dtree

Hey all!
I'm getting a ten gallon hex given to me this afternoon and had been wondering what to do with it. Cory/Guppy tank? Cory/Tetra? I have also been wanting to find a solution to the explosive growth of some ramshorn snails in my other ten gallon.
So what do I do? Ask for suggestions on FishLore of course, and many people recommended looking into dwarf puffers.
I have to be honest, I had strayed away from the little guys because of their aggressiveness and what I understood to be the challenge of keeping them. However, it didn't take long into the researching of these fish until I absolutely fell for them!

So here's my plan with questions of course:
I'm going to cycle this new tank with tons of plants and a small substrate.
*Any particular plants that you all have found works great with dps?*
*Do I have to use sand?*
Next, I'll add an oto cat or two.
*Should I add the dp first? Should I only do one oto?*
Then when all is well, I'll introduce the king (I want a male) of the tank and call it good.

I'm super excited about this endeavor and will update with pictures and anecdotes! Please feel free to comment with advice and suggestions.
(Yes, I've already read the wonderful puffer guide)
Here it goes!!!

pinkfloydpuffer

*Any particular plants that you all have found works great with dps?*
They don't care either way. They like em all equally well as far as I can tell

*Do I have to use sand?*
Nope, it's preferred, but not necessary. I use EcoComplete in my DP tank for the plants

Next, I'll add an oto cat or two.
*Should I add the dp first? Should I only do one oto?*
Ideally you'd want to add the oto first. But, you should be sure that your tank is established and 100% cycled! Both of these fish are sensitive to water conditions. I've heard that otos like to live in odd numbers... not sure why though... but maybe 2 are better than 1. You'll have to get a definite answer from someone else, I'm no oto expert lol.

PufferofDoom

welp, you pretty much covered it for him! lol.




As for the otto question, you can keep an otto by himself, but it might prefer to be in company of 1 or 2 other ottos.

dtree

Well, a bit of bad news. The ten gallon hex turned into a 5. Oh well, free is free.
It's one of these:
http://www.petco.com/product/12788/M...arium-Kit.aspx
It was also missing both the bio-wheel and the filter media but I have since ordered both.
So, is the DP tank out of the question?
I've read that they only need 2-5 gallons per puffer, so a solo puffer should fit right? The ottos may be pushing it though, but I will need something for the algae since shrimp and snails won't last too long with the dp.
What do you all think? Thanks!

pinkfloydpuffer

A single DP would be fine in a 5g.
Not sure about the otos. If you can find a big enough algae-eating shrimp, then they might be able to last against the puff...

dtree

Sounds good! The shrimp in my other tank are breeding like crazy and from the look of it, I have new cherry red shrimp as well as amano shrimp (though I suppose they could be ghost...too darn small and elusive at the moment). I think I've found a new home for their parents! Here's hoping it works out and the dp leaves them alone!
I just need to get this set up quickly because the snails are not slowing in the slightest (a bit oxymoronic I know) and I need to find a way to limit the numbers soon. I think I'll set up an unfiltered 2.5 gallon fishbowl with some substrate and hornwort and just move as many snails as I can find in there. That way they can breed as much as they want until the puffer comes along. It'll be like a tiny death row...how disturbing...

pinkfloydpuffer

As soon as you get the puff the snails will decide not to breed anymore... I swear that's how it always goes. Darn things.
Lol, tiny death row

harpua2002

I would imagine that the DP will make short work of most any shrimp.

pinkfloydpuffer

Mine let the ghost shrimp live. But it's really a gamble. If they get too hungry.... lol

fishheadNJ

I kept two otos & a DP in a 5 gallon hex with no problems related to aggression from the DP. things to watch out for per my personal experience & what I've read:

Otos eat algae in the wild. They are wild caught, and likely are starving when you bring them home. In their stomach live bacteria that enable them to extract nutrients from the algae. This bacteria will likely have died as well. Most otos die of starvation even though they're eating because they can't absorb the nutrients. Blanched zucchini will resupply them with this bacteria, and enable them to digest the algae. Maybe this is why people say if you can get them to live more than a month they're hardy - those people feed zuchini! Sadly I didn't learn this until several otos had come and gone.

Dwarf puffers are also very susceptible to internal parasites. I lost three to them.

They can be VERY picky eaters. The one I had the longest ate only snails. Period.

I changed 50% of the water weekly. This is what was recommended to me; it seemed extreme - until I watched him eat. Yikes, what a messy eater! So, 50% it was. Careful with the siphon, as they're curious buggers. Being scaleless, they're very sensitive to water conditions - so the large water change is important.

They are cool fish with great personalities.

dtree

Well, I just set up the substrate and the plants. At the moment I have:
2 African Fern tied to driftwood
2 Dwarf Sags
A bunch of Glosso
I'm using Black Activ-Flora substrate and am surprised how sandy it is. I have the problem with the substrate sticking to the sides of the tank and floating on the top of the water.
Has anyone used Activ-Flora? Does it contain the bacteria necessary for cycling?
I haven't started cycling the tank with anything at the moment, but will probably go the ammonia or the fish flake route.

harpua2002

I've never used Activ-Flora, but Eco Complete makes the same claim about containing the bacteria necessary for cycling. I'm skeptical to say the least. Go ahead and cycle your tank IMO, it's the easiest way to be really sure.

dtree

I think that's the safest route, harpua!
The bunch of glosso was failing due to the low light in that awful, but free, tank so I moved it to my 10 gallon and added a bronze wendtii in its place. It looks much better and really creates a lot of hiding places! Do I hear a second DP coming on ? Can't wait to start adding fish!

dtree

It's been a while since the last post and I have yet to add a single fish.
The pump stopped working and the only place I was able to find it was online. It took a while to reach me, but the tank is finally up and running again and is really starting to look nice. The african ferns have been hit and miss in that tank, so I've since moved them closer to the light source. The dwarf sag on the other hand is exploding. I have added a java fern on the darker side of the tanks and the wendtii is still doing well in the center.
It seems that only one shrimp has survived in this tank - a yellow amano shrimp. It's gorgeous and it's getting pretty big. Hopefully it will survive the puffer. The ramshorn snails on the other hand better not get too comfortable!
I'm thinking the add will come in two weeks (or whenever the levels right themselves again) once this pump starts doing it's thing.

aquarist48

Good morning Dtree. So glad to hear your tank is up and running.

Too I removed the photo of your tank on this thread since it is a duplicate on another thread. I think it will be a lot less confusing to other members.
Duplicate post is here:

This or that?
Post #7
Thanks!
Ken