf Puffer Fish Care - Size, Lifespan, TankMates, Breeding I think if your LFS doesn't accept returns on live fish you may want to check the trade section of the forum. Might be able to organize a trade with someone else for something better suited to your tank.

With a 10 gallon I wouldn't bet on it but if your filter has two or more media pads then you might be able to get a few more and split the current ones between your current tank and the new tank (if you've got the money to acquire a new one) to help set that one up quickly.

That's pretty helpful information. I have the money for a second tank, but I don't have the space for it. I would like to get another 10 gallon or a 5 gallon once my tank is really stable. I'll look in to what you said.

 

[CoryBoi]

Dang I'm a lot more of a beginner than I thought I was. I'll use that information. I just haven't seen my algae eaters get any bigger than 1.5-2.5 inches in the 1 year I've had them. One of them is really small and they other one is a bit bigger. I think they are just growing for the tank size. But if I see anything wrong with them I'll be sure to get them out fast. Once I find out what to do with the cory cats and puffers, I was planning on just adding a few small tetra schools to it.

maybe they are not Chinese algae eaters then

 

[thiqqfish]

maybe they are not Chinese algae eaters then

Maybe not. That's just what they were labeled. They are the same species as the vaguely labeled "Algae Eaters" at Petsmart. But I got these at my LFS. So I don't really know.

 

[jkkgron2]

Maybe not. That's just what they were labeled. They are the same species as the vaguely labeled "Algae Eaters" at Petsmart. But I got these at my LFS. So I don't really know.

Pics?

 

[saltwater60]

Warning: I am going to point everything out that is wrong with this, but I mean it in the nicest way possible, we have all been here and made these mistakes at one point.

1. Tetras technically need a school of at least 6( although I wouldn’t worry about 5 )
2. corries technically need a shoal of At least 6 ( IMO 4-6 is fine depending on the type)
3. Chinese algae eaters need at least 55 gallons as they get 11” long, they are also get very aggressive
4. since corries need a shoal they need at least 15 gallons for 6
5. bb puffers are not community fish (hence the fin nipping)

Sorry, but I would just start from scratch with either a community 10 gal with no corries and no Chinese algae eaters, or a bb puffer tank.

I’ll add danios need about 10 fish if not 20 in a school.

 

[thiqqfish]

I’ll add danios need about 10 fish if not 20 in a school.

I'll keep that in mind

Pics?

This is the smaller one of the 2

 

[Ebreus]

Dang I'm a lot more of a beginner than I thought I was. I'll use that information. I just haven't seen my algae eaters get any bigger than 1.5-2.5 inches in the 1 year I've had them. One of them is really small and they other one is a bit bigger. I think they are just growing for the tank size. But if I see anything wrong with them I'll be sure to get them out fast. Once I find out what to do with the cory cats and puffers, I was planning on just adding a few small tetra schools to it.

Sorry but it's extremely important to note: Fish do not grow to the tank size!
They don't grow to a tanks size, their growth stunts which causes damage to their internal organs. This will cause lifelong health problems and almost definitely shorten their overall lifespan. Please check the minimum tank size of a fish before getting it.