I‘ve been thinking about peas again…

When I first set up this 40g/180l aquarium, I really wanted to put some peas as the main fish in it. In the end, I decided against it, and instead put some non-problematic (peaceful) fish and shrimp who are currently living together quite peacefully.

Current stock:

\- Orange Dwarf Crayfish

\- Panda Cories

\- Neocaridina Shrimp

\- Amano Shrimp

\- Kuhli Loaches

\- Reticulated Hillstream Loaches

\- Endler Guppies

\- 1 Assassin snail

\- Bladder snails

\- Ramshorn snails



I even got some endler guppies, something I never expected to end up happening as I always wanted „cool“ and “unique“ fish. Unfortunately, two of them died rather quickly after bringing them in from the store, after showing clear signs of issues with swimming off the get-go. I am hoping the others will last, but it seems like I was sold some poor health animals.

I don‘t think I will put peas in as long as the guppies are there, since their fins do seem quite snackable. On the other hand, I have a smaller 25l/5.5gal tank which I could also set up as a backup in case the peas turn out to be menaces.

I love my (ramshorn) snails, but the population got a bit out of hand, so I added one assassin snail, after the Dwarf Crayfish did absolutely nothing in terms of eating eggs or baby snails. I feel like this has decreased the snail expansion, but I still have loads. Additionally I have a couple of other tanks where I grow food (bloodworms and daphnia) which are absolutely overflowing with snails. I have to regularly throw some out when I grab the worms and it just feels wrong to let them dry up in my planters.

As far as I know, Peas are the only other critters which would really do well with eliminating the snails, also the tons of small bladders I have surfing on the surface and glass.

My main concerns are:

\- disrupting everyone‘s peace (particularly the guppies, but if they end up having issues and all dying off, I also wonder if the other‘s would be ok)

\- my shrimp suffering (especially the neocaridinia babies, though they have lots of moss to hide. Not sure if the long amano antenna‘s would also be at risk)

\- my other fish becoming shy and hiding more

\- keeping the puffers fed if I am every gone on a trip (I was deciding between ADFs and puffers for a 54l/12g tank and ended up going for the frogs since they only need to eat every 2-3 days as adults and can go longer without food)

\- the puffers completely razing the tank and not leaving any snails at all

\- the puffers attacking my assassin snail/it starving due to a lack of snails (though I could move it to a different tank easily)

  
On the other hand, I am hoping that a smaller group could do well in this tank, since it is quite heavily planted and continuing to grow in. Worst case, moving them into the 25l, though I‘d rather not keep them in something that small.

Open to suggestions, arguments for and against, experiences keeping puffers alone/with other fish, people just talking me out of it or telling me that puffers are indeed the coolest fish ever and I should just get a bigger tank dedicated to them! 

To pea or not to pea?