DPmom26

I am very seriously thinking of getting 2 dwarf puffers and I was reading up on them last night and saw that one site said that they didnt need to eat snails. I know that they have beaks and need to keep them filed down, but the site said that this species of puffer didnt have problems with their beaks getting over grown. I'm not sure to believe it and I am wondering should I get 1 male and 1 female or 2 males? What would be the best idea? I really love these little guys and love watching the videos on here of them they are great. Any suggestions?

pinkfloydpuffer

Hi fishmom
All puffers need something to keep their teeth down.
What size tank are you thinking?

Lucy

Here's Pink's guide to puffer care:
General Guide to Puffer Care

But I know she's happy to answer any other questions you have.

pinkfloydpuffer

Happy may be a bit of an understatement, Lucy.

Lucy

Ain't that the truth!

DPmom26

I was thinking of getting a 10 gal. tank, and getting a couple Dwarves to put in there, they are absolutely adorable and I cant get enough of them. BTW PFP you are the one that got me hooked on them I know I need to get sand and all that stuff for them and I am def gonna start a snail farm to keep them fat puffy and happy. I'm really just not sure whether to have 1 male and 1 female or 2 of one sex, I am worried about them fighting, dont want any little puff babies to get hurt.

pinkfloydpuffer

Haha, I'm glad I got you in my puffer snares!

Usually when you buy them they're still too small to be sexed, so they'll all look female...
I'm still trying to get my snail farm working

DPmom26

These guys are absolutely adorable...I cant believe that I havent gotten any yet I'm hoping that I can talk my hubby into letting me get them very soon, I cant wait!! I love your video of Garth and Stachi, they are funny About how long do I need to let the tank cycle before I get them? I dont want to put them in too soon.

pinkfloydpuffer

Aw thanks. They're my favorite fishies

Make sure it's fully cycled.... 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, low nitrates

DPmom26

Ok I will, but I do have one question. There is a natural spring that runs off the hill just up from my home, do you think it would be good to use for them in their tank? I used it with my 55 gal tank and havent had the first bit of trouble with the water getting out of whack, and I have also noticed that the water stays wonderfully clear with it. I have a problem with hard water and am afraid to use it with these little guys.

pinkfloydpuffer

Oh, about the sexing question... 2 females would be best. (Not that you can usually tell, but sometimes you can)

Puffers should be ok with kind of harder water, but I'm not sure how hard yours is... If the water is working ok for your other fish I'd assume it'd work ok for these guys. Not 100% sure though.

DPmom26

That's me...I think I will test my tap water and see how hard it is.

I guess I'll just get 2 and hope for the best, I can always move one if things get crazy. We had thought about getting a couple GSP but I really dont have the room for another big tank right now until we knock out a wall and make our living room bigger. Dwarf babies are just fine with me they are so cute....I am in love

pinkfloydpuffer

Yeah... you'll have better odds if they grow up together usually.

I love dwarfies, they're so darn little and cute. With HUGE eyes!

DPmom26

I know they are so teeny ! My hubby will have an issue with them being so little, he is more partial to bigger fish, but hey these are my babies and he will tell you the same.

pinkfloydpuffer

Their big personalities and big attitude will make up for their small size!

DPmom26

I am very sure of that... your 2 puffies have awesome attitudes from what I have seen

pinkfloydpuffer

Yeah, they're cuties.
This morning Garth was sleeping and he kept making 'kissy lips'. It was soooo cute!
He was probably dreaming about a pretty girl puffer

DPmom26

Well I have talked my husband into letting me get them It may be after the first of the year before I can but I cant wait! The one thing I want to see most is them yawning, I have heard they are the cutest when they do that

pinkfloydpuffer

Yay!

Yes, it's adorable when they yawn. And when they sleep, and when they jump outta the water, and... and...

DPmom26

I cant wait it's driving me crazy I am soooooooo excited

pinkfloydpuffer

Just watch lotsa youtube videos in the meantime to tide you over

DPmom26

I have been, they are too cute to watch hunting snails. I just don't know if watching videos is gonna help

pinkfloydpuffer

Go to an LFS and look for some then! That's even better than video!

DPmom26

Yeah it is a lot better than youtube, but I think the people at the LFS would find me weird after a while of standing around and watching them

pinkfloydpuffer

Worth it.

DPmom26

Yeah it is worth it...just seeing those cute little chubby guys makes everything better

pinkfloydpuffer

So true! Puffer therapy

DPmom26

Yay I just talked to my LFS and they can get them for me for around or under $7 each, does that sound like a good price to you? Have you ever heard of the dwarf puffer being called a Pea Puffer??

pinkfloydpuffer

Yeah that's about the average price.
At my Walmart they call them Pea Puffers.

DPmom26

Yay.... good I am glad that they are the same thing, I was kinda worried I was going to be getting the wrong thing. Now I just gotta figure out what color of sand I want to put in their tank, I was thinking either black or blue, not sure yet though.