[Mirkle]

anyone have any experience with this fish? i know its not reef safe and i also read that it may nip at smaller fish and may eat ornamental shrimp.. right now i have a Yellow Tang, Rusty Anglefish, False Percula Clownfish and one clear shrimp... do you think i would be ok with it or will i lose my shimp and smaller fish to it?

[JackedupSOB]

I had one for a while with a clarkii clown and a niger trigger. The puffer should be good with those fish but most likely will go after the shrimp.

[Marine1]

+1

The valentini will eventually eat the shrimp or any other invert. That is what they feed on in the wild. I have one of these guys, and they are a great fish to have. It doesn't get too big, has great personality, and it has nice coloring for a puffer.

[casademurphy]

I have a valentini puffer and he has not touched my shrimp or my corals. The only issue I had is with it eating clams. I even added shrimp after the puffer was already in my tank. Let me know if you want pics.

[Mirkle]

sure would love pics. how long have you had it with the shrimp?

[Tangs Rule]

How big are the shrimp? That is odd that the puffer is not eating them.

[casademurphy]

I have the following shrimp :

- 2 Cleaner Shrimp
- 5 Peppermint Shrimp
- 1 Blood Shrimp
- 2 Camelback Shrimp

They're all at least 1" long. I had 3 before I added the puffer and the rest were added after the puffer. My puffer is about 2.5" long. Here is a pic of my puffer. Let me know if you want any other pics.

[Tangs Rule]

Beautiful puffer and tank. I am surprised he doesn't eat shrimp, but that is a tribute to your feeding habits I think.

[casademurphy]

I'll take the compliment. Thanks! : )

[Tangs Rule]

It was meant to be a compliment. Keep up the good work.

[WillLovesFish]

I have had 2 of these puffers. First one was very clam and nice. Had him with 2 cleaner shrimp and 2 clowns. All were together for about 6 months. Sadly he died because he got very sick.

I just got another about 1 month or so ago. All was fine until tonight. He took huge chunks from the back fins of my clowns. He is not much bigger then them either. My clowns started to hide and get very stressed. I took the puffer out and will probably have to take him back and hopefully get store credit I love these puffers but I would caution you because you never know what temperment he will have. Just watch out because within min. he can tear a fish apart with his strong sharp teeth.