Can Amazon Puffers Live With Guppies and Other Slow Movers?

Last Updated on March 7, 2022 by cmoarz

Some people have expressed interest in having amazon puffers with tank mates such as guppies, corydoras, and angels, But most specifically guppies. Can amazon puffers live with guppies and other slow swimming fish, or is it a bad idea?

Amazon Puffer size and temperament

To know how amazon puffers will react to other fish, we must consider their size and temperament.

Amazon puffers are generally medium-sized fish, reaching up to 8 inches in length.

This makes them 2-3x the size of most guppy species.

They are also one of the more aggressive puffer species and have been known to nip the fins of other fish in their tank.

While they do prefer to be with other fish of a similar size, they should be very active and fast-moving fish.

Slower-moving lazy fish like guppies, corydoras, angels, and even some tetras, may not be the best tank mates for amazon puffers.

Dental issues will aggravate the aggressions

Like many species of puffers, the amazon puffers’ teeth continue to grow all the time.

This is especially true with amazon puffers as they have some of the fastest-growing teeth of any puffer species.

Puffers need to grind these teeth down to remain healthy, and if they can’t do this by chewing on hard objects in their tank, they will start to nip at the fins of other fish.

In some cases, the nipping may even cause injuries that can lead to death.

But, even with adequate dental care and snails/other hard-shelled creatures in the tank, amazon puffers may still nip at the fins of other fish.

Bottom line

Amazon puffers are just too aggressive towards smaller slower-moving species of fish. With constantly growing teeth and the need to nip at other fish to keep them healthy, it is best to not mix guppies and amazon puffers together.

Appropriate tank mates for amazon puffers

The best tank mate for amazon puffers is going to be other amazon puffers, or at the very least, other pufferfish species.

The second-best tank mates for your amazon puffers would be medium and larger fish that don’t have long fins, such as rasboras, barbs, rams, Apistogramma, and other fish that can hold their own against an amazon puffer or have short fins that the puffer won’t be tempted in nipping.

Avoid mixing smaller, more docile fish with amazon puffers unless you are prepared to deal with the nipping and possible injuries.