Puffer

[char0434]

Hey!
I resently started up my 55 gal sw tank, i have approx. 50 pounds of liverock now. I do have a few soft corals (zoo's, duncans, a ric) and a BTA, i currently have 18 blue legs, 2 reds, and 14 assorted snails now. As for fish, i have 2 clowns, one red tail damsel, dragon goby, false manderine goby.
Heres the thing... I really really want to get a puffer more specifically a stars and stipes pufferr. I have read up on them and know that the size of the tank is a littel small but ok. Also it may decide to eat my snails and hermits, bta, and some say small corals. I have seen information about this puffer change site to site. So im thinking he would be ok in my tank...
but i dont want him eating my corals... or bta(who would be a meal for sure). Does any one know if he would rally ea them... what do i use as a clean up crew? Anyone know much about these puffers?? If he does eat soft coral... ill will try to remove them and start a 5 gal reef or 10 gal reef or maybe a 15 gal reef LOL! what do i need for reef only  tank... well maybe ill throw the damsel in there He is a jerk. how do i remove the coral? ie. a ric froma rock??? i know theres alot here but at this point anything helps

Adam

[Steve_2]

I would not do it. They get large and your tank is a bit too small.

They are aggressive and will nip at your other fish until it gets bigger....THEN it might EAT your other fish. 

Also, it will likely pick at all your corals and it will for sure eat your inverts. They need to eat inverts to wear down their ever-growing "teeth".

[Vallely4]

Not to mention puffers are messy little fish...

Your going to want way over filtration on the tank too, I've myself had experience with a tinytiny 'toby' puffer and even he was the messiest thing i'd ever seen eat. The only coral you might be able to get away with in a tank with a puffer i'd think might be mushrooms. They reputedly taste bad to fish